U.S. militia groups head to border, stirred by Trump's call to arms

[Judi Lynn]

The Texas Minutemen, according to its president, have 100 volunteers en route to the Rio Grande who want to help stop the migrants, with more likely on the way.

BY MARY LEE GRANT AND NICK MIROFF, THE WASHINGTON POST NOV. 4, 20186 HOURS AGO

FALFURRIAS, Tex. — Gun-carrying civilian groups and border vigilantes have heard a call to arms in President Donald Trump’s warnings about threats to American security posed by caravans of Central American migrants moving through Mexico. They’re packing coolers and tents, oiling rifles and tuning up aerial drones, with plans to form caravans of their own and trail American troops to the border.

“We’ll observe and report, and offer aid in any way we can,” said Shannon McGauley, a bail bondsman in the Dallas suburbs who is president of the Texas Minutemen. McGauley said he was preparing to head for the Rio Grande in coming days.

“We’ve proved ourselves before, and we’ll prove ourselves again,” he said.

McGauley and others have been roused by the president’s call to restore order and defend the country against what Trump has called “an invasion,” as thousands of Central American migrants advance slowly through southern Mexico toward the U.S. border. Trump has insisted that “unknown Middle Easterners,” “very tough fighters,” and large numbers of violent criminals are traveling among the women, children and families heading north on foot.

More:
https://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/04/us-militia-groups-head-border-stirred-trumps-call-arms/

LBN:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142193774



Shannon McGauley texas minutemen







Shannon, in the center.

From Shannon's website:



https://hiveminer.com/flickr_hvmnd.cgi?method=GET&noform=t&originput=Shannon%20McGauley&sort=Interestingness&photo_number=50&page=1&search_domain=User&textinput=Shannon%20McGauley&sorting=Interestingness&search_type=User&tag_mode=all&photo_type=250

[Judi Lynn]

1. Will Militia Members and the US Military Murder Migrants at the Border?

BY
Robin Marty, Care2
PUBLISHED
November 4, 2018

It will still be weeks at best until the so-called “migrant caravan” — a movement of a few thousand refugees fleeing Central America in hopes of starting new lives in the US — makes it to the border. But it’s already become clear that those seeking safety in the United States may sadly find their lives even more at risk than they ever were in their former homes.

President Donald Trump — intent on turning a flood of refugees into a menacing “invasion” of terrorists, criminals and drug lords seeking to wreak havoc on US citizens — announced his intention to send about 800 military troops to the border in an attempt to stop the asylum seekers from entering the country.

Now he has upgraded those troop numbers, apparently preparing to turn the Mexico border into a militarized zone.

. . .

The AP reports:

The U.S. Border Patrol this week warned local landowners in Texas that it expects ‘possible armed civilians’ to come onto their property because of the caravan. Three activists told The Associated Press that they were going to the border or organizing others, and groups on Facebook have posted dire warnings about the caravan. One said it was ‘imperative that we have boots on the ground.’ Another wrote: “WAR! SECURE THE BORDER NOW!” The militia members said they plan to bring guns and equipment such as bulletproof vests and lend a hand to the Border Patrol to protect against people unlawfully entering the country. “They’re just laughing in our face,” said Shannon McGauley, president of the Texas Minutemen. “It’s a free-for-all in America.”

More:
https://truthout.org/articles/will-militia-members-and-the-us-military-murder-migrants-at-the-border/