List of militia organizations in the United States

Not to be confused with List of United States militia units in the American Revolutionary War or State defense force § Active state defense forces.

This is a list of active and armed militia organizations in the United States. While the two largest militias are the Oath Keepers and the 3 Percenters, there are numerous smaller groups.[according to whom?]

Background

Main article: American militia movement

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) identified 334 militia groups at their peak in 2011. It identified 276 in 2015, up from 202 in 2014.[1] In 2016, the SPLC identified a total of 165 armed militia groups within the United States.[2][3]

National groups

As of 2020, the following militia groups have a national presence:

Statewide groups

Militias with a statewide presence[A]
Name State Ref.
Arizona Border Recon[B] Arizona [9][10][11]
Arizona Liberty Guard Arizona [12]
Arizona State Militia Arizona [13]
Southern Arizona Militia Arizona [12]
Arkansas Defense Force Arkansas [12]
First State Pathfinders Delaware [12]
Indiana Citizens Volunteer Militia Indiana [12]
Kentucky Mountain Rangers Kentucky [12]
Louisiana Volunteer Force Louisiana [12]
Maine Militia Maine [12]
Michigan Home Guard Michigan [12]
Michigan Militia Michigan [12]
Northwest Lower Michigan Civil Defense Michigan [12]
Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia Michigan [12]
Missouri Brotherhood Militia Missouri [12]
Missouri Citizens Militia Missouri [12][14]
Missouri Militia Missouri [15]
North Country Deplorables New York [16]
New York Light Foot Militia New York [12][17]
New York Militia TM New York [12]
New York Mutual Assistance Group New York [12]
New Mexico Civil Guard New Mexico [18][19][20]
The Last Militia Ohio [12]
Ohio Irregulars Ohio [12]
Ohio Valley Minutemen Citizen's Volunteer Militia Ohio [12]
West Ohio Minutemen Ohio [12]
Appalachian Associators Pennsylvania [12]
Iron City Citizen's Response Unit (CRU) Pennsylvania [12][21][22][23][24]
Pennsylvania Armare Woodsmen Pennsylvania [12]
Pennsylvania Light Foot Militia Pennsylvania [12]
Pennsylvania State Militia Pennsylvania [12]
Rhode Island Patriots Rhode Island [12]
Texas State Militia Texas [25][26]
This Is Texas Freedom Force Texas [27][28]
Green Mountain Militia Vermont [12]
Washington Light Foot Militia Washington [29]
West Virginia Light Foot Militia West Virginia [12]

Local groups

SPLC identified local militia groups (2018)[12][C]
State Name Location
Alabama Alabama Constitutional Militia Clanton
South Alabama Militia Dothan
Alaska Alaska Citizens Militia Nikiski
Arizona Arizona Freedom Militia Mohave
Northern Arizona Militia Golden Valley
Arkansas Arkansas State Militia Corps Mansfield
California California State Militia Bay Area
Northern
Sacramento County
Southern
Florida Florida Militia Central
Northeast
Northwest
Southern
Idaho Idaho Light Foot Militia Kootenai County
Meridian
Illinois Illinois Sons of Liberty Chicago
Indiana Indiana Citizens Volunteer Militia[D] Lake County
Kentucky KY County Rangers Bath County
Maine Maine Volunteer Responders Gardiner
Michigan Capitol City Militia Clinton County
Genesee County Volunteer Militia Genesee County
Michigan Liberty Militia Barry County
Michigan Peoples' Reactionary Force Genesee County
Michigan Wolf Pack Gratiot County
Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia[D] Lapeer County
Macomb County
Wayne County
Mississippi Citizens Militia of Mississippi Batesville
Carroll County
Missouri 417 Second Amendment Militia[30] Hartville
Missouri Citizens Militia[D] Washington County
Missouri Militia[D] Joplin
Kansas City
Springfield
St. Joseph
New Hampshire Patriot Mutual Assistance Group Rindge
New York New York Lightfoot Militia[31][32][33] Delaware, County
Liberty State Militia Chenango County
New York Militia TM[D] Albany County
Mohawk Valley Region
New York Mutual Assistance Group Orange County
Suffolk County
North Carolina Stokes County Militia King
Ohio The Frontiersmen Ravenna
The Last Militia[D] Allen County
Butler County
Clark County
Hamilton County
Montgomery County
Summit County
Trumbull County
North East Ohio Outdoorsman East Rochester
Ohio Defense Force Home Guard Cincinnati
Cleveland
New Lexington
Zanesville
Reapers Constitutional Militia of Ohio Cortland
Oregon Central Oregon Constitutional Guard Redmond
Pennsylvania Carlisle Light Infantry Cumberland County
Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Militia Wyomissing
Iron City Citizen's Response Unit (CRU) Allegheny
Pennsylvania Homeland Shield Clarksburg
Pennsylvania Light Foot Militia[D] Berks County
Bradford County
Juniata County
Luzerne County
Schuylkill County
Tioga County
Westmoreland County
South Carolina South Carolina Light Foot Militia Horry County
Tennessee 1st Tennessee Rifles UMIT Lafayette
East Tennessee Mountain Militia Knoxville
Tennessee Defence Legion Chester
Texas Alamo Militia San Antonio Golden Triangle Militia Groves
Orange
Texas Light Foot Militia Tyler
Texas State Militia Austin
Big Spring
Houston
Bell County Minutemen Bell County, Texas
Washington Washington Light Foot Militia[D] Spokane County
West Virginia Ohio Valley Minutemen Citizen's Volunteer Militia[E] Charleston
Wisconsin Kenosha Guard[34] Kenosha

Inactive groups

Several militia organizations have since become inactive including:

Name Location Ref.
1st Mechanical Kansas Militia Kansas [35]
Citizens for Constitutional Freedom New Mexico
Connecticut White Wolves Connecticut [36]
Gadsden Minutemen Alabama [37]
Kentucky State Militia Kentucky [38]
Militia of Montana Montana [39]
North American Militia Michigan [40]
Ohio Defense Force Ohio [41]
North American Militia Michigan [42][43]
Pennsylvania Military Reserve Pennsylvania [44][45]
San Joaquin County Militia California [46]
Southern California High Desert Militia California [47]
Southern Indiana Regional Militia Indiana [48]
Texas Emergency Reserve Texas [49]
Texas Light Foot Militia (statewide) Texas [50]
Cube Earth Armed Defense Force Motley, Minnesota [51]
Ohio Unorganized Militia Assistance and Advisory Committee Ohio [52]
Oklahoma Constitutional Militia Oklahoma [53]
Viper Militia Arizona [54]
Washington State Militia Washington [55][56]
West Virginia Mountaineer Militia Clarksburg, West Virginia [57]
Wolverine Watchmen Michigan [58]
Pennsylvania Free Militia Pennsylvania

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Only includes groups active in at least 2017. Affiliates of the Oath Keepers and III%-styled groups are excluded.
  2. ^ Accepts volunteers throughout the state, but operations are mostly conducted in Sasabe.
  3. ^ Groups excluded are (1) affiliates of Oath Keepers regardless of status as militias, and (2) any self-styled "III%" groups.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Considered to be a statewide group in another source
  5. ^ Same as the statewide group in Ohio

References

  1. ^ "Antigovernment militia groups grew by more than one-third in last year". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Active Patriot Groups in the US in 2016". Intelligence Report. No. 2017 Spring. Southern Poverty Law Center. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b Childress, Sarah (17 May 2017). "A Guide to the New Militia Movement". Frontline. PBS. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Oath Keepers militia will attend Portland 'free speech' rally, says leader". The Guardian. June 4, 2017.
  5. ^ Shane Paul Neil. "What Is the NFAC, and Who Is Grandmaster Jay?". Complex. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  6. ^ "Three Percenters". Anti-Defamation League. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  7. ^ Sunshine, Spencer (January 5, 2016). "Profiles on the Right: Three Percenters". Political Research Associates. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  8. ^ US House Select Committee. "DEPOSITION OF: MICHAEL LEE WELLS" (PDF). US House of Representatives. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  9. ^ Farzan, Antonia Noori (30 August 2019). "He was kicked out of a border militia. Then the FBI found a gun 'factory' in his home". Washington Post. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  10. ^ Santos, Fernanda (21 December 2016). "At the Southern Border, a Do-It-Yourself Tack on Security". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  11. ^ Tim Gaynor (October 26, 2014). "Desert Hawks: Paramilitary veterans group stakes out US-Mexico borderlands". Al Jazeera.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Buchanan, Susy, ed. (Spring 2019). "Active Antigovernment Groups in the United States (2018)" (PDF). Intelligence Report (166). Southern Poverty Law Center: 56–61. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Armed citizens patrol the Arizona-Mexico border". PBS NewsHour. 4 February 2017.
  14. ^ Londberg, Max (7 August 2015). "Guns, rights and the Missouri Citizen Militia". Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  15. ^ Saltzman, John (23 April 2017). "Missing Fulton man triggers search party". KOMU.com. Fulton: University of Missouri. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  16. ^ Thomasli, Karen (21 September 2017). "In-fighting and threats splinter pro-Trump groups". NBC New York. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  17. ^ Wallace, Sarah (21 September 2017). "NY Militia Gives Inside Look at its Operation". NBC New York. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  18. ^ "NM Civil Guard is marching forward, despite calls to stand down - Albuquerque Journal". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  19. ^ "Bryce Provance New Mexico Civil Guard deposition". KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  20. ^ "New Mexico Civil Guard speaks out, governor and mayor condemn group". KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  21. ^ Paul, John (1 June 2020). "Ambridge Business Called in Private Militia to "Stand Guard" During Protest". BeaverCountian. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  22. ^ Shumway, John (20 April 2020). "'I Want To Go To Work': Protesters Against Stay-At-Home Order Rally Outside City-County Building In Downtown Pittsburgh". KDKA News, Pittsburgh. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Hundreds Gather For Pro-Gun Rally Outside Pennsylvania Capitol". Associated Press. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  24. ^ Lee, Lauren (24 April 2020). "Sewickley councilman rapped over photo with armed protesters". NBC New York. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  25. ^ Arias, Jacqueline (16 July 2017). "Abbott's campaign stop in McAllen brings protests over SB 4". Rio Grande Guardian. McAllen, Rio Grande Valley. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  26. ^ Yablon, Alex (7 August 2017). "Right-Wing Militias Are Now Actively Supporting Some State and Local Pro-Trump Politicians". The Trace. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  27. ^ Walsh, Dominic (31 January 2021). "The FBI Calls It An 'Extremist Militia.' What Exactly Is 'This Is Texas Freedom Force?'". Texas Public Radio. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  28. ^ Henderson, Amanda (14 December 2022). "Protesters and counter protesters make their voices heard outside drag event at the Aztec". News 4 San Antonio. San Antonio, Texas. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  29. ^ Wiles, Tay (27 September 2017). "Meet your local anti-government extremist groups". High Country News. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  30. ^ "Federal agents arrest two Missouri militia members traveling to Kenosha with weapons". 13 KRCG. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  31. ^ Wallace, Sarah (23 February 2017), I-Team Gets Rare Access to Compounds of Private Militia
  32. ^ Walters, Joanna (15 August 2017). "Militia leaders who descended on Charlottesville condemn 'rightwing lunatics'". The Guardian.
  33. ^ Wallace, Sarah (22 September 2017), I-Team: New York Militia Gives Inside Look at its Operation During D.C. Demonstrations
  34. ^ "Armed white men patrolling Kenosha protests organized on Facebook". TheGuardian.com. 28 September 2020.
  35. ^ 1st Mechanical Kansas Militia. Retrieved 20 October 2020. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |work= ignored (help)
  36. ^ "Members and Associates of White Supremacist Group Charged with Making Grenades, Selling Guns". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  37. ^ "MILITIA MEMBERS SAY THEY SPREAD WORD ON ROUNDUP'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  38. ^ "Kentucky State Militia". TRAC Terrorism. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  39. ^ Medina, Richard M.; Nicolosi, Emily; Brewer, Simon; Linke, Andrew M. (2018-07-04). "Geographies of Organized Hate in America: A Regional Analysis". Annals of the American Association of Geographers. 108 (4): 1011. Bibcode:2018AAAG..108.1006M. doi:10.1080/24694452.2017.1411247. ISSN 2469-4452. S2CID 134492071.
  40. ^ "North American Militia". Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  41. ^ Gellman, Barton (30 September 2010). "The Secret World of Extreme Militias". Time. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  42. ^ "North American Militia". Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  43. ^ "North American Militia (NAM) / Michigan Militia Wolverines". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  44. ^ Bartleson, William V. (2017). "Militia". Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Rutgers University. Retrieved 7 November 2019. During the late twentieth century, small bands of civilians... formed private militias groups... often ultraconservative and anti-government... Running the gamut from loosely knit social clubs to highly organized units such as the Pennsylvania Military Reserve...
  45. ^ "Three to join Great Valley Wall of Fame". Daily Local News. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  46. ^ "S.J. militia surfaces in bomb plot". Record.net. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  47. ^ "Southern California High Desert Militia". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  48. ^ "Southern Indiana Regional Militia (SIRM)". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  49. ^ Gitlin, Marty (2009). The Ku Klux Klan: A Guide to an American Subculture. ABC-CLIO. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-0-313-36576-8.
  50. ^ Brannson, Doug (22 July 2015). "Texas Town Has Citizen Militia Standing Guard at Recruiters Office". KQBR. Townsquare Media, Inc. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  51. ^ "Twin Cities Free Militia". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  52. ^ "Ohio Unorganized Militia Assistance and Advisory Committee". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  53. ^ "Oklahoma Constitutional Militia". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  54. ^ "Arizona Viper Militia". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  55. ^ "Washington State Militia". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  56. ^ "3 state militia members to remain in Seattle jail". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  57. ^ Johnston, David (12 October 1996). "7 in Paramilitary Group Arrested in West Virginia". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  58. ^ Ferretti, Christine; Snell, Robert (8 October 2020). "Men detonated explosive, used encrypted messages in Whitmer kidnap plot, feds say". The Detroit News. Retrieved 8 October 2020.