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In election year, a federal focus on sovereign citizen movementIn an era when Barack Obama, a president viewed as radically liberal by the extreme right, prepares to seek a second term, an anti-government movement poses an increasing threat to law enforcement and government workers, according to the FBI. These self-described sovereign citizen extremists believe they live outside the law -- that they are purer souls caught in a corrupt governmental and societal scheme that they equate with tyranny. Resisting this evil is a duty to God, justifying any actions -- even violent ones -- they believe they must take. In Alaska, it's unknown how many sovereign citizens belong to the Fairbanks-based Alaska Peacemakers Militia. Its jailed leader, Schaeffer Cox, once bragged he had a force of 3,500 people at the ready. He warned local law enforcement and the courts that his militia had them outmanned and outgunned. But after his indictment on federal weapons and conspiracy charges stemming from an alleged plot to kill judges and law enforcement officers, conversations recorded by a militia infiltrator show Cox and his handful of known followers readily admit his boasted ranks were a bluff. Cox and others arrested with him deny any wrongdoing. But they don't shy away from expressing what they believe. And because of that, lawyers for some of the defendants claim the Feds are conducting what amounts to a witch hunt against the Peacemakers because they are known sovereign citizens. There is no doubt law enforcement has grown more vigilant in recent years, but "we are not investigating an ideology," says Kathleen Wright, a special agent at the FBI's Washington, D.C., headquarters. "We are not interested in people who believe in the ideology. It's only when they step over the line, commit a crime, that we have the potential to get involved." The Anti-Defamation League describes the sovereign citizen movement as a sister to the militia movement, yet notes both are growing and there is often cross-over between the two. And while the sovereign movement has origins in white supremacy, many younger followers have broken away from racism, as had Cox and his group, according to a trusted member of the Alaska Peacemakers Militia. Instead, they're angry about a host of perceived sociopolitical corruptions: a court system gone awry, stolen wealth, oppressive debt, abortion rights, impending societal collapse. It is against this backdrop that America's first black president will ask voters to send him back to the White House in November. But his skin color may have much less to do with the disdain "sovereign nations" have for him than his political views, if history is any indication. "My personal gut tells me it is less about race and more about the economy and a liberal president, and all the big government that comes along with having a Democrat in office," says Steven Chermak, an associate professor of criminology at Michigan State University and the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terror. 'Germinating in the mainstream'The uptick in today's sovereign extremism parallels a similar surge experienced when another Democrat was elected to the presidency, in 1992. Both Obama and former President Bill Clinton have been seen as antitheses of Republican presidents who preceded them, viewed by detractors as symbols of a big and evil government, contributors to America's social ills. While political candidates have the potential to agitate unhappy citizens, candidates from any end of the spectrum can inspire ire, as long as they belong to the system that extremists loathe. "To the extent that sovereign citizens don't believe the government is legitimate, (elections) keep complaints about the government on the front pages," says Brian Levin, a criminologist, civil rights attorney and professor who studies extremism and hate crime and serves as director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. "The militia movement had its genesis with Ruby Ridge, which happened under the Bush administration. Certainly they don't like leftwing folks, but anyone that is participating in the political mainstream can be in their crosshairs," Levin adds. These people are not harmless, nor are they particularly christian. A bunch of them harassed my family for years, committing a series of petty crimes and eventually culminating in a very serious property crime. We had no idea what was going on until much later, when we found out they were "sovereigns" and had convinced themselves that I was a government agent. If it could happen to us it could happen to anybody. Perhaps the most fundamental facet of human existence is sovereignty. There can be no argument to the first tenets of psychology that says "every behavior is rational to the person who behaves." We often talk about Sovereign Citizen