Posted on Jun 6, 2021
Capitol riot arrests reveal far-right Oath Keepers’ extremist influence in Florida, experts say
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As rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, 21-year-old Kissimmee resident William Isaacs and his fellow Oath Keepers, clad in battle gear, climbed up the steps in a military-style “stack” to get to the building’s Columbus Doors on Jan. 6, court documents say.
There, they joined the mob attacking police who were guarding the doors, according to federal prosecutors. Minutes later, Isaacs and his anti-government militia group were among those who shoved and pushed past officers through the doors into the Capitol Rotunda.
Authorities say the Oath Keepers directed supporters of then-President Donald Trump to the Senate wing in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory.
There, they joined the mob attacking police who were guarding the doors, according to federal prosecutors. Minutes later, Isaacs and his anti-government militia group were among those who shoved and pushed past officers through the doors into the Capitol Rotunda.
Authorities say the Oath Keepers directed supporters of then-President Donald Trump to the Senate wing in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory.
Capitol riot arrests reveal far-right Oath Keepers’ extremist influence in Florida, experts say
Posted from fltimes.com
State of Florida
Oath Keepers
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Posted 3 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
The group’s influence in Florida may have gone unnoticed, too, because anti-government extremism is trending away from being dependent on group membership and toward individual radicalization, said Freddy Cruz, a research analyst with the SPLC.
More people are beginning to believe and even act on the extremist ideology without ever formally joining a group, allowing some groups to go unrecognized while their ideas spread.
“The anti-government movements used to have a very heavy presence on places like Facebook,” Cruz said. “But what we found over the past year at least … was that we’re seeing a lot of the ideas around these extremist groups move beyond just established organizations.”
The group’s influence in Florida may have gone unnoticed, too, because anti-government extremism is trending away from being dependent on group membership and toward individual radicalization, said Freddy Cruz, a research analyst with the SPLC.
More people are beginning to believe and even act on the extremist ideology without ever formally joining a group, allowing some groups to go unrecognized while their ideas spread.
“The anti-government movements used to have a very heavy presence on places like Facebook,” Cruz said. “But what we found over the past year at least … was that we’re seeing a lot of the ideas around these extremist groups move beyond just established organizations.”
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