Webinar follow-up and resources!
Last week we had a great webinar last week on the topic of militia groups influencing influence local responses to COVID-19!
Travis McAdam, Program Director for Combating White Nationalism & Defending Democracy at the Montana Human Rights Network, presented information that connects the militia movement from the 1990s to the efforts of Ammon Bundy today. It’s clear that local anti-mask groups are using Bundy’s strategies of intimidating local officials in order to shift decision-making powers away from public health professionals to elected officials, who normally have no background in epidemiology and public health.
We weren’t able to record the webinar, but we’ll probably do a repeat in January, after the 2021 Montana Legislative session begins. We’re concerned about a few draft bills that look like they’re designed to promote county supremacy, which is part of militia ideology.
If you missed the webinar, here are a few links that will help you understand how militia ideology is influencing local officials, like the Flathead County Commissioners and Annie Bukacek, who is a member of the Flathead City-County Board of Health.
County Supremacy
Militias have used this concept to try and wrestle authority away from federal and state governments, placing it with county sheriffs and county commissioners. For instance, Ammon Bundy and his family cited this idea in their fights with federal land managers in Nevada in 2014 and Oregon in 2017.
This report by MHRN outlines how Bundy and other militia groups tried to leverage public lands issues to radicalize people to their anti-government, pro-militia ideology. Now they’re using the same playbook to weaken public health initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another report by MHRN shows how activists like Gary Marbut of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, of which Annie Bukacek is a board member, use gun rights to promote county supremacy and other militia beliefs.
Ammon Bundy and the People’s Rights movement
Bundy has created a network of more than 20,000 people across 16 states that he is hoping to mobilize in his anti-government crusade against public health officials.
This link gives you a full report by the Montana Human Rights Network and the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights on the situation. Profiles on Montana activists, including people in the Flathead Valley and those who are harassing Gallatin County officials, are included in Chapter 12.
MHRN also did this quick report on People’s Rights activity and leaders in Montana.
Love Lives Here is an affiliate of the Montana Human Rights Network, and together we are watching activists connected to Ammon Bundy across the state and in the Flathead Valley. Please subscribe to our email list to get updates and action items regarding extremist activity and hopeful news about community actions.