without giving thought to a stronger premise of a sovereign state. It is accepted phrasing to say "he is in his state of mind." or even under testimony to be asked, "what was your state of mind at the time?" Unlike the created beasts and other critters, we have a free will. Granted, having a free will does become burdensome, especially when we have to make life, death, economic, domestic, and other critical decisions. The article tries to explain what sovereignty means, but unfortunately only muddies the waters. Until a person understands that he is a sovereign state, under his own control, making his own laws and moral limits, seeking his own truth, following his own dictates, one cannot even come close to comprehending what a sovereign citizen is. My friend Ray Southwell raises honey bees. They act today the same way that generations of honey bees have acted down through many years. You might say they are "programmed," and you'd be right. Honey bees are not designed to be sovereign but are created to be part of a hive to perform their God-created function to provide humans with that luscious sweet nectar. Humans ARE DESIGNED to be sovereign. They serve no greater purpose on earth but to act as cognitive beings who exist and naturally strive for life, liberty, and happiness (among other inalienable rights given to them by the Creator). To think that the individual is not a sovereign state is to conclude that he is part of some kind of hive. Today, in what has become an old, feeble, and threadbare country disconnected from its roots, the STATE has become the higher purpose. The addiction to political parties is a prime example of the honey bee mentality. The swarm of worker bees will gather around its Queen and will carry out the age-old purpose of establishing a hive. The swarm will gather during the next political convention to create the next hive so that all the little bees can fulfill their misguided purpose. How many thoughts, deeds, actions, and words are dictated, directed, legislated, and forced upon human beings living in the corporate entity called the USA? It is the loftiest expression of liberty to be called a sovereign being. No matter who your are or where you are, you are sovereign. When you no longer think for yourself, you become nothing more than a slave to corporate/hive existence. Free will provides each and every one of us with the power to decide. Schaeffer is exercising his own free will in the matter of sovereignty. I hope that one day he will rejoin us to inspire our thoughts once again. Norm Norm, Rationalize much? -TomClark So does "making his own laws and moral limits" as you mention include beating his wife, threatening the LEO who risk their lives to keep us safe and placing his children in life threatening situations? If you really feel that humans were created by divine power to exercise sovereignty why are so many people born disabled? Why did I need surgery to have my appendix removed? Why do we get wisdom teeth? Our evolution has us just as programmed as the honey-bee is, they just have a few hundred million years of practice on us, unless of course you believe that the earth and everything on it is 10,000 years old. "Simply stated, the SC abides by lawful and just laws and opposes legal tyranny under the color of law." Yeah, and ignore the actual acts of violence and threats to the government from OWS. Liberals, hypocrite thyselves. It truly is amusing that anyone would think Ruby Ridge is the genesis of a militia movement and the lack of education is obvious in that statement, total fiction forever. "Immediately after concluding peace, we will remove from the kingdom all alien knights, crossbowman, sergents and mercenary soldiers who have come with horses and arms to the hurt of the realm." Who exactly brainwashed these wsriters, is the best question? Who was George Washingon, and that little Whiskey Rebellion, talk about leaving your criminologist behind? Why is there a JFK Memorial, at Runnymede England? "Today we need a nation of minutemen..." The reference to Obama as 'liberal' shows just how far this country is pulling to the right. Fifty years ago, 80 years ago, he would have been considered a centrist, even right of center. Now the Republicans have made it seem acceptable and normal to voice the opinions of a right wing kook. You're right. He's not a liberal, he's a communist. The Democrats today are Communists. The Republicans are what the Democrats stood for 30 years ago and the libertarians represent true conservatism. Interesting that the guy who points out THE TRUTH about OWS gets -7 from the communists on this blog... Unka sam commits a crime. Have I got it about right? Everyone knows that party, the've been extremists for a very long time, the democratic partys favorite klub, and the Act from President Grant, and the 42nd Congress, law for reform of our criminals in