Right now: as a sort of street convention called #BreonnaCon for #BreonnaTaylor takes place in Louisville, KY, III% militia groups are gathering in the area.
I’ll be doing my best to document them throughout the day, particularly their interactions with BLM and law enforcement.
They just had a prayer and it seems like they’re going to march shortly. I’ll be livestreaming soon.
I count 24 of them, but something interesting: they tell me that actually another “Patriot” Militia will be showing up that they disavow and consider to be racist. It’s unclear to me how many that might draw.
But first, the militia has to pay to park.
So for the past couple hours, the militia group basically stayed in the parking lot. At first, they tried to block it off so only militia could use it.
Local PD told them they couldn’t do that.
They spent the time so far guarding their cars and talking to a handful of media.
At this point it’s started to rain, so some of them are getting into their cars.
One interesting development is that the group has a new name and no longer identifies with III%.
They are now the “National Patriotic Defense Team.”
So the competing militia rally got cancelled, so there’s basically a handful of those guys standing under a bridge near their rally point telling people to leave if they show up.
Meanwhile, the militia I started the day covering - which calls itself the “National Patriotic Defense Team” was just about to leave.
I asked their leader Tara "Hoggirl" Brandau whether they considered the day a success, and they said yes, opposing groups didn’t show.
The militia switched parking lots and ordered pizza.
They say that they’re “on standby” in case violence breaks out elsewhere, they’d drive to that location.
In the meantime, rifles are away and they’re just hanging out.
The “National Patriotic Defense Team” stuck around tonight, listening to a police radio.
Their plan was basically to go anywhere a situation formed that they thought police would be overwhelmed at.
None ever came, and it seems they’re wrapping up.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
VIDEO THREAD: Barely a day after their encampment was raided, pro-Palestine activists set up another encampment in front of a George Washington University administrators' building.
In this uncut shot, you'll see the activists set up several new tents by surprise in minutes.
2) Pro-Palestine protesters at George Washington University linked arms after forming their new encampment.
Police formed a line facing them on one side (leaving the other side open) and pushed media and others with a vantage point significantly back.
3) One MPD officer took a quick selfie from the police line.
VIDEO THREAD: Police cleared the pro-Palestine encampment at George Washington University early this morning in a pre-dawn raid, arresting dozens and apparently deploying pepper spray.
"F--- the pigs!" yelled activists as police swarmed a wide perimeter around the area.
2) Police and DC Department of Public Works could be seen dumping tents and other camping equipment where the encampment had been at GW.
This comes just hours before Mayor Bowser is set to testify before Congress.
3) As the sun rose near George Washington University, the activist who were not arrested regrouped.
Organizers recommended those who the police had pepper-sprayed go home, and others go to jail support for their detained comrades.
THREAD: I was one of only two media I'm aware of in the courtroom today for a lengthy hearing where the federal government fought to hold Russell "Duke" Vane IV pre-trial.
This thread will be based on my notes and court documents.
BREAKING THREAD: On April 11, Russell Vane IV - the subject of my reporting who allegedly attempted to provoke a Virginia militia group into producing explosives - was arrested.
He is charged with "Attempted production of a biological agent or toxin."
3) The feds cite my reporting, where I show unclassified government documents that the Virginia Kekoas militia members were allegedly handed by Duke, and he later appears to acknowledge giving them.
INVESTIGATIVE VIDEO THREAD: The Virginia Kekoas, a pro-gun prepper militia based in Eastern Virginia and formerly affiliated with the Boogaloo movement, tells News2Share that they recently kicked out a member they believe may have been plotting an explosives-related entrapment attempt against the group, or worse.
Russell Richardson Vane IV first made contact with the Virginia Kekoas in April 2022, according to the group's leader Eddie Ray, who goes by "ICE" and member Cody Beckner, who goes by "Sasquatch." Vane allegedly adopted the call sign "Duke."
The pair provided extensive screenshots and documents showing that since joining, Vane - as "Duke" - engaged in an escalating sequence of unusual behavior that included apparent provocations for the group to develop homemade explosives. Homemade explosives lacking an ATF registration are generally a federal felony.
"Sasquatch" and "ICE" spoke exclusively to News2Share to provide a thorough timeline of the events that led up to "Duke" being removed from their organization.
2) ICE and Sasquatch say that upon reaching out to the Kekoas in 2022, Duke identified himself as working for the CIA, but was allowed to remain a prospective member rather than being ejected because they believed he may have advanced knowledge of world-altering events.
3) Within two weeks of joining, the pair say Duke asked about a "group fund." They say no fund exists and members pay their own way, but such a fund could "fall under certain federal laws" like RICO.
ICE says Duke also asked about forming his own chapter and was denied.