Washington Three Percenters say Defense Department is wrong to label them extremists

A push by the U.S. Department of Defense to stamp-out extremists from within its ranks has angered members of a local nonprofit.

Matt Marshall, who founded The Three Percent of Washington, said his group is being wrongly labeled as an anti-government militia. Marshall’s concern is members of the military are being told to steer clear of organizations such as his, even though he said his focus is on supporting the community.

“It's pretty hurtful to have some pretty hard core gangs and/or white supremacist organizations on this same list,” Marshall said.

The list is part of a new training manual that Marshall says is being sent to military personnel, including service members at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.