"'Oath Keepers' armed with military weapons take to streets of Ferguson"

2015-08-13T11:43:47-04:00

From: Metro

Four civilians carrying military-style rifles and sidearms patrolled a riot-torn street in Ferguson, Missouri, early Tuesday, saying they were there to protect a media organization but drawing swift criticism from police and protesters alike.

The appearance of the four men, all white, quickly drew stares in the mostly black neighborhood, which exploded into violence again on Sunday night as protesters marked the police killing of an unarmed black teen a year ago.

The men identified themselves as part of a group called "Oath Keepers," which describes itself as an association of current and former U.S. soldiers and police who aim to protect the U.S. Constitution.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a non-profit civil rights organization, has described the "Oath Keepers" as a "fiercely anti-government, militaristic group," and St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar condemned their appearance in Ferguson.

"Their presence was both unnecessary and inflammatory," he said, adding that police would work with county prosecutors to see if the men had broken any laws.

Led by a man who gave his name only as John, the group, whose members wore bulletproof vests and carried sidearms in addition to combat-style rifles, said they had come to protect a journalist from the conservative "Infowars.com" Web site.

"There were problems here, there were people who got hurt. We needed to be prepared for that," said the man, who noted that Missouri state laws generally allow the open carrying of heavy weapons of the kind that his group were brandishing.

InfoWars could not be reached for immediate comment.

Ferguson has seen months of violent protest since the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a white police officer a year ago. Sunday night's protests were punctuated by gunfire, with police shooting and critically wounding a man who they said had opened fire on them.

Monday's protests were less chaotic, with about nine people arrested in skirmishes with police that saw protesters throw rocks and bottles at officers.

But many in the crowd questioned the wisdom of openly carrying such heavy weapons into an emotionally charged situation.

"You’re going to bring some uncommissioned citizens, white citizens, into a black community like this? It's disrespectful," said Talal Ahmad, 30, who is black and has been a fixture of the last year's protests, which prompted a Justice Department review that found Ferguson's police department routinely violated city residents' civil rights.

"Here, in a black neighborhood, we’re already living in a state of terror," Ahmad said.

http://www.metro.us/news/photos-oath-keepers-armed-with-military-weapons-take-to-streets-of-ferguson/zsJohk---U5y2o7L2dgBmc/

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 13 at 2015 11:46 AM

2015-08-13T11:46:01-04:00

Ferguson is getting out of hand. Not sure what the right move is other impose Marshall Law for a time, I believe they did that and it worked.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Aug 13 at 2015 11:49 AM

2015-08-13T11:49:26-04:00

I'm not sure I feel safe about civilians patrolling and playing police. Although I think the term "military weapons" might be taking it too far as it is inaccurate. They are civilian own weapons which replicate the military look.

Personally, if I were to do this, I would be a bit more tactful, and patrol with a CCW, rather than walk around with full gear.

Response by SPC Robert Patrick made Aug 13 at 2015 11:50 AM

2015-08-13T11:50:51-04:00

Honestly I say fuck leave them alone. If they did not break any laws what does it matter. Did they point their rifles at anybody did they shoot anybody did they loot anything no. Sounds like they were hired by a press organization for protection and now days down there I can't blame an independent press organization for hiring some protection.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 13 at 2015 11:57 AM

2015-08-13T11:57:41-04:00

Here we see yet again no clear answer to the situation that engulfs the city of Ferguson. These men probably did more harm than good walking into the area without proper credentials with military style weapons into the already explosive neighborhood. I think it is yet again another example of good intentions, bad execution. One thing I find ironic is that according to their website, they don't believe in establishing material law or states of emergencies. Yet they go into this area, which has been a powder keg for some many different issues over the past year, with weapons drawn. What image does that give? Just seems like a way to put more gas on the fire and doesn't result in a good outcome for anyone.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Aug 13 at 2015 12:14 PM

2015-08-13T12:14:12-04:00

Yes, it's disrespectful for white citizens to enter a black community, but I'm sure if the roles were reversed the white citizens would still be the disrespectful party. Can we get a news source that doesn't try to inflame racial tensions?

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Aug 13 at 2015 12:18 PM

2015-08-13T12:18:20-04:00

OOPS. Looks like we the people are getting uppity!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 13 at 2015 1:38 PM

2015-08-13T13:38:49-04:00

The media is the enemy.

