Ohio No. 2 In Nation In Anti-Government Extremism: SPLC!

FEATURED PHOTO: MARGARET HUANG , PRESIDENT SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER

Patch.com, By Chris Mosby, Posted February 15th 2021

The Buckeye State has the second most anti-government groups in the nation, according to a new report.

Thirty-one anti-government groups called Ohio home in 2020, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) reported.

Ohio had the second most anti-government groups in the U.S., trailing only California. Among the groups named in the report are the Oath Keepers, who expressed interest in storming the Ohio Capitol in Columbus.

“The anti-government threat is likely to grow even worse in the months ahead, with the real possibility of new acts of domestic terrorism in response to Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, new health and safety measures to combat COVID-19, and more,” said Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the SPLC.

In May 2020, a Cleveland man was taken into custody for plotting to kidnap and kill federal agents, an incident SPLC cited in their report.

Several Ohioans have been linked to the storming of the U.S. Capitol in January.

The Buckeye State was also where a group plotted to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

“Antigovernment groups fundamentally distrust the government and fuel lies and conspiracy theories that undermine its credibility,” said Susan Corke, director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project. “These groups are often quick to resort to vigilantism when they believe the government is incapable of correcting a perceived injustice.”

Here are the anti-government extremist groups in Ohio, according to SPLC:

  • III% United Patriots* Statewide
  • American Constitutional Elites* Marietta
  • American Patriots Three Percent* Statewide
  • Constitution Party New Lebanon
  • Frontiersmen, The* Ravenna
  • Heartland Defenders Statewide
  • Irregulars of Ohio Reserve Militia*Statewide
  • John Birch Society Statewide
  • Last Militia, The Allen County*Butler County*Clark County*Hamilton County*Montgomery County*Preble County, Summit County*
  • National AssemblyLoveland
  • North East Ohio Woodsmen*East Rochester
  • Oath Keepers Statewide
  • Ohio Defense Force Home Guard*Cleveland, New Lexington, Toledo, Zanesville
  • Ohio Militiamen* Statewide
  • Ohio Minutemen Militia*Oak Harbor
  • Patriot Shit Outfitters Bethel
  • Patriot Watch Media Louisville
  • Reapers Constitutional Militia of Ohio*Cortland
  • Silver Shield Xchange Cleveland
  • Southern Ohio Outdoorsmen Peebles
  • Threeper Tactical Training, LLC Massillon
  • West Ohio Minutemen* Lima

Asterisks denote militias, the SPLC said.

The entire SPLC report has been shared online.