The Spokesman-Review chooses to publish an article by Shawn Vestal that is full of innuendo and false analogies about the American Redoubt, Eric Parker, and the III% of Idaho. I reached out to Shawn Vestal directly and explained to him how much of his article “The American Redoubt is alive and well in the Idaho Capitol as ‘Bundy sniper’ receives hero’s welcome” was wrong. Shawn Vestal response was basically so what. I then sent a shorter version of the following article to their Spokesman-Review Editorial department to set the record straight. We will see if they publish it.
Shawn Vestal attempt to associate the American Redoubt to White Supremacist is #fakenews and ludicrous. Shawn said “The Redoubt is more idea than place – a dream of a Western haven for far-right revolutionaries that is not all that different from Richard Butler’s view of the region…” Richard Butler was a neo-NAZI and white supremacist from California who came to Idaho to try and start a white only homeland. Local Idaho people eventually ran him out of town. Even other progressives from national and local publication admit that I, the American Redoubt and other patriots are not some new version white supremacy. [Bard Note: Stop laughing it is not funny!]
The American Redoubt movement is a political migration movement started by Army veteran, self-sufficiency author, and blogger James Rawles. It is focused on encouraging libertarian-leaning conservative Christians and Jews to consider moving too deeply conservative states to strengthen those states. The American Redoubt focuses on political migration primarily to Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.
The III% is a nation-wide American paramilitary patriot movement which pledges armed defense of the US constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. III% movement was co-founded by Mike Vanderboegh who allegedly was formally a member of far-left socialist groups such as the Students for a Democratic Society and the Socialist Workers Party before becoming a right-wing activist, Christian Libertarian and anti-federalist. Michael Brian Vanderboegh died in 2016 after a long battle with cancer. Eric Parker from Hailey, Idaho was the Vice President of the Idaho chapter of the III%.
To the best of my knowledge Eric Parker has never claimed to represent the American Redoubt movement. The Idaho Statesman in an article titled Members of 3% militia group say leader took money meant for arrested Idahoans dated 28SEP2016 reports that Eric Parker left the III% of Idaho when financial improprieties were discovered that involved the President of the III% of Idaho chapter Brandon Curtiss.
Shawn Vestal plainly says the American Redoubt and the III% are the same movements. I know for white liberal progressives in the lying liberal legacy media we all look the same. I can assure you we are not. An analogy is that although people can be members of the Hispanic organization The Race (La Raza) or Black Lives Matters (BLM) and both organizations may cooperate on leftist issues; they are not the same organization. Members of one organization are not automatically members of the other. The III% and the American Redoubt are two separate movements with separate purposes.
Shawn Vestal says the American Redoubt supported the Malheur Occupation. This is more #fakenews. Even while many people worked to deescalate the Bunkerville incident, nearly all of the “thought leaders” of the American Redoubt voiced support for the defensive actions of American citizens in the Bunkerville, Nevada Standoff. Most of these same Redoubts thought leaders were publicly vocal in their opposition to the events of the Malheur Oregon Occupation.
Peaceful protest Burns, eastern Oregon before the Malheur Occupation
I said of the Malheur events on this blog in the post Discernment Oregon militia situation on 03JAN2016 “I encourage patriots to remain as far away as possible.” In the post Statement on the Occupy Oregon Malheur Wildlife Refuge Situation on 27JAN2016 I said “As we suggested in our only post on this issue, the tactics that Ammon Bundy employed did not seem to end in the advancement of liberty.”
Hugh Latimer Senior Editor of SurvivalBlog said of the Malheur Occupation in the post titled News From The American Redoubt on 05JAN2016 “SurvivalBlog has many concerns over this fiasco that is formulating right now…We encourage fellow Patriots not to flock to Oregon, where you would be considered outsiders and not entirely welcome by the local population, but instead, prepare in your local area where your strengths are. The fight may be coming to you. Continue to pray that the Federal government does not end this in a Waco-style assault.” James Rawles followed up The Latest Wave of The Sagebrush Rebellion on 19JAN2017 “I must mention that I disagree with the tactics chosen by Ammon Bundy and his compatriots.”
