A hate group rapidly growing around the country has found new roots in Buffalo recently. This group is called Patriot Front, a fascist organization that combines white supremacist ideology with patriotic Americana symbolism, founded by Thomas Rousseau. Patriot Front was formed as a rebranding of the group Vanguard America, which dissolved after James Alex Fields (part of Vanguard America’s contingent at Charlottesville) drove his car into a crowd of anti-racist protesters, resulting in the murder of Heather Heyer. Shortly after that incident, members of Vanguard America discussed changing the name of the group to avoid being associated with the attack that their affiliate had carried out. Thomas Rousseau was a prominent organizer within Vanguard America at that time, and was able to seize control of the group’s internal communication servers, where he later announced that Vanguard America would be rebranded as Patriot Front. Not only did this help shield their connection to James Alex Fields, but it also made their organization more palatable to patriotic constitutionalists and the militia crowd.
(Patriot Front “commander” Thomas Rousseau on left, “state directing officer” Phillip Wayne Lovett in the center, pictured alongside murderer James Alex Fields on the right, carrying the shield.)
Patriot Front blends together elements of white supremacist ideology seamlessly with American nationalism. While they uphold classic American symbols and venerate the founding fathers, they also make no attempt to hide their racist ideology. Alongside the americana aesthetic, they use overtly fascist symbols such as the “fasces” used by italian fascists, as well as the black sun (sonnenrad) used by many other neo-nazis worldwide. Patriot Front makes the case that white separatism and american nationalism are inherently tied. In this way, Patriot Front truly unmasks the fascism and white supremacy that thrives beneath the thin veil of patriotism used by people like Donald Trump and his supporters, and illuminates the racism that was foundational to the creation of the United States that is often glossed over. Their propaganda frequently involves anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, and anti-communist talking points.
(Patriot Front graphics on their website feature prominent US figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, George Washington, Andrew Jackson, etc.)
They are most active in Texas, but also have members nationwide. The tactics used by Patriot Front are similar in some ways to groups like the now-defunct Identity Evropa (rebranded as American Identity Movement). They emphasize a strong presence on social media, distribution of propaganda, and also take on a much more serious demeanor, lacking the “jokes and trolling” that are common among many alt-right groups. One main difference between Patriot Front and groups like IE/AIM is that Patriot Front does still engage in street level confrontations and does mingle with other neo-nazi groups in some occasions. Patriot Front also is more careful to conceal their