government. As it was explained, by Mr. Justice Douglas, the Ku Klux Act of 1871, law for reform of those confused with the term sovern, legal, criminal, and democrat. "It is argued that "under color of" enumerated state authority excludes acts of an official or policeman who can show no authority under state law, state custom, or state usage to do what he did. In this case, it is said that these policemen, in breaking into petitioners' apartment, violated the Constitution [n6] and laws of Illinois. It is pointed out that, under Illinois law, a simple remedy is offered for that violation, and that, so far as it appears, the courts of Illinois are available to give petitioners that full redress which the common law affords for violence done to a person, and it is earnestly argued that no "statute, ordinance, regulation, custom or usage" of Illinois bars that redress. The Ku Klux Act grew out of a message sent to Congress by President Grant on March 23, 1871, reading: A condition of affairs now exists in some States of the Union rendering life and property insecure and [p173] the carrying of the mails and the collection of the revenue dangerous. The proof that such a condition of affairs exists in some localities is now before the Senate. That the power to correct these evils is beyond the control of State authorities I do not doubt; that the power of the Executive of the United States, acting within the limits of existing laws, is sufficient for present emergencies is not clear. Therefore, I urgently recommend such legislation as in the judgment of Congress shall effectually secure life, liberty, and property, and the enforcement of law in all parts of the United States. . . . ? I can relate to a lot of what the "sovereign citizen" "movement" is about (freedom), but this frothing at the mouth jabbering about God and Guns and Vast Conspiracy is just creepy. My opinion, someone wants to head into the woods and live their ideal, more power to them. Judge not, you know? But when it crosses the line into plotting and carrying out violence, it becomes the very thing it started out fighting against - egotistical, absolutist, us versus them tyranny. Ordinary bigotry. Ask me it's pretty cowardly to hole up with a bunch of guns, making believe you're doing something revolutionary. That's the way cowards and tyrants behave. Real change, real revolutions, come through popular action. Every time. It's slow, it's frustrating, it's hard, and it's not particularly romantic. Delete “If ever there was a holy war, it was that which saved our liberties and gave us independence” Who was Edmond Burke, a Soverign Specialist? Pick up your pen and write...Thomas Jefferson American Crisis #1 THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.... So, the way I read this article, the common person on the street has nothing to fear from these sovereign citizen types. Although the writer repeatedly cited their propensity for violence she also noted that for some reason they only target the government with their violence. That's gotta make it tough for the Fed's to explain how they are protecting "us" from "them"..... OldHaines, Timothy McVeigh targeted the government with his violence as well? -TomClark EDIT: After reading the rest of these posts, lets stay off of this particular message thread, although I often disagree with you, I don't think either of us belongs amongst this particular group of whackos. "That's gotta make it tough for the Fed's to explain how they are protecting "us" from "them"....." That statement is hilarious! I am a "common person on the street" and I just don't see the problem with these "sovereign citizens". I am not all that concerned that they want to go after the law enforcement types. After all, when you really need the police, they are only minutes away... Also after seeing what the NPS rangers did to Jim Wilde, some of them (LEO's)are the problem. This article seems to confirm what The Department of Homeland Security reported in 2009 - Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radical Resurgence and Recruitment. As I recall the Fox News set got really up on step about that, but later they spun off Glenn Beck to try to tone it down a little bit when it started to go off the rails. It does seem like a better idea to reign people like this in before they get their children killed in the crossfire. PS. I obey all of my governments laws. Always. Do You? To resist lies and evil is not a vice. I don't remember the details, but that guy at Ruby Ridge had his son and wife murdered by the "Wanna Be" Cowboys at BATFE-ces. Also, the guy won $3 Million for "wrongful death" or some other name for it. Oh yeah, Tim McVeigh was watching as Janet the Ugly murdered 76 people at Waco. And as you know Eric Holder was Ass AG when McVeigh blew up the Murry building at Oklahoma City. His DOJ, through his boss Janet the Ugly, provided pieces of the bomb that blew up the building. Many, many coverups for evil stupids in government. Also, the Gun Runners at the DOJ under Eric the holding Holder are complicit in 200 murders in Mexico using the Illegally smuggled guns the Fast and Stupid DOJ. TOO MANY OTHER INCOMPETENT EVILS TO MENTION. Please investigate the ineligible POTUS who is NOT a Natural Born Citizen as it has been understood for 235 years. I know you will because you love truth! NOT. Willy, -TomClark I don't understand why people have voted you onto the negative side. It seems to me that you have pretty much stated the truth. I have been in Waco and the whole thing was crazy. I have talked to local people that were as close as the government people would let them be. All they did was just shake their heads about what happened. I don't understand why people have voted you onto the negative side. They're communists. The truth doesn't fit their agenda....happens all the time on here. It seems to me that you have pretty much covered what went on. What McVeigh did was wrong anyway you look at it, but I can understand why he was upset....still killing people was not the answer. Thank you, Jill. The Southern Poverty Law Center estimates that over a thousand active, organized hate groups now exist inthe US. While your article points out the non-racist agenda of the Sovereigns, the correlation between their growth & that of hate groups with the election of a black president is not insignificant. Nor are the sympathizers and affiliates in Congress (mostly Republican) who have sought to staunch the federal investigations of these groups by pressuring the Office of Homeland Security to disband its domestic terrorism unit. Tea party Republicans in the house have also attempted to marginalized the SPLC and have succeeded to a certain extent. I notice (for example) that mainstream media often avoid referencing the fine work of the SPLC. Again, thank for an excellent article! Regarding the "fine work of the SPLC," it should be noted that of the 1,002 "hate groups" designated BY the SPLC, (there is no legal definition of that term), fully 262 of them are not affiliated with any known city or town. That's 26% right off the top. In many states on the SPLC's "Hate Map" fund-raising tool, the percentage of homeless "hate groups" runs as high as 60%, 80% and even a ridiculous 100%. http://wp.me/pCLYZ-aX Last October the SPLC's public relations chief Mark Potok admitted on camera that his numbers were anecdotal and largely inaccurate. http://wp.me/pCLYZ-bc In November, 2008, Mr. Potok predicted an "explosive" growth in "hate groups" due to the election of President Obama and the tanking economy. For 2009, the first year of the Obama administration and the worst year of the current recession, Mr. Potok could only come up with 6 new "hate groups," for an increase of less than one half of one percent, the lowest increase in SPLC history. In 2010, Mr. Potok added 70 new "hate groups" to his list, again, at his own designation, and yet the number of homeless "hate groups" jumped by 99 for the same time period. http://wp.me/pCLYZ-aX One final note regarding the SPLC and DHS, in 2009, the Missouri Highway Patrol issued its officers a document lifted largely from SPLC "reports" that informed the Troopers that an excellent way to identify "domestic extremists" was to look for third party bumper stickers on their cars. That same year, the DHS released a similar document offering the same dangerous advice. SPLC president Dick Cohen sits on a DHS advisory panel. How many Alaskans reading this are already on an "extremist" watch list for exercising their constitutionally protected right to vote? Fine work, indeed. rkeefe57, I went to you web site you posted and to the SPLC web site. The web sites you refer to in your comment don't provide any creditability to your comment. The first and third web sites were related to a women's clothing. The second site you referred to was a Vermont newspaper "VTDigger" and didn't mention anything about what you wrote. The SPLC web site did have a map which included the number of "Hate Groups" in each state. SPLC states they are monitoring 1002 hate groups in 2010 is 1002. They also state the hate groups they are monitoring are not just the militia hate groups in their figure, but they also include other hate groups, such as neo-Nazi's, anti immigrant, race, etc. I do, however, see a problem with anyone trying to make an estimates on the number of hate groups there are since they are fluid and ever changing. In this respect I would expect that the SPLC would since they obviously don't have the personnel to monitor these groups everyday. Delete Delete. I screwed up on where I wanted to post this and it got posted at the top instead of being a reply. sorry for the number of "Deletes". |
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