John Jacob Schmidt said on his blog RadioFreeRedoubt in the post Oregon Wildlife Refuge Patriot Standoff on 03JAN2016 “For the record: Radio Free Redoubt and AmRRON do not condone the occupation of the Federal Wildlife Refuge Headquarters by patriots.”
Pastor Baldwin said on the post Malheur Occupation, Is Not Bundy Ranch on 07JAN2016 “Citizens coming together to peacefully protest a perceived injustice is as American as mom and apple pie. But a group of citizens acting as a mob and, with a show of force, taking over a public (or private) facility when there is no threat to life is just plain wrong–anger with BLM notwithstanding.”
The American Redoubt was united in our opposition to the Malheur Occupation. We felt the Bunkerville Standoff was a different matter.
Shawn Vestal statement that reasonable people would not see Bunkerville as defense of an American rancher is false. The Bunkerville Standoff had little to do with grazing rights and primarily to do with the federal government’s military-like response to a few cows grazing on desert lands that has led to law enforcement terror in the past. The Bunkerville Standoff become “a thing” when Clive Bundy said on alternative-media that federal “snipers” had taken up position around his ranch and placed “strange devices” all around his home. He feared for his and his family’s life.
Defensive protest at Bunkerville, Nevada
This caused the most significant outpouring of support by modern day anti-federalist in recent memory. As Shawn Vestal says Eric Parker and hundreds of others drove hundreds of miles to stand with a family they did not know being surrounded by federal agents. The modern day anti-federalists often called “patriots” decided that this family would not stand alone before the might of the federal terror. For years the FBI, BLM and State’s Attorney said claims of snipers and devices were false and ludicrous. U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro an Obama appointed judge confirmed that the FBI, BLM and the Nevada State’s Attorney’s office lied in court and to the public. Not a surprise to those paying attention. The “strange devices” where rugged wireless cameras and there were snipers surrounding his home. This is part of the reason Judge Navarro dismissed all charges with prejudice meaning these men cannot be retried on the same charges.
A report by BLM whistleblower Larry Wooten, which was exclusively provided to Shari Dovale of Redoubt News in the article EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Matt Shea Exposes BLM Atrocities said “…the investigation revealed a widespread pattern of bad judgment, lack of discipline, incredible bias, unprofessionalism and misconduct, as well as likely policy, ethical, and legal violations among senior and supervisory staff at the BLM’s Office of Law Enforcement and Security.” He also stated that the BLM used the most aggressive and military approach possible.
From the FBI making the firebombs that were used against the black nationalist members of the MOVE in West Philadelphia in 1978 where 6 adults and 5 children were shot or burned alive. The Philadelphia Inquirer did an update on the MOVE atrocity on 09MAY2010. To the FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi shooting Vicki Weaver in her home in Naples, Idaho in 1992, to the FBI using incendiary devices that directly led to burning of 76 women and children alive in Waco, Texas the FBI and law enforcement agencies have a sordid history of overly violent military responses. This is seen even today in the continuing lethal interactions between law enforcement and primarily inner-city minorities as well as military tactics used against ranchers in the West.
President Ronald Regan supported the Sagebrush Rebellion
The events of Bunkerville are in a long line of flare-ups between Western States and the federal government many people call the Sagebrush Rebellion. The motivating issue of the Sagebrush Rebellion and Bunkerville is the Western States controlling more of their own natural resources. Those, like Eric Parker who risk their lives and freedom to stand up to what many see as law enforcement terror are seen in a positive light by many modern day anti-federalist. It is a continuation of the 30 year old Sagebrush Rebellion. This is a real issue, and if it is not resolved to the satisfaction of both sides, I fear more potentially violent flare-ups.