Response by SGT Frank Leonardo made Aug 13 at 2015 2:30 PM

2015-08-13T14:30:41-04:00

Well sorry to say but down there has been nothing but a bunch of idiots who think they do no wrong and now they want war! You can say they were wrong to go down there. Here is the best part of all the leader resides with Isis. You figure that 1 out. Also I am a Oath Keeper. Everyone on this site has taken a Oath. Of you want to follow it good if you don't you should get out of the service. I took a Oath never have forgotten it maybe we should lol at it and see it says enemies foreign and domestic.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 13 at 2015 2:41 PM

2015-08-13T14:41:43-04:00

I saw this on the news and I think it's wrong. It's been said below that had a black man been the one with the AR, we'd be reading about him dead, but it wasn't and the local PD didn't do anything about those men there. If the locals cannot openly carry in their own neighborhoods no one short of the police should either. To make it worse if something had gone wrong with those men and they opened fire, who would be held responsible? You can't show up unannounced with weapons and expect everyone to be cool with it. Thank goodness cooler heads prevailed that night.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 3:12 PM

2015-08-13T15:12:10-04:00

I see people saying how disrespectful it is and I have to question why? Black community? What ever happened to our community? When you have a series of riots and a pushback to police people will and should start protecting themselves. You want to go without the police? Someone will step up to take their place. Criminal? Community watch? Militia? Who it is depends on the community reaction. Police started as a response to a crime, now they go out to look for it. Then we started using security guards. If they did not commit crimes then where is the issue? When police have areas that they are unwilling to protect with out having a dozen backup cars just to enter an area it means that the community has failed. I do not care if the people are black, white, Hispanic or even Aliens from Mars. If the community knows who the thugs and enforcers are and do nothing, the crime is their fault. The gangs and a closed community caused this issue. We have a Military to protect our boarder from all enemies Foreign and Domestic. The Police are there to Protect and Serve. When we loose sight of our purposes we loose sight of what we are here for. The Second Amendment is there to allow you to protect yourself and family and the freedoms they have.

Response by Cpl Chris Monego made Aug 13 at 2015 3:29 PM

2015-08-13T15:29:02-04:00

Talk about sensationalized reporting.. I repeated use of "heavy weapons" how can a Military reporting platform call small arms "heavy weapons" was there a H2 or Mk19 around that I was not aware of..

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 3:30 PM

2015-08-13T15:30:58-04:00

While the ethnicity of people enforcing the law shouldn't matter, the fact of the matter is that Ferguson has become a hotbed of racial tension. Regardless of how well-intentioned the Oath Keepers may be (and I don't know enough about them to speak on that), it was downright stupid of them to send an all-white armed group into this environment. It's only going to inflame the situation.

Response by MSgt Robert Pellam made Aug 13 at 2015 4:29 PM

2015-08-13T16:29:55-04:00

Lets talk about Ferguson. From the onset of the problems (last years death of Mike Brown) Different factions have risen up and poured into Ferguson to get their message out. Whether that message is White people are Racist or Black people are Thugs, there have been different people behind the scenes pulling strings. The Media has played into this because there is ratings in Violence. Riots, shootings, police states automatically boost ratings. Yes the Media is slanted, but that is what brings the money. If you say, "Four Civilians carrying military-style rifles and sidearms patrolled a riot-torn street in Ferguson." You are trying to elicit a response from both sides. Outrage from the protestors, and anger from the police supporters. That is it. This entire story is to elicit a emotional response from you so you can click on that link, be emotional and follow their story so they can get money for advertising dollars. That is it.

Here let me rephrase this line I borrowed from the story. "Four guys are hired to body guard a reporter in Ferguson. Nothing happens." Both of these statements are true, but which one elicits an response that makes you want to click on the article?

There is a problem in Ferguson. Last year through the mess I found a couple of articles that showed people getting other people registered to vote. Communities coming together to clean up after the mess. Teachers moving into Churches to continue to teach kids.

Now a year later. Finding those stories are almost impossible. I doubt the majority of protestors who are in Ferguson, are actually From Ferguson. Right now, I wouldn't believe anything you read, and until this calms down, if the extreme factions let this calm down, reform in Ferguson is almost impossible. And when I mean reform, I mean regulating the police force AND combating the crime problem. This problem isn't one sided. No problem ever is.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Aug 13 at 2015 5:36 PM

2015-08-13T17:36:18-04:00

The whole situation from the beginning has been out of control. A bad situation happened and then outside interests jumped in and made it worse, from the paid protesters and media hounds that rushed in to get their moment in front of the cameras. It has long since ceased to be about what happened and is now all about what others can get from it for themselves. The Oath Takers seem to be just the most resent groups showing up to get their names in the news.

