When a forest is very dry, a spark can ignite a raging fire.
Law enforcement authorities in Michigan doused the flames this time with the arrests of 13 men on Thursday in connection with a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Six of the men were arrested and charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit the kidnapping. The remaining seven men were charged with state crimes relating to activities of the Wolverine Watchmen, a militia group in Michigan, including plans to kidnap Whitmer and other officials. The group allegedly called Whitmer a “tyrant” and planned to put her on trial for “treason.”
State Attorney General Dana Nessel said the defendants charged in the state case were training and planning to attack the state Capitol and had called upon members to identify the home addresses of police officers. She said the group “made threats of violence to instigate a civil war leading to societal collapse.”
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For decades, militia groups have trained in Michigan and elsewhere. Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice, Terry Nichols, were said to have attended meetings of the Michigan Militia in the 1990s. Some militia members participate in paramilitary training to assist in search-and-rescue operations and disaster relief. Others espouse anti-government ideology and train to prepare themselves for armed conflict.
Tensions have escalated in recent months in Michigan over Whitmer’s executive orders to close businesses and limit gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Protesters with guns have demonstrated against the restrictions at the state Capitol. Indeed, two of the men arrested Thursday were identified in photos of armed protesters in the gallery of the state legislature in April. The complaint alleges that one of the men expressed anger over state control over the opening of gyms.
Michigan is not alone in seeing a rise in far-right violent extremism. Last month, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress that white supremacy and anti-government groups were the primary threats to national security.
The grievance politics of President Donald Trump has been blamed for unleashing bold conduct by extremist groups. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Trump’s campaign opponent, tweeted on Thursday that Trump is “giving oxygen to the bigotry and hate we see on the march in our country.” In 2017, following violence in Charlottesville between white supremacist groups and protesters, Trump famously said there were “very fine people on both sides.” Whitmer on Thursday called for unity following the arrests and noted that Trump has used words to incite hate groups and white supremacists. In April, following the imposition of Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, Trump tweeted, “Liberate Michigan.” During last week’s nationally televised presidential debate, when asked to condemn white supremacists, Trump instead told a far-right extremist group known as the “Proud Boys” to “stand back and stand by,” which Whitmer characterized as a “rallying cry.”
Thursday’s complaint alleges more than idle talk. It charges the six men under federal charges with participating in firearms and combat training, building improved explosive devices, and conducting surveillance of Whitmer’s vacation home on two occasions. In addition, they allegedly measured the distance to the nearest police station to assess the response time. They also inspected the underside of a highway bridge as they considered blowing it up to create a diversion for police while they committed the kidnapping.
Violent extremism has long seen charismatic leaders who incite others to action. Anwar al-Awlaki served that role for members of ISIS, posting YouTube videos that inspired acts of terrorism. Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his incitement of others to commit the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Trump’s brand of incitement is less direct but potentially just as lethal. Cesar Sayoc was convicted for sending pipe bombs through the mail to Democratic politicians and members of the media, whom Trump has called “enemy of the people.” Sayoc’s lawyers wrote, “In his darkness, Mr. Sayoc found light in Mr. Trump.”
Responsible leaders work to de-escalate tensions and promote peace, to bring calm to chaos. Trump does just the opposite, sowing division to advance his own political fortunes. He has pushed the American people into polar opposite camps, using every fault line he can find as a wedge. And while some of us find the discord simply unpleasant, others find it intolerable and believe that the only solution is to take matters into their own hands.
Trump already seems to be laying the groundwork for a possible electoral loss, claiming without evidence that absentee voting will result in a “rigged” election. Trump has refused to say whether he will accept the outcome of the election if he doesn’t win. If Biden is announced as the winner, one can only imagine the kind of rhetoric that will come from the lame-duck president. With his brand of inspirational words, Trump will not be passing a torch but lighting a match.
