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The Quiet Retooling of the Militia Movement
Coordination Among Groups
Posted: September 7, 2004
Some militia activists have proven willing to organize events more public than trainings. "Rev. Lt. Colonel" Mike Strauss of the Indiana Militia Corps, for example, scheduled a "Northern Indiana Preparedness Expo" for the fall of 2004; such expos are akin to trade fairs for survivalists, militia groups, and similarly minded people.
However, the "new" militias have been much more reluctant than their 1990s counterparts to engage in high-profile public activities that might bring significant media or law enforcement scrutiny. When some militia activists formed the Constitutional Rights Enforcement & Support Team (CREST) as a "mutual defense pact," others were wary.
Explained one CREST organizer, "The larger mainstream patriot groups didn't want anything to do with a group that would resort to the use of force to defend their rights. I don't know what our forefathers would think about that." As a result, CREST had to "tone things down a bit" and reinvent themselves as a "last resort second amendment defense group." In other words, explained the organizer, "our purpose will be to be prepared for the day that an order is given to confiscate all firearms from civilians."
Still, despite softening its message a bit, CREST's organizers have left no doubt about its willingness to use force: "Many of you are ready and there are some small groups that are ready to go on the offensive when that order is given. There will be pockets of resistance here and there but there is no large scale plan to collectively defend our [2nd Amendment rights]. It doesn't matter what you call the organization or who starts it but it is a necessity and the CREST does meet that need."
CREST's organizers boasted in 2004 that its Internet Yahoo group had over 820 subscribers, with over 100 active militia members.
Other attempts to form umbrella or coordinating groups, or revive those from the 1990s such as the Southeastern Alliance or the Third Continental Congress, have had less success. In December 2003, William Flatt, a "major general" with the Indiana Militia Corps and "interim Secretary of Defense to the 3rd Continental Congress," issued a call for militia groups to join the Congress. Three months later, only five groups had endorsed the Congress.
In February, Flatt issued another call to arms. The time for games, he warned, was over: "Patriot Acts 1 & 2 are here. More big brother government is on the way, and unless the Bilderbergers change their mind, they have already selected the next President of the USSA, John Kerry...If you are completely, deadly serious about restoring freedom, I need to hear from you…" Despite such entreaties, however, Flatt received little support.
One of the most significant failures was the collapse of the "Mutual Defense Pact Militia," started by Colorado militia activist Rick Stanley. Member groups and individuals pledged to go to the aid of any members assailed by the government. However, Stanley was arrested in late 2003 on charges of threatening judges and failure to appear in court (he was later convicted). Alabama militia leader Floyd Shackleford took over the reins, but resigned in November 2003 after the MDPM was actually asked to intervene in a standoff situation in Maine and the MDPM collapsed.
Other joint militia ventures have also proven unsuccessful. In March 2004, a T. B. Hall of the "Sons of Indiana Unorganized Militia" issued a press release announcing "Operation Moses," which basically threatened armed protests or even civil war if Congress did not give in to its demands to have open hearings to "restore the republic." The announcement caused a stir in militia circles, but few rushed to support the plan, and Hall eventually called it off the following month to support CREST instead.
However, some militia groups have engaged in cooperation in recent months with other extremist groups, in particular with groups like Ranch Rescue, a Texas-based anti-immigration group that specializes in conducting armed vigilante border patrols along the border with Mexico. Militia members from Missouri and Kentucky, including the Kentucky State Militia, have participated in Ranch Rescue "operations" in Arizona. Other militia members have stayed away from such activities, fearing adverse publicity or even arrest.
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