Response by PO3 David Davis made Aug 13 at 2015 5:38 PM

2015-08-13T17:38:06-04:00

I am disappointed with Oath keepers. The concept from the founder was good. However the have the wrong leadership though out the country.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Aug 13 at 2015 7:09 PM

2015-08-13T19:09:20-04:00

No good will come of it...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 7:24 PM

2015-08-13T19:24:26-04:00

Infowars, there's the problem.

Response by SSgt Charles Edwards made Aug 13 at 2015 8:42 PM

2015-08-13T20:42:31-04:00

Well, if these assclowns weren't burning down their city and challenging the police force, these guys wouldn't be compelled to show up in the first place.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 13 at 2015 9:15 PM

2015-08-13T21:15:00-04:00

I'm not sure how I feel about this. He is doing the right thing protecting property but is he inflaming those whom he disagrees with?

Response by 1SG Jack Crutcher made Aug 13 at 2015 9:37 PM

2015-08-13T21:37:52-04:00

I read a lot of these comments and thought some was pretty good. Lets not forget how this all got started. It started with the shooting of a unarmed young man. No matter what we think of Brown, the question is should he have been shot and killed. Some people think yes because they thought he was a thug without ever meeting him. Some people is quick to judge others because of something they heard such as : he got suspended from school, so did I and some of you, he smoked pot, so did I and some of you, he played his music too loud, he wore a hoodie and looks like a thug, I don't know about you but I turned my life around as I got older, how do you know that Brown wouldn't have turned his life around. Why don't we let the people of Ferguson take care of Ferguson. There are a lot of good policemen out there but there are also some bad ones like in every other job. When you are judging other ask yourself who appointed you Judge ? Just because you got the opportunity to land a nice job don't mean everyone else has. If someone didn't give you the opportunity for success you could have been like the people in Ferguson, yes I said it. If the news would stop reporting cop another black unarm teenager and report a cop shout another unarm teen maybe so many people wouldn't get in a upmore.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 13 at 2015 10:07 PM

2015-08-13T22:07:15-04:00

We should shame the media for their biased display of news that makes an inversely proportional problem appear proportionally higher that it is.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2015 12:20 AM

2015-08-14T00:20:41-04:00

White people will always be at fault for everything in this country. The kid was a thug ran up on a cop and got handled, end of story.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 14 at 2015 3:10 AM

2015-08-14T03:10:42-04:00

Misleading headline. They weren't carrying military rifles. They were carrying "military STYLE" rifles. Secondly, it looks as if whoever wrote this article is playing the ever popular race card.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 15 at 2015 12:55 PM

2015-08-15T12:55:45-04:00

This will only fuel the fire of a race based conflict.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Aug 15 at 2015 1:07 PM

2015-08-15T13:07:27-04:00

How dare the oath keepers keep thugs from attacking others and looting stores of which are probably owned by their own fellow African - American citizens.

Response by SPC Robby Robinson made Sep 30 at 2015 5:20 AM

2015-09-30T05:20:00-04:00

If I may respond, I am an Oath Keeper. Our 2nd appearance in Ferguson, Missouri was in my opinion not a good idea? Our first venture into Ferguson during the initial blow out when the DA decided not to charge the officer in the shooting death of Mike Brown, was the right decision and was at the behest of multiple business owners. Both law enforcement and the National Guard for whatever reason were not protecting businesses. Our first foray into Ferguson was limited to protecting businesses. We did so by positioning armed members at door fronts and roof tops and NOTHING more. Initially law enforcement demanded we leave, we did. We went back and law enforcement did not stop us. I am proud to say that no businesses under our protection were lost to looting and/or arson.
I did not and still do NOT agree with us volunteering to protect journalists. Regardless whether the open carry laws allowed us to do just that, it was not the proper move and with that I disagree with our leadership. It is my opinion we should have limited any OK presence to defensive operations to protect businesses instead of grandstanding our presence on the anniversary of mike Brown's death

Response by SPC Robby Robinson made Sep 30 at 2015 5:22 AM

2015-09-30T05:22:32-04:00

Heavy weapons? Military style weapons? All we carried were AR15 variants, all were semiautomatic weapons. Secondary weapons were semiautomatic handguns