Extremist Militias Coordinate on Facebook: Over 100 Groups Involved

Militia Extremists Regroup and Recruit on Facebook, Defying Meta’s Ban

The Free American Army: A Call to Arms

“Join Your Local Militia or III% Patriot Group,” a post urged the more than 650 members of a Facebook group called the Free American Army. Accompanied by the logo for the Three Percenters militia network and an image of a man in tactical gear holding a long rifle, the post continues: “Now more than ever. Support the American militia page.”

Militia Groups Quietly Reorganize on Facebook

Despite Facebook banning paramilitary organizing and deeming the Three Percenters an “armed militia group” in 2021, militia extremists have been quietly reorganizing, ramping up recruitment and rhetoric on the platform, according to new research by the Tech Transparency Project. Individuals across the US with long-standing ties to militia groups are creating networks of Facebook pages, urging others to recruit “active patriots,” attend meetups, and openly associating themselves with militia-related sub-ideologies like the anti-government Three Percenter movement.

Rebuilding Amidst Surging Anti-Government Rhetoric

These groups are rebuilding at a moment when anti-government rhetoric has continued to surge in mainstream political discourse ahead of a contentious, high-stakes presidential election. By doing all of this on Facebook, they’re hoping to reach a broader pool of prospective recruits than they would on a comparatively fringe platform like Telegram.

“Many of these groups are no longer fractured sets of localized militia but coalitions formed between multiple militia groups, many with Three Percenters at the helm,” said Katie Paul, director of the Tech Transparency Project. “Facebook remains the largest gathering place for extremists and militia movements to cast a wide net and funnel users to more private chats, including on the platform, where they can plan and coordinate with impunity.”

Influential Accounts and Local Militia Organizing

One particularly influential account in this Facebook ecosystem belongs to Rodney Huffman, leader of the Confederate States III%, an Arkansas-based militia. In Michigan, a township established a militia in response to the state’s new “red flag law,” which allows the temporary confiscation of firearms from individuals believed to be at risk of harming themselves or others.

Many of the Facebook groups in this growing network are focused on local militia organizing, such as the Pennsylvania Light Foot Militia and the Arizonans State Civilian Guard. These groups aim to equip their members with the ability to defend themselves and advocate for activating the “Unorganized Militia.”

The Threat of the Network

“What January 6 showed, despite the incompetence of the Oath Keepers, was that the threat was—and is still—the network, not a single organization,” says Lewis.

Politicians are aware of the militia problem, with Democrats introducing federal legislation in the form of the Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act, but the bill has yet to advance.

The Resurgence of Militia Groups: A Looming Threat to American Democracy

Militia Leaders Exploit Social Media for Recruitment

In recent months, militia leaders have been actively recruiting new members on social media platforms like Facebook. One such leader is Jeremy Robinson, who is affiliated with the Florida militia Guardians of Freedom and has been promoting the Florida chapter of the American Patriot III% (APIII or AP3) network. Despite the group’s claims of not being a militia, APIII is explicitly blacklisted by Facebook as a “dangerous organization.”

Facebook’s Role in Militia Organizing

Facebook has long been a hub for militia organizing, particularly during times of social upheaval. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic and racial justice protests created ideal conditions for militias to act out their survivalist, vigilante, and anti-government fantasies. In response, Meta (then Facebook) took sweeping action against pages, groups, and profiles associated with extremist networks, including militias and the Boogaloo Bois.

The Aftermath of January 6, 2021

The militia movement’s threat became even more evident after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, where dozens of militia members joined forces with Trump supporters in an attempt to block Joe Biden from becoming president. Facebook was widely blamed for allowing election conspiracies to flourish on the platform unchecked. In the wake of the riot, some Oath Keeper chapters disbanded entirely, while others rebranded to distance themselves from the event’s optics.

“You don’t need to be a card-carrying member of a militia group to go down the anti-government rabbit hole. For the most part, the anti-government extremist ideology has become intertwined with the mainstream on the right,” says Lewis. “The same umbrella movement that attacked the Capitol on January 6 has happily absorbed any conspiracies that further their goals, and has increasingly gained followers from across the right-wing ecosystem.”

The Romanticization of January 6 and Deepening Hostilities

The potential reemergence of the militia movement coincides with an increased romanticization of January 6 and deepening hostilities toward the federal government due to the prosecution of Capitol rioters and former president Donald Trump. A recent poll found that one in five Americans strongly agree that violence is the only viable solution to get the country back on track.

The Threat of a Newly Emboldened Militia Movement

Although societal conditions heading into this year’s election differ from those in 2020, a newly emboldened militia movement could add a dangerous dimension to potentially fraught future events, such as a judge handing down a prison sentence for Trump or Trump losing another close presidential election. As Lewis warns, “Nothing brings the freaks out of the woodwork like a presidential election.”

Militia Activity on Facebook Persists

Despite Facebook’s efforts to curb extremist content, militia activity persists on the platform. In the Free America Army Facebook group, a recent post featured an Instagram reel with dialog from the film Tombstone, played over footage of Trump’s rally preceding the January 6 riot. The video’s message is clear: if the government tries to “steal the election” again, the response will be more severe than the last time.