Veterans on Patrol is an American anti-government militia movement founded by Michael “Lewis Arthur” Meyer.[1][2][3]
| Formation | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Michael “Lewis Arthur” Meyer |
| Type | Militia |
| Purpose | Vigilantism |
| Headquarters | Pima County, Arizona |
History and aims
editVeterans on Patrol was founded in Pima County, Arizona[1] in 2015 with the initial aim of supporting military veterans.[2] Since 2018, the activities of the organisation shifted away from its initially stated goals and towards anti-human trafficking activities on the Mexico–United States border.[2]
Philosophies of the organisation include nativism, Christian nationalism, and anti-government values.[1][2] Views shared by the group include antisemitic, anti-Mormon, anti-Catholic, anti-indigenous misinformation.[1] Members embrace QAnon conspiracy theories and vigilante activities.[2] In 2018, the group labelled a homeless encampment as a child sex-trafficking location.[4]
The group is known for embedding in communities to “launch missions related to migrants or purported child trafficking”. They claimed that hurricane Helene was “an act of war perpetuated by the United States Military”; a “land grab” responsible for “murdering hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans”.[5]
The group has over 70,000 followers of its Facebook page.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Veterans on Patrol". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ a b c d e Schmitz, Avery (2023-02-21). "Borderless Vigilantism: The Nativist US Militias Entering Mexico". Bellingcat. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ a b REIDY, E. Not in My Backyard. Mother Jones, [s. l.], v. 44, n. 3, p. 50–65, 2019. Disponível em: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=135706693&site=eds-live&scope=site . Acesso em: 22 fev. 2023.
- ^ Zadrozny, Brandy; Collins, Ben (7 June 2018). "Arizona veterans group finds homeless camp — and fuels a new 'pizzagate'-style conspiracy". NBC News. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ Brianna Sacks, Scott Dance, Will Oremus, Samuel Oakford and Jeremy B. Merrill. "How a conspiracy-fueled group got a foothold in this hurricane-battered town". Retrieved 24 October 2024.
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