From the Radio Free Michigan archives ftp://141.209.3.26/pub/patriot If you have any other files you'd like to contribute, e-mail them to bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu. ------------------------------------------------ From the December 12, 1994 issue of THE SPOTLIGHT, published by Liberty Lobby, 300 Independence Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003, subs (202) 546- 5621. FEDS TURN UP HEAT AS MILITIAS GROW Leftists Arrange Slander The U.S. government has formed a partnership with a discredited left wing "civil rights" organization in an assault on patriotic militia groups. Exclusive to THE SPOTLIGHT by Mike Blair Morris, Dees, the Jimmy Carter corny who pledged to "wipe out the right wing" in the 1970s, is behind a well-orchestrated effort in the Establishment media to defame as racists members of dozens of patriotic "militia" groups. The patriots are organizing all across America to courter their perception of an attack on the nations's Constitution by proponents of the so-called "New World Order." "There is a growing danger posed by these unauthorized militia," Dees, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) based in Montgomery, Alabama, said in a recent letter to Janet Reno. The letter has been widely distributed by the center to mass media outlets throughout the country. (See related box.) [See end of this article, typist] Major stories, most quoting Dees or other officials of the SPLC, have been appearing in most daily newspapers, including front page coverage in the Establishment flagship, the _New York Times_. TARRED AS RACISTS Dees claims his center has "substantial evidence that White supremists" have heavily infiltrated militia groups in at least six states , citing particularly Idaho and Montana. "In our view," Dees wrote Reno, "this mixture of armed groups and those who hate ia a recipe for disaster." [says typist, you mean, like the Feds, BATF, FBI, CIA, ETC, ETC?] Ironically, Dees has never addressed the subject of the terrorist Jewish Defense League (JDL) or affiliated groups roaming around US cities. They are both well-armed and preach hatred for Arab and other US minorities, not to mention their conducting paramilitary training in various locations on both the East and West coasts and shoot-outs in downtown New York City. Dees expressed identical concerns about the militias in letters also sent to the attorneys general in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Texas. In the wake of Dees' charges the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) has stepped up its efforts to counter the militia groups. BATF's Intelligence Division is sending a "briefing paper" on the militias, dated October 26, to local police departments across the nation. The SPOTLIGHT has obtained a copy of one of the briefing papers, which was received by the New Orleans Police Department, according to sources within the department. The briefing paper cites as its purpose "To provide an overview of the militia movement operating throughout the United States." "The militia movement is a grassroots effort that is similar to the tax protest and anti-government campaigns of the 1970s and 1980s," the report states. "During the past six months this movement has swept across the country." Like Dees, the BATF briefing report cites the Militia of Montana for special attention. "A catalyst of the movement was the formation of the Militia of Montana, a.k.a. MOM, organized after the standoff with Randy Weaver in Bonners Ferry, Idaho," the BATF report states. "The Branch Davidian siege in Waco also fueled the spread of the movement. "The Militia of Montana is a highly organized group that promotes and supports the formation of county militias in Montana, as well as nationally," the report continues. And, as Dees, the BATF report accuses the Montana group of ties with so-called "White supremists." "The original organizers of MOM are John, David, and Randy Trochmann," the report states. "[The] Trochmanns are known to have ties with the Aryan Nation Church in Hayden Lake, Idaho . . . MOM's association with these various radical right wing factions portrays the organization closer to those expounding White separatism and racial hatred, than as mainstream 'patriots.'" Dees charged that John Trochmann is a "prime example" of individuals previously linked to White supremacy group who are involved in militias. Dees said Trochmann spoke at an Aryan National Congress in Hayden Lake in 1990. In the recent taping of the syndicated Phil Donahue Show, featuring militia groups, it was reportedly intended to have Dees present to air his accusations concerning the militias' White supremacist' ties. However, Dees failed to appear when it was learned that one of the militia leaders to appear on the panel was a Black American. During the taping Donahue was taken aback when he asked the Black militia leader what the would do if an armed BATF agent appeared at this door to demand his gun. "I would let him have it," the militia leader reportedly replied. It was unclear as to exactly when the show would be aired, except a vague indication of mid-December. In an interview with The SPOTLIGHT, John Trochmann called Dees' charges "repulsive." "They're slandering me," he explained. "I didn't choose who my parents are, that my skin is white. Why should I be ashamed of who I am?" Trochmann said he had, in fact, attended a few meetings of the Aryan Nations to "see what they were all about." "I also visit our local sheriff's office," he added, "but that doesn't mean I am a deputy sheriff, does it?" "After I found out about some of the things that were going on," he said, "it happened that I was asked to address them and I told them I would talk on the subject of 'morality.' I was upset about the way they treated their women and I told them so. I was never invited back." Trochmann indicated that he would rather no explain further what he meant about their treatment of women, "but I told them," he said, "and they knew what I meant." In his letter to Reno, Dees said, "Citizens have the right to form peaceful groups to protest gun legislation and to engage in target practice," but he said that the militia groups have no right to possess illegal weapons, to violate state paramilitary laws, or to "harass minorities." "I believe it is highly likely that illegal activity of this sort is already occurring," Dees told Reno, thus obviously indicating he had no evidence of its occurrence. ------------------------------------------------ (This file was found elsewhere on the Internet and uploaded to the Radio Free Michigan archives by the archive maintainer. All files are ZIP archives for fast download. E-mail bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu)