(Photo: Stephen Lemons Phoenix New Times)
Armed right-wing protests have become more or less commonplace in large cities around the country. Now it looks like the left wants in on the action.
The Phoenix News-Times ran a story this week detailing an armed protest by a national left-wing group called the Redneck Revolt. The Phoenix chapter of the Redneck Revolt—the John Brown Gun Club—joined forces with another group known as the Brown Berets to protest a pro-Trump march taking place at Arizona’s capitol.
Both left-wing groups came armed to the teeth. Many were carrying AR-15s and semi-automatic pistols.
They declined an interview with the News-Times, but the John Brown Gun Club posted on Facebook that they assembled across the street from the pro-Trump march “not to try to stop their event or block it, but to show that the communities who are under attack by this administration and those that came before it will not silently suffer, and that we would organize to defend ourselves and each other.”
As to their decision to carry firearms, they emphasized their desire not to “intimidate or scare anyone.” Rather, they looked to “show that other ‘deplorable’ working folks, even those who supported Trump in the past, would not just stand by and allow continued threats to marginalized people.”
They do not cite any specific instances of such threats, but another post on their Facebook page notes the alleged increase in gun ownership among African-American, LGBT, and religious minority communities. These groups are buying guns, according to the post, due to their “increasingly hostile surroundings.”
In their exchange with the News-Times reporter, the group repeatedly asks the reporter to stop filming, citing concerns about revealing their identities and their license plate numbers.
Given their belief that “police, prisons, courts… and other systems of social control only exist to serve the rich,” their fears are perhaps understandable. “The Man” can take many forms, journalists included.
That being said, it’s difficult to understand why a group would stage an armed protest and not want press coverage.
Their website includes the rhetoric one might expect from a group whose goal is to put the “RED back in Redneck.” They liken the Klu Klux Klan to the U.S. Armed Forces, saying both groups have “undermined the struggle for freedom among all people.” Their founding principles include an opposition to the “nation-state” as a concept and the belief that capitalism has “destroyed the world” and “threatens all life.”
But they also believe, like many Second Amendment supporters, in “the empowerment of all individuals who wish to participate in the defense of their communities with the knowledge and equipment to do so.”
“It is our duty and obligation to defend our families and communities,” they continue, “by all means from those who would profit from our misery and destruction.”
Donald Trump’s election will hopefully result in gains for the Second Amendment on the legislative front. But if the Redneck Revolt is any indication, it may also result in more people who will value and appreciate the right to keep and bear arms.
Wow, a targt-rich environment. These idiots are more likely to shoot themselves than their intended target. Oh, how I want to kill commies again…….it’s like eating peanuts….hard to stop after just a few. And these are alot fatter and taller than he previous ones…..that’s good because agent orange didn’t do my eyes any favors….but they better hurry and start something soon……don’t know how much longer I can wait!
Look up your history your great Ronald Ragan did more guess you’re gone right then Obama ever thought about doing check you’ll see President Reagan took away the rights of Californians to Carrie opened in 1967 with the help of the NRA as far as Trump I sure hope you like Russia because that’s who elected Trump was Russia see how good their Second Amendment rights are oh yeah by the way I don’t think they have any dumbasses
WOW…an illiterate rant with poor puncuation, quite compelling. It appears you were just as competent in English 101 as World History.
It’s “carry”, dummy.
Learn to spell.
But he did capitalize it. (?)
LGBT community bought guns after a terrorist attack on a LGBT nightclub, had zero to do with Trump.
I would suggest you all do your own intelligence into these groups. Get to know your enemy
Phoenix is on the cusp of becoming a sanctuary city. These anti-American clowns need to slither back across the boarder, to whatever 3rd world s–t hole country they came from.
…….Tthey wear the RED bandana because they are the Neo COMMUNIST ANARCHIST Revolutionaries that want to over throw the Government, and destroy our Constitution!!,…….I can bet you, they all support Gun Control for you and me!!,….This SOB Impostors are not the proud 1930s West Virginia Rednecks!!,….they are the Opportunist Scum Bag Losers of our Society!!,…..If they think they are going to intimidate The Minuteman, they are in for a big surprise!!,……
Just wanted to let you lefties know you are an overweight group and look absolutely stupid holding those cheap ass gun and wearing those stupid scarves. Can’t wait to run into one, or all, of you sometime.
You can bet most of these “LOSERS” aren’t U.S. Veterans & some are here ILLEGALLY! The rest of them look like Hitlery’s ass, anyway & probably could’nt hit the “Broad side of a barn” when wasting the 30 rd. clip! Everyone there should lose their Welfare Checks! Get a JOB & move out of your folks house!
you said “clip” all comments now VOID.
I love the way that these actors display their toughness and willing ness to be photographed. Apparently they haven’t stood too long on any “guard duty”. Port arms is nice for a salute, lo-ready is nice for competition or the range. Pretenders are what give owners a bad name/reputation.
I love the first and second amendment, but I to am a realist. Win the argument isn’t settled and the guns enter the ring you have a real chance of a deadly confrontation happening. Remember Timothy Mcvay, he thought he would start a revolution because of all the Left-wing Democrats (Clinton Admin) and their heavy handed actions at ruby ridge and the Waco Texas massacres. The problem is that when blood starts to spill in the streets people wont want to stomach the fact that innocent children are killed in these types of wars. But maybe the lefties don’t care about that ether, since killing them in the womb is so easy for them. Well bring is on, if its war you want, trained for it, done that, been there, and I can stomach it.
I’m not alone!!! I’m not really left or right, but I sure didn’t vote for Trump. This definitely makes me feel less out of the loop than most people. I’m not sure what percentage these individuals would be part of or considered, but it’s, in an odd way, comforting to see people that don’t just go with the status-quo to be open about their ideas. Hillary and Trump were two of the worst candidates ( though Cruz and Christie were not any better) to be put into the pendulum of the vote, and voting for either was just a terrible idea. the focus we all should look at is not who did what, but the policies that they were attempting to put in place. TO be honest, the one thing I agree with Trump is his Fire arm policy, and that’s about it. I’m gonna stop here, I don’t know how to end things so . . . . that is all.
Great point! Obama glossed his fascist policies via a smooth as silk “Barry style” implementation. Smiling and telling the people how good and fair he was to all Americans. Meanwhile he signs more executive orders than any other President that cause the the most intrusive government ever! These left wing “pro gun” groups are nothing more than armed anarchists with a social communist agenda. There isn’t one iota of constitutional fiber in there make up.
WOW! I live in the Phoenix area and I have NEVER seen anything like this in my life. I also read the New Times reporter’s version, which is a bit different than what the John Brown Gun Club put out. Bottom line: These folks are nuts. Dangerous nuts. They are confused and their stated purpose has MANY contradictions. They are promoting exactly what they say they are fighting against through fear and intimidation. They CLEARLY were there to intimidate Trump supporters – why else would they carry rifles, wear cammies and have masks on? I can’t wait to see what happens when these people show up to support and “protect” a Black Lives Matter march – a bunch of armed, masked white folks in cammies calling themselves “rednecks.” Damn these people are dumb. And very scary. Go to the Redneck Revolt website and see for yourself. Holy crap! They sound like a cult.
Yes. To look so tough in the presence of no threat is asking for something…….
Shouldn’t they have blue bandanas?
The Brown Fucking Berets. Well, that seems to settle it. Germany’s nascent Fascist groups had
some unfortunate truth the depth of divisiveness in the late great Country. The ‘Perfect Storm’ for an intentionally created ‘civil unrest’-I’m not going to say ‘war’ because the Totalitarians who would like to see the peons kill each other so they could declare national emergency martial law and start confiscations and slavery measures, would take over before it became too bloody.
Well, that’s sad. I gave my Green Beret to a young bald headed kid at a hospital cancer benefit, so I don’t have any beret to wear anymore.
But my old camo boonie hat will be just fine, if it comes to that. It shades the eyes better when aiming.
these people aren’t real, they are really stupid. blow em all away with some good sawed off and buckshot. they all have their pretty little red bandanas, black outfits, guns from fast and furious, maybe a little weed, a check from soros, obama, cia, and maybe Mc Donalds’ and an EBT card. They will run at the first real blood. better if they don’t.
Ok, just read the John Brown Gun Club site, another bunch of fools and dipshits who don’t understand the definition of ‘fascist’.
If fascism is of concern to these boneheads, where were they when Obama used Executive orders in such a fascist fashion???
Making law in a Representative Republic is the function of the Peoples representative, not the POTUS.
And that’s JUST what Obama did, so why now do these people show up???
Nothing Trump has done rises to the level of fascism, but Obama’s actions could be interpreted as that.
At best, they are hypocrites.
Certainly, they are fools.
WOW! Ok, all well and good, but the burning question is, Where were these ‘people’ during the Obama administration?
Obama did much to marginalize many different groups, so where were they then?
I smell a ‘funded’ rat.
Agreed, A lot of the “Guns” are fake, airsoft guns, but some of the old fat white guys are carrying the real deal. Some of them are wearing masks. Luckily the police were around to protect these clowns from themselves, as they were marching in the state capitol area, which is near Phoenix PD and Sheriff’s HQ, The State & Federal Court Buildings as well, so tons of cops all around.
I suspect, but do not know, that Phoenix PD was either aware of the “armed” protest in advance or negotiated with ANTIFA in advance regarding the terms of the protest and the march. The reason I say this, is that the city government (not the people) of Phoenix are very liberal, and wishes they could be like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Our new sheriff, democrat, Paul Penzone, calls illegal aliens, “Guests” and wants to release jailed criminal aliens, instead of turning them over to ICE. Phoenix PD has engaged in “outreach” with other protest groups in the past, as well as Black Lives Matter, etc. so its not a stretch to suspect that may have done the same thing with these ANTIFA creeps. I have no facts to support this, just a hunch.
Not sure what the average CCW holder would do if they walked out of the store or the bank and where suddenly confronted by an masked man armed with an AK. The mask would speak to an intent to do harm. Having an AK and carrying it in Arizona is perfectly legal, though not very smart. I suspect the unstated goal is to create ANTIFA Dead Martyrs, to advance their cause and raise their profile, attract more funding, etc. What’s a couple of dead college kids compared to the “Cause”. Sick people are running this organization.
So even though Arizona is a very free and conservative state, we have our share of liberals too. They are very far from the majority and push their agendas quietly or in secret and retreat when they meet serious resistance, lest they lose their power. ANTIFA wants to be the armed wing of the democratic party, replacing the KKK. They have the same tired, failed, Marxist views as their predecessors and for now are mostly college kids, lead by their college funded professors that shamelessly manipulate them.
In places like Berkeley, California and Seattle Washington ANTIFA rioters are not even arrested when they commit acts of violence, as the city government supports them fully. They may in some cases be detained by police and released, but there are never any charges filed, wash, rinse, repeat.
MAY DAY is coming on MAY 1st, so get ready for more of the same.
Brown berets? Is that the same as a shit head?
These redneck revolt guys are interesting. It is worthwhile to visit their website so see first hand just how extreme they are, including their advocacy of armed violence and revolt. At least they have the decency to wear red bandanas or brown berets so that targets can be readily identified with reasonable ease.
LMAO +1
I think we all need to realize that these are the people who willingly go out and riot, burn cop cars and commit all manners of crimes that would land us in jail so “IF” they are arming I believe they will be more willing to start shooting than we will. I know for a fact that many on the left have started buying guns and learning to use them because they fear us. Believe what you want but a snowflake can kill you as dead as a Rambo.
Remember Jon Snows words “Winter is coming” because it is.
That looks to me like a coordinated threat, with a mass of openly armed people standing threatening anyone that disagrees with them. Theses type of demonstration gives guns a bad name, but the bad intentions are of the people not the guns. Perhaps we should look at some laws against mass armed demonstrations (other than the military however). Or pass a law against “lefties” possessing guns, since they continually prove they have no respect for them and have no idea what they are for. This reminds me of the two armed (batons) thugs standing in front of that voting place some time ago. They were there to intimidate voters. It is strictly an act to threaten people that you don’t agree with. Knock it off before it comes to a head someday and you actually have to shoot someone. These demonstrators are the reason that a lot of people carry, to protect themselves from the extremists like you.
I was under the impression that “brandishing” a firearm is a crime and the individual subject to arrest. Perhaps not true in Arizona but maybe it should be. After all that’s exactly what these lefties were doing. They were brandishing firearms to intimidate those who don’t adhere to their ideology. Further I would challenge them to cite specific instances where the Trump administration has subjugated them or taken away any of their rights. But that aside an armed mob gathering to protest a protest is inherently dangerous and law enforcement should have some authority to step in. A law against brandishing which is prevalent in many states should be in effect.
I think the high school PE dropout in front has a concealed Gameboy in that brand new vest. Probably extra batteries too. Maybe some skittles.
Both a chuckle with a feeling of fear…….Looking at the photo…..Shades, holding the rifle in the same manner….Like students, who were taught how to appear in public. Then thinking how these similar type folk and THEIR burning and destroying school and private property cause some fear…..They’re exercising a right…..But the frame of mind of these “owners” makes me nervous………
All of the guns are fake. I can prove it. Look close at any of them , most of them are Airsoft.
I didn’t know that airsoft made SKS rifles.
Well, no. Mr. “In-your-face”, on the left is sporting a $129 MagPul 60rd drum.
Conchita, there in the middle, well, a Michelle Rodriquez she’ll never be.
As for Fat Boy on the right with his SKS, I doubt the guy can even spell “slam fire”.
This is EXACTLY what the globalists had hoped for; a group of people abjectly STUPID enough to think that the New World Order and the Constitution have something in common or that capitalism was the problem.
The guns are not take and if you would all dig deeper than a single story you will see they are training and even openly training felons. Come on MCSO and PD do your jobs
The First and Second Amendments at work. Got to love it.
Don’t agree with much of what either group spouts (Right, Left, too many wingnuts in both).
But, huge fan of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. So, speak up, arm up and exercise your legal political rights.
What “continued threats to marginalized people.”?? President Trump is merely trying to remove the criminal element from our streets. If you’re here illegally, then you should go home before trouble comes looking for you. And it WILL coming knocking, sooner or later. Organizing into gangs (the red bandannas were a really nice touch!) is not going to change our laws or result in any sort of pass, it just makes it easier to identify the criminals. – AMF
Just ask yourself who benefited from undocumented labor? During the good times some of the largest and most profitable individuals and corporations, often using subcontractors, where able to suppress wages and benefits by hiring undocumented workers. Lax laws and the lack of a effective e-verify for employment sealed the deal. Add to that the millions of ‘dreamers’, people who grew up here and know no other home but the USA. Working Americans and the undocumented have been played for fools by the unscrupulous and greedy. Add to that the xenophobic and racist being egged on by some pretty horrible rhetoric by our current Resident, which is the situation in Maricopa County. My wife is from the Philippines and I was shocked how badly she was treated there, yea, it’s not a good situation. But above all else, follow the money. Who got rich off our current immigration situation? Who played us for fools?
I thought red bandanas were the hallmark of the Blood’s gang?
Red bandanas were worn by members of the Redneck Uprising in West Virginia, the largest armed labor rights revolt in US (and world) history. Coal miners fought the Pinkertons until the pigs had to call in the National Guard, then they whooped their asses too. Learn your history, or risk a repeat.
………But this SOB are no proud Redneck West Virginians fighting a Corrupt Company, and Corrupt Democrat Politicians of the times!!,…..This SOBs are Traitor Communist Anarchist Opportunist, trying to portray them selves as fighting for some Just social Democratic cause,……… they are actually fighting for “TOTALITARIANISM”!!,….