The rightwing groups behind wave of protests against Covid-19 restrictions

[demmiblue]

A wave of planned anti-lockdown demonstrations that have broken out around the country to protest the efforts of state governments to combat the coronavirus pandemic with business closures and stay-at-home orders have included far-right groups as well as more mainstream Republicans.

While protesters in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and other states claim to speak for ordinary citizens, many are also supported by street-fighting rightwing groups like the Proud Boys, conservative armed militia groups, religious fundamentalists, anti-vaccination groups and other elements of the radical right.

On Wednesday in Lansing, Michigan, a protest put together by two Republican-connected not-for-profits was explicitly devised to cause gridlock in the city, and for a time blocked the entrance to a local hospital.

It was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, which Michigan state corporate filings show has also operated under the name of Michigan Trump Republicans. It was also heavily promoted by the Michigan Freedom Fund, a group linked to Trump cabinet member Betsy DeVos.

But the protest also attracted far right protest groups who have been present at pro-Trump and gun rights rallies in Michigan throughout the Trump presidency.

Placards identified the Michigan Proud Boys as participants in the vehicle convoy. Near the state house, local radio interviewed a man who identified himself as “Phil Odinson”.

In fact the man is Phil Robinson, the prime mover in a group called the Michigan Liberty Militia, whose Facebook page features pictures of firearms, warnings of civil war, celebrations of Norse paganism, and memes ultimately sourced from white nationalist groups like Patriot Front.

The pattern of rightwing not-for-profits promoting public protests while still more radical groups use lockdown resistance as a platform for extreme rightwing causes looks set to continue in events advertised in other states over coming days.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/17/far-right-coronavirus-protests-restrictions?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1587118995

[Squinch]

1. Each of them should be offered a contract: if they will sign a waiver to

agree not to expect hospital assistance if they or their family members contract the virus, they can do whatever they want.

I'm serious about this.

[Voltaire2]

2. what is amazing (not) is how much coverage and legitimacy these protests receive from the media

A few dozen fascists show up and suddenly Governor Whitmer is toast.

It is almost as if PR firms were feeding stories to major media outlets who, in turn, were dutifully reporting them as news rather than advertisements for a political campaign.

100,000 protesters on the left can show up and basically it didn't happen, and certainly no politician or policy is in trouble.

[Lowell]

3. I think we should encourage these idiots

to congregate and voice their grievances. They should gather in large crowds and protest loudly.

Then go home, get sick and leave us alone.

[sop]

4. These rightwing astroturf shock troops protesting the economic shutdown as an "infringement

of their liberty" see nothing wrong with shutting down Planned Parenthood clinics all across America, denying women the liberty to receive healthcare.

[tanyev]

5. A few more days and the Proud Boys are going to start becoming the Covid Boys.

[colsohlibgal]

7. Yep

Let them thin their own herd. These types are the result of over 30 years of right wing media propaganda.....studies have indicated that their brains have changed. The frothing at the mouth types are not going to listen to reason.

But....non nut job 2016 voters are turning against that Orange dumb would be tyrant daily.

We have to crush him and take back the Senate.

[mitch96]

6. And in the middle of their protest what if some started coughing? sweating.. would they run? nt

[LessAspin]

8. Surkov's strategy?

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[LessAspin]

9. Trump's 'very fine people'

BBC: U.S. neo nazi directing group from Russia...

Link to tweet