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Quick context and critique thread on some recent media coverage I've seen about white supremacists, militias, and the far right intermingling January 6 and in the aftermath of the Capitol siege.
First thing: we can't afford to lose sight of the broader trajectory at play here, and it's happening WAY TOO OFTEN in major media outlets' coverage.
January 6 was *not* the starting point for coalition building across the far right.
January 6 was *not* the starting point for coalition building across the far right.
Second major point: don't lose the forest for the trees here.
I'm seeing a lot of "Capitol attackers not affiliated with a specific organization" commentary.
True, but more importantly -- that's the umbrella far-right/WS strategic design (I'll elaborate in thread).
I'm seeing a lot of "Capitol attackers not affiliated with a specific organization" commentary.
True, but more importantly -- that's the umbrella far-right/WS strategic design (I'll elaborate in thread).
On point 1): January 6 / "stolen election" narratives aren't some new platform for intergroup mingling and grievance sharing.
It is, however, more dangerous and high profile.
Danger here lies in rapidness of mainstreaming to a far broader (potential) sympathetic audience.
It is, however, more dangerous and high profile.
Danger here lies in rapidness of mainstreaming to a far broader (potential) sympathetic audience.
1) "Stolen election" / Jan. 6 was a dangerous watershed in terms of potential broadening BUT - these seeds were planted before (not recently.
Many of us tracked the same WS (etc) cross-pollination / intergenerational networking in response to COVID. https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1258827352836116480
Many of us tracked the same WS (etc) cross-pollination / intergenerational networking in response to COVID. https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1258827352836116480
1) The Michigan Capitol attack is a great example of the intergenerational and cross-organizational mergers and porousness of far right extremism (see above Tweet).
Remember, guys: Michigan was a dress rehearsal for January 6.
A lot of ReOpen demos laid the recent groundwork.
Remember, guys: Michigan was a dress rehearsal for January 6.
A lot of ReOpen demos laid the recent groundwork.
Far right / white supremacist extremist affiliations have always been porous.
That's why you've had many simultaneous Christian Identity / skinheads / militia members, for one.
Cross "group" membership and participation is, and has been, quite common. https://www.ajc.com/news/militia-alliance-in-georgia-signals-new-phase-for-extremist-paramilitaries/UD2JMQV5A5EABHHAKBQZBK2IVY/?fbclid=IwAR072OHx88iDzSGrUSqthwcNFnqM7SC2T3gG68dFqx9mvDDInTeMA1rSXJE
That's why you've had many simultaneous Christian Identity / skinheads / militia members, for one.
Cross "group" membership and participation is, and has been, quite common. https://www.ajc.com/news/militia-alliance-in-georgia-signals-new-phase-for-extremist-paramilitaries/UD2JMQV5A5EABHHAKBQZBK2IVY/?fbclid=IwAR072OHx88iDzSGrUSqthwcNFnqM7SC2T3gG68dFqx9mvDDInTeMA1rSXJE
If you go back through my running threads on white supremacists and military infiltration, one thing you'll see:
Cross pollination between far right groups, and particularly the mainstreaming of WS as a way to launder 'white power' objectives is OLD. https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1355624859976364033?s=20
Cross pollination between far right groups, and particularly the mainstreaming of WS as a way to launder 'white power' objectives is OLD. https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1355624859976364033?s=20
Second major point here: the issue of the Capitol Siege and attackers' lack of organizational affiliation.
It's not as simple as it seems, or maybe so simple A LOT of media people completely miss it.
This is straight up white supremacist STRATEGY. https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1357361117777956864?s=20
It's not as simple as it seems, or maybe so simple A LOT of media people completely miss it.
This is straight up white supremacist STRATEGY. https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1357361117777956864?s=20
A few weeks ago, you may recall I talked about the 1988 sedition conspiracy trial of white supremacist actors The Order.
It's very relevant to the larger picture of non-organizationally (but ideologically) affiliated actors here.
Why? I'll get there. https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1349520791184969728?s=20
It's very relevant to the larger picture of non-organizationally (but ideologically) affiliated actors here.
Why? I'll get there. https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1349520791184969728?s=20
While the 1988 sedition conspiracy trial vs The Order is useful in highlighting what prosecutors of the Capitol insurrection should avoid...
...the AFTERMATH is even more key for understanding "non-affiliation" among far right/white supremacist actors. https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1349494892217581569
...the AFTERMATH is even more key for understanding "non-affiliation" among far right/white supremacist actors. https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1349494892217581569
Before I get there, let's step back one second to 1983.
Remember: we're talking umbrella white supremacist movement strategy here - not micro-histories, past or present.
Remember: we're talking umbrella white supremacist movement strategy here - not micro-histories, past or present.
When I told you about what we actually have with the Fascist Forge archive leak - and why it's SO significant for dismantling global Nazi terrorist networks - I mentioned Louis Beam, and his 1983 essay "Leaderless Resistance." https://twitter.com/MsEntropy/status/1355637172859064324
As the great @kathleen_belew points out time and time again - Americans' failure to understand white supremacist movement as a threat has A LOT to do with misunderstanding Timothy McVeigh and OKC as "lone wolf" terrorism.
And that, friends, was by white supremacist design.
And that, friends, was by white supremacist design.
Louis Beam's 1983 "Leaderless Resistance" outlined the necessity of downplaying organizational affiliations and ties that would leave the white supremacist movement vulnerable.
Instead, the *illusion* of "lone wolf" actors was emphasized to maintain resilience and longevity.
Instead, the *illusion* of "lone wolf" actors was emphasized to maintain resilience and longevity.
So here's how Louis Beam relates to the aftermath of the 1988 Order case.
After the sedition conspiracy case, the white supremacist movement shifted to emphasize:
Appeals to 'shared American values' (traditional family, etc) as a way to mainstream WS, and downplay WS ties.
After the sedition conspiracy case, the white supremacist movement shifted to emphasize:
Appeals to 'shared American values' (traditional family, etc) as a way to mainstream WS, and downplay WS ties.
Post 1988, Louis Beam's "Leaderless Resistance" / the "lone wolf" illusion was still very important - but significantly:
The white supremacist movement devoted a LOT more effort to:
1) mainstreaming WS
2) laundering WS
3) shifting AWAY from organizational affiliations
The white supremacist movement devoted a LOT more effort to:
1) mainstreaming WS
2) laundering WS
3) shifting AWAY from organizational affiliations
Bluntly, the white supremacist movement has relied since 1983 on this macro strategy:
Appear operationally disconnected from ideological partners while mainstreaming WS in the establishment, AND working toward the same ends as other movement actors.
And. It. Worked.
Appear operationally disconnected from ideological partners while mainstreaming WS in the establishment, AND working toward the same ends as other movement actors.
And. It. Worked.
To sum up this quick thread on the many problems with the "January 6 was unaffiliated actors and is dangerous because of extremist intermingling" coverage:
Dangerous, yes (broader platform).
New? Not. At. All.
Continue to miss that, and we're even more screwed.
Dangerous, yes (broader platform).
New? Not. At. All.
Continue to miss that, and we're even more screwed.