Like Ronald Regan before them, we humbly thank Idaho State Representative Dorothy Moon a Republican from Stanley, Idaho and other Republican Idaho legislators for working for peace and giving voice to the Western Ranchers, miners, patriots and other “fly over” Americans and the Sagebrush Rebellion. I covered that in an article titled Idaho Republicans stand up for the Bunkerville anti-federalists.
Updated: 30MAR2018 to note that a quote came from Hugh Latimer
Updated: 01FEB2018 to note Mike Vanderboegh conversion and death
Here’s a quote spoken directly to me by a life-long Coeur d’Alene resident in 2008: “You know what? We sure had a lot less crime and drug use around this place when the Aryan Nations were still here.”
The gentleman was not a “Skinhead”, a “white supremacist” or separatist and was married to a Jewish woman with which he had two offspring with. He was simply stating an observation and could well be wrong. It would be interesting to study the crime data for both the city itself and Kootenai County during the period the “Nations” were there and afterwards to see if there was/is any merit to his argument.
Curiously, and with no offense intended, how long have you been out in these parts? Were you here when Aryan Nations still had their compound near Hayden Lake or did you arrive afterwards?
That both said and asked, the only overt, regular act against Butler by the locals was when Butler’s group held their annual parade down Sherman Street in Couer d’Alene and the predecessors of todays “Social Justice Warriors” would come out and hurl epiteths at aging Richard and his throng of shaven headed followers. Quite naturally, breathless, pearl-clutching reporters from the nations premier daily’s were present, scribbling notes about the hour-long horror unfolding in front of them for their soon to be released stories which would then be emblazoned the following day on the upper-fold of page one from From the New York Times all the way to the L.A. Times.
Year after year, the day after the parade in Coeur d’Alene, short of the S.J.W.’s and the Chamber of Commerce, no one really cared. Since it was a Sunday, Butler was most likely holding services on his compound and hopefully most everyone else was attending the church of their choice as well.
In spite of your protestations and anecdotal suggestions to the contrary, the civil litigation against Butler, et.al. prosecuted by the Southern Poverty Law Center is what ended Butlers presence in the area, not the “locals”. I do not wish to demean here, but the fact of the matter is that without that disgusting S.P.L.C. entering the picture, Aryan Nations would still be exercising their constitutional rights here in the “Redoubt” to do whatever they wished to do inside the parameters of civil and criminal law, and rightfully so.
In truth, Butler was a molehill turned into a mountain by the nations left-wing press and nothing more. He had a religous belief system that flew in the face of the zeitgeist, and given that my understanding is you are a “Conservative Catholic” along the SSPX variety and most likely agree with the views espoused by Bishop Williamson, well, you too have made the SPLC’s “Hate List.” Go ahead and look. You are now “Somebody” and Mark Potok is keeping an eye on you.
Because of sheer numbers, for the time being you and the rest of the Traditional Catholics are currently “safe” whereas due to simple mathematics whereas Mr. Butler was “easy pickings”. That circumstance can change and change quickly. All it takes is for a breeze to blow from a slightly different diection that then turns into a gale.
Then you and yours are the next Richard Butler.
A correction to your otherwise well-reasoned piece is in order.
You made a particular claim that cannot be substantiated by facts, that being “Richard Butler was a neo-NAZI and white supremacist from California who came to Idaho to try and start a white only homeland. Local Idaho people eventually ran him out of town.”
I do not contest that Butler was from California nor the man’s interest in starting a “white only homeland”. But your contention that “Local Idaho people eventually ran him out of town” is as factually fallacious as the litany of outlandish claims by Shawn Vestal in his piece published in the Spokesman-Review.
Mr. Butler and the Aryan Nations were driven out of northern Idaho by Morris Dees and his “Southern Poverty Law Center” after winning a multi-million dollar judgment against Butler and his Church after some of the members chased down a woman and her son who were percieved to be “casing the joint”, said members brandishing weapons in the process. Butler, cash-poor” and thus unable to pay the punative damages in the case had to forfeit his “compound” to the plaintiff in the case and he and his followers then moved to a location in the Southeastern United States.
There was no “uprising’ in the Coeur d’Alene-Hayden area against Butler and his followers that drove the Aryan Nations from the area. There was nothing of the sort yet your prose makes it sound as if in some fit of righteous indignation akin to that borne by the Abolitionists, local Idahoans ran he and his followers out of the area.
What you wrote about that situation was nothing but ahistoric hogwash. Pure hogwash.
That said, the so-called “Redoubt” well pre-existed Rawles coining the term. It is best characterized as sort of “White Flight” from other areas of the nation to the inter-mountain region of the Pacific Northwest that has been ongoing for around twenty five years. Go ahead and check the demographics of who is moving in if you doubt my claims. If anything, the first overt suggestion of folks packing up and moving to the region along the lines belatedly suggested by Jim Rawles was done by Tom Chittum in his book published in 1997, “Civil War II”. Perhaps you should grab a copy and catch up on your history before you pin another medal on Rawles chest, eh?
John, Excellent points. I believe there is evidence to support the statements “Local Idaho people eventually ran him out of town.” Yes there were others outside who tried to use their grey methods against “many” conservatives they do not like. This makes groups like the SPLC trustworthy to the Left but makes them completely untrustworthy to the Right.
Yet there were also local Idahoans who fought against the Aryan Nations. As you point out the local black woman was a local citizen as far as I know.
A realtor told me about local Idahoans who nearly got into a gun fight with the Aryans over road access because they didn’t want them as neighbors.
Their was a Hispanic home owner who gun down two white supremacist who attacked his home.
Also the Human Rights Education Institute (who I do not really like, because they try to slander all right wing groups with the racist label) also took a leading role against the Aryan nations.
It seems to me that credit should also be given local Idahoans who fought against this external group.
There are many people who are “back to the earth” types. Saying a bunch of hippies who want to live more self-sufficiently are akin to white supremacists is false and in current terminology #fakenews. The Redoubt has just as much to do with hippies as it does with “white flight.” Meaning nothing.
I recall that shortly after Butler arrived and began constructing his “church” (compound) that it was destroyed by suspected, but never proven? arson. Randy Weaver’s “problems” with the Feds began when he checked out the Aryan Nations-didn’t join as I recall. American born terrorist Robert Mathews, on the other hand, found the Aryan Nations not up to his expectations and organized The Order. Unfortunately news media (and often the government) is unable differentiate between claims, definitions, or truth and fiction in conjuring up their news and reports. It is very true that locals would have loved to run Butler, his lies and hate, and the followers he attracted and encouraged out of north Idaho.
My e-mail to the so-called journalist who wrote to Spokesman piece:
“Is your piece about the American Redoubt an editorial or an alleged news report?
“If the latter, your editors and you committed journalistic malpractice. There may not be grounds for a defamation suit, but I don’t have first hand knowledge of the relevant facts. By the way, your conflation of things shows constitutional (actual) malice, in my opinion. Whether such would be “of and concerning” certain identifiable individuals is another matter. Suffice it to say, you’re a racist. I’d like to move to the American Redoubt, not to homestead, but to leave the state in which I currently reside. So, you’ve pre-emptively called me a racist without knowing anything about me. There may enough in your piece to allow a jury to decide the issues. Hopefully, that’s true. If you receive a retraction demand, better heed it.”
Alex, unfortunately, I’ll probably never move to the Redoubt because my wife doesn’t want to. I’m with you in spirit. I hope to take my wife there this summer, but she’s self-employed and thinks she needs to keep working, despite the fact that I just retired and we have a stable income stream. Old habits die hard.
Thank you very much! We need all types in the occupied zones and in the redoubt. One thing I suggest is to make friends up here, and have a plan on getting out of where ever you are. Come up to Coeur d’Alene and stay on the lake if you can afford it. Your wife will love it.
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Thank you for the lik.