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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCOVIDIOTS: The rightwing groups behind wave of protests against Covid-19 restrictions
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/17/far-right-coronavirus-protests-restrictionsA wave of planned anti-lockdown demonstrations that have broken out around the country to protest against the efforts of state governments to combat the coronavirus pandemic with business closures and stay-at-home orders have included far-right groups as well as more mainstream Republicans.
While protesters in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and other states claim to speak for ordinary citizens, many are also supported by street-fighting rightwing groups like the Proud Boys, conservative armed militia groups, religious fundamentalists, anti-vaccination groups and other elements of the radical right.
On Wednesday in Lansing, Michigan, a protest put together by two Republican-connected not-for-profits was explicitly devised to cause gridlock in the city, and for a time blocked the entrance to a local hospital.
It was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, which Michigan state corporate filings show has also operated under the name of Michigan Trump Republicans. It was also heavily promoted by the Michigan Freedom Fund, a group linked to the Trump cabinet member Betsy DeVos.
But the protest also attracted far-right protest groups who have been present at pro-Trump and gun rights rallies in Michigan throughout the Trump presidency.
Placards identified the Michigan Proud Boys as participants in the vehicle convoy. Near the state house, local radio interviewed a man who identified himself as Phil Odinson.
In fact the man is Phil Robinson, the prime mover in a group called the Michigan Liberty Militia, whose Facebook page features pictures of firearms, warnings of civil war, celebrations of Norse paganism and memes ultimately sourced from white nationalist groups like Patriot Front.
The pattern of rightwing not-for-profits promoting public protests while still more radical groups use lockdown resistance as a platform for extreme rightwing causes looks set to continue in events advertised in other states over coming days. . . .
In Idaho on Friday, protesters plan to gather at the capitol building in Boise to protest anti-virus restrictions put in place by the Republican governor, Brad Little.
The protest has been heavily promoted by the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF), which counts among its donors dark money funds linked to the Koch brothers such as Donors Capital Fund, and Castle Rock, a foundation seeded with part of the fortune of Adolph Coors, the rightwing beer magnate.
While protesters in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and other states claim to speak for ordinary citizens, many are also supported by street-fighting rightwing groups like the Proud Boys, conservative armed militia groups, religious fundamentalists, anti-vaccination groups and other elements of the radical right.
On Wednesday in Lansing, Michigan, a protest put together by two Republican-connected not-for-profits was explicitly devised to cause gridlock in the city, and for a time blocked the entrance to a local hospital.
It was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, which Michigan state corporate filings show has also operated under the name of Michigan Trump Republicans. It was also heavily promoted by the Michigan Freedom Fund, a group linked to the Trump cabinet member Betsy DeVos.
But the protest also attracted far-right protest groups who have been present at pro-Trump and gun rights rallies in Michigan throughout the Trump presidency.
Placards identified the Michigan Proud Boys as participants in the vehicle convoy. Near the state house, local radio interviewed a man who identified himself as Phil Odinson.
In fact the man is Phil Robinson, the prime mover in a group called the Michigan Liberty Militia, whose Facebook page features pictures of firearms, warnings of civil war, celebrations of Norse paganism and memes ultimately sourced from white nationalist groups like Patriot Front.
The pattern of rightwing not-for-profits promoting public protests while still more radical groups use lockdown resistance as a platform for extreme rightwing causes looks set to continue in events advertised in other states over coming days. . . .
In Idaho on Friday, protesters plan to gather at the capitol building in Boise to protest anti-virus restrictions put in place by the Republican governor, Brad Little.
The protest has been heavily promoted by the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF), which counts among its donors dark money funds linked to the Koch brothers such as Donors Capital Fund, and Castle Rock, a foundation seeded with part of the fortune of Adolph Coors, the rightwing beer magnate.
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COVIDIOTS: The rightwing groups behind wave of protests against Covid-19 restrictions (Original Post)
CousinIT
Apr 2020
OP
I remember the tea party and I remember the 2000 Brooks Brothers protesting the recount in
rusty quoin
Apr 2020
#11
kimbutgar
(21,188 posts)2. Exposure is the best sunlight
calimary
(81,466 posts)12. That's for sure!
And sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)3. White wing domestic terrorists.
BigmanPigman
(51,627 posts)4. The usual suspects.
Surprise, surprise.
2naSalit
(86,775 posts)5. Follow the money.
CousinIT
(9,257 posts)6. Some responses to the COVIDIOTS on twitter . . .
Iggo
(47,565 posts)7. Proud Boys are White Supremacists, and don't you forget it.
dalton99a
(81,570 posts)8. Kick
Windy City Charlie
(1,178 posts)9. Looks rather obvious
Looks rather obvious these "non-profits" are being funded by those that want the protesters to do the bidding for those that need the economy to be re-opened so badly.
Blue Owl
(50,494 posts)10. The guy they voted for is responsible for this mess
n/t
rusty quoin
(6,133 posts)11. I remember the tea party and I remember the 2000 Brooks Brothers protesting the recount in
Florida. John Roberts was there.