31 Patriot Front members arrested near Idaho pride event

All 31 had been charged with conspiracy to riot, a misdemeanor, White stated. The males had been going by the reserving course of Saturday afternoon and are scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, he stated.

Based on proof collected and paperwork, authorities discovered that the group was planning to riot in a number of areas of downtown, not simply the park, White stated.

Police discovered riot gear, one smoke grenade, shin guards and shields contained in the van, White stated. They wore arm patches and logos on their hats that recognized them as members of Patriot Front, he stated.

Police discovered in regards to the U-Haul from a tipster, who reported that “it looked like a little army was loading up into the vehicle” within the parking zone of a lodge, White stated. Officials noticed the truck quickly after and pulled it over, he stated.

Videos of the arrest posted on social media present the boys kneeling on the grass with their arms zip-tied behind their backs.

“Reclaim America” was written on the again of 1 shirt.

Police led the boys, one after the other, to the entrance of patrol automobiles, took off their masks after which introduced them to a police van.

Those arrested got here from not less than 11 states, together with Washington, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, Illinois, Wyoming, Virginia, and Arkansas, White stated.

Only one was from Idaho, he stated.

The truck was stopped near the place the North Idaho Pride Alliance was holding the Coeur d’Alene Pride within the Park event. Police had stepped up their presence within the space in the course of the event.

“It appears these people did not come here to engage in peaceful events,” Kootenai (*31*) Sheriff Bob Norris advised a Coeur d’Alene Press reporter.

Patriot Front is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as “a white nationalist hate group” that shaped after the lethal “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017.

“Patriot Front focuses on theatrical rhetoric and activism that can be easily distributed as propaganda for its chapters across the country,” the Southern Poverty Law Center stated of the group.

The group’s manifesto requires the formation of a white ethnostate within the United States, the Southern Poverty Law Center stated.