United Citizens' Alarm

Last updated

The United Citizens' Alarm (UCA, formerly the Utah Citizens' Alarm) is an armed right-wing militia group [1] in Utah, United States. Founded in 2020 in opposition to Black Lives Matter (BLM), the group has been considered a part of the U.S. extreme right, with some members being associated with the far-right Proud Boys. [2]

Contents

History

The group's founder is Casey Robertson. [3] [4] A former Democrat turned pro-Trump Republican, Robertson's parents both work in U.S. law enforcement). He founded the group in opposition to a BLM counter-demonstration to a police protest, when a driver of an SUV drove through the crowd and was subsequently shot. [5] [6] The group's main organization was its Facebook page [1] and members of the militia include former military and law enforcement individuals, and have faced no resistance from authorities or law enforcement. [7]

Robertson has pushed conspiracy theories relating to anti-fascist protesters (antifa) and BLM, claiming that they have both been funded by the Islamic State (ISIS) to destroy American values as fifth columnists. UCA believes that there will be an upcoming civil war instigated by underground militant forces, including BLM and antifa, and that it will be the job of UCA and the militia movement to defend the U.S. from attack. [7]

Methods

The group's tactics are suppressive; UTA members go to rallies throughout Utah with 30–1,000 members, wearing military-style uniforms and bulletproof vests while they observe rallies. They claim that they are at these groups to prevent damage to property, and openly carry weapons with them, taking advantage of both the Second Amendment and Utah's open carry laws. [1] [7]

This has been seen by civil rights groups as having a chilling effect on canceling protests, as organizers fear that the presence of armed UTA members would lead to violence. Jason Stevens, of American Civil Liberties Union chapter in Utah, drew parallels between these tactics and intimidation tactics used against black protesters in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. [7] Their paramilitary tactics have been criticized by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center, and has raised concerns over voter intimidation in the presidential election of 2020. [8]

In response, some groups and individuals – such as BLM activist and guns' rights proponent John Sullivan and his group, Insurgence USA – brought arms to protests for self-defence, and encouraged other protesters to do the same. [1]

On July 22, 20 armed UCA members confronted Sullivan at an armed protest. [9] On October 2, 2020, a UCA counter-protester was charged with assault at a BLM rally. [10]

On social media

In August 2020, Utah Citizen's Alarm group was on Facebook – which had nearly 20,000 members at the time – was banned for violating Facebook's new policy on groups, which aimed to "[take] action against Facebook pages, groups and Instagram accounts tied to offline anarchist groups that support violent acts amidst protests, U.S. based militia organizations and QAnon." [11] Robertson denied that UCA supported violence. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oath Keepers</span> American far-right organization since 2009

Oath Keepers is an American far-right anti-government militia whose leaders have been convicted of violently opposing the government of the United States, including the transfer of presidential power as prescribed by the United States constitution. It was incorporated in 2009 by founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes, a lawyer and former paratrooper. In 2023, Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack, and another Oath Keepers leader, Kelly Meggs, was sentenced to 12 years for the same crime. Three other members have pleaded guilty to this crime, and four other members have been convicted of it.

The 2014 Bundy standoff was an armed confrontation between supporters of cattle rancher Cliven Bundy and law enforcement following a 21-year legal dispute in which the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) obtained court orders directing Bundy to pay over $1 million in withheld grazing fees for Bundy's use of federally owned land adjacent to Bundy's ranch in southeastern Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Lives Matter</span> Social movement originating in the US

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a decentralized political and social movement that seeks to highlight racism, discrimination, and racial inequality experienced by black people, and promote anti-racism. Its primary concerns are incidents of police brutality and racially motivated violence against black people. It started following the killings of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Rekia Boyd, among others. The movement and its related organizations typically advocate for various policy changes considered to be related to black liberation. While there are specific organizations that label themselves simply as "Black Lives Matter," such as the Black Lives Matter Global Network, the overall movement is a decentralized network of people and organizations with no formal hierarchy. The slogan "Black Lives Matter" itself remains untrademarked by any group. Despite being characterized by some as a violent movement, the overwhelming majority of its public demonstrations have been peaceful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Percenters</span> American and Canadian far-right militia group

The Three Percenters are an American and Canadian far-right anti-government militia.

From January 2 to February 11, 2016, the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) in eastern Oregon were seized and occupied by an armed group, later called Citizens for Constitutional Freedom, affiliated with private U.S. militias and the sovereign citizen movement following an earlier peaceful march in protest of the prison sentences for ranchers Dwight Hammond and his son, Steven Hammond, who were convicted of arson on federal land, sentenced to five years' imprisonment, and sought clemency from the U.S. president. The occupation received widespread coverage from media outlets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redneck Revolt</span> American far-left political group

Redneck Revolt is an American far-left socialist political group that organizes predominantly among white working-class people. The group supports gun rights and members often openly carry firearms. Its political positions are anti-capitalist, anti-racist and anti-fascist. Founded in Kansas in 2009, members were present at several protests against Donald Trump and against the far-right in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antifa (United States)</span> Anti-fascist political activist movement

Antifa is a left-wing anti-fascist and anti-racist political movement in the United States. It consists of a highly decentralized array of autonomous groups that use nonviolent direct action, incivility, and violence to achieve their aims. Most antifa political activism is nonviolent, involving poster and flyer campaigns, mutual aid, speeches, protest marches, and community organizing. However, some who identify as antifa also use tactics involving digital activism, doxing, harassment, physical violence, and property damage. Members of antifa aim to combat far-right extremists, including neo-Nazis and white supremacists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose City Antifa</span> Antifa group founded in 2007 in Portland, Oregon

Rose City Antifa (RCA) is an antifascist group founded in 2007 in Portland, Oregon. A leftist group, it is the oldest known active antifa group in the United States. While anti-fascist activism in the United States dates back to the 1980s, Rose City Antifa is the first to adopt the abbreviated moniker antifa. Since 2016, Rose City Antifa has been one of the nine chapters of the Torch Network coalition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Ngo</span> American right-wing author and influencer

Andy Cuong Ngo is an American right-wing author and social media influencer, who is known for covering and video-recording demonstrators. He is a journalist and editor-at-large for The Post Millennial, a Canadian conservative news website, and a regular guest on Fox News. Ngo has published columns in the New York Post and The Wall Street Journal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">End Domestic Terrorism rally</span> 2019 Proud Boys rally in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

The End Domestic Terrorism rally, sometimes subtitled "Better Dead Than Red", was a far-right demonstration organized by the Proud Boys and held in Portland, Oregon on August 17, 2019. The event, the purpose of which was to promote the idea that the "antifa" anti-fascist movement should be classified as "domestic terrorism", received national attention. The rally drew more counter-demonstrators than participants, with at least one group urging its members in advance not to attend, and ended with the Proud Boys requesting a police escort to leave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests</span> 2020–2023 police brutality protests

The George Floyd protests were a series of police brutality protests that began in Minneapolis in the United States on May 26, 2020. The civil unrest and protests began as part of international reactions to the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, during an arrest. Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis Police Department officer, knelt on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds as three other officers looked on and prevented passers-by from intervening. Chauvin and the other three officers involved were later arrested. In April 2021, Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. In June 2021, Chauvin was sentenced to 22+1⁄2 years in prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boogaloo movement</span> American far-right extremist movement

The boogaloo movement, whose adherents are often referred to as boogaloo boys or boogaloo bois, is a loosely organized far-right anti-government extremist movement in the United States. It has also been described as a militia. Adherents say they are preparing for, or seek to incite, a second American Civil War or second American Revolution which they call "the boogaloo" or "the boog".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Washington (state)</span> Civil unrest in Washington state following the murder of George Floyd

This is a list of protests over the murder of George Floyd that took place in the state of Washington in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Oregon</span> 2020 civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd

This is a list of George Floyd protests in the U.S. state of Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Colorado</span> 2020 civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd

This is a list of George Floyd protests in Colorado, United States.

On August 29, 2020, Aaron Danielson, an American supporter of the far-right group Patriot Prayer, was shot and killed after participating in a caravan which drove through Portland, Oregon, displaying banners and signs supporting President Donald Trump, and clashing with participants in the local George Floyd protests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Earle Sullivan</span> American political activist and photojournalist

John Earle Sullivan, also known as Activist John, is an American political activist and self-identified photojournalist who participated in the January 6, 2021 United States Capitol attack. Due to his involvement, in November 2023, he was convicted by a jury of felony obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, and five misdemeanors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 United States inauguration week protests</span> Protests against the presidency of Joe Biden

Supporters of Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, held small-scale armed protests and demonstrations at U.S. state capitols in the five days leading up to the inauguration of Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, in opposition to the results of the 2020 United States presidential election, which continued after the failure of the violent January 6 attempt to overturn the election in Trump's favor. Pro-Trump groups failed to stage organized dissent or affect the transition of power in an environment of deterrence and heightened security.

Since its foundation in 2016, members of the Proud Boys, a far-right, neo-fascist, and exclusively male organization, have been involved in a number controversial and violent events. This list contains a number of those events, some of which have resulted in criminal charges being filed against participants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Lives Matter street mural (Salt Lake City)</span> Mural in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.

In August 2020, eight artists painted a Black Lives Matter street mural in Salt Lake City's Washington Square Park, outside the Salt Lake City and County Building, in the U.S. state of Utah. The city had commissioned the painting with a contest "to support and memorialize the national movement to eliminate systemic racism".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gerberg, Jon (28 October 2020). "Readying for war: Inside an armed right-wing group in Utah" (video). The Washington Post . Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Parrott, Jeff (30 September 2020). "Who are the Proud Boys?". Deseret News . Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  3. ↑ MacFarquhar, Neil; Healy, Jack; Baker, Mike; Kovaleski, Serge F. (16 January 2021). "Capitol Attack Could Fuel Extremist Recruitment For Years, Experts Warn". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Harris, Jeremy (20 August 2020). "UCA leader says group will continue to organize, despite removal from Facebook". KUTV.
  5. ↑ Glas, Brittany (31 August 2020). "KSL Investigates: Does Armed Protest Have A Chilling Effect On Free Speech?". KSLTV.com.
  6. ↑ "Utah legislative committee approves harsh rioting penalties". KSTU. 19 February 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Okoren, Nicolle (27 July 2020). "The birth of a militia: how an armed group polices Black Lives Matter protests". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  8. ↑ McCord, Mary B. "Re: Private Paramilitary Activity and Voter Intimidation in Provo" (PDF). Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. Georgetown University Law Center.
  9. ↑ Palmer, Ewan (23 July 2020). "20 men with guns confront solo armed black protester at Utah Capitol". Newsweek. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Reavy, Pat (2 October 2020). "Counterprotester charged with assault at Black Lives Matter rally". Deseret News. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Porter, Melanie (21 August 2020). "'Utah Citizens' Alarm' removed from Facebook following new group guidelines". KSTU. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  12. ↑ Knox, Annie (20 August 2020). "Facebook shuts down page of armed Utah group that attends anti-police protests". Deseret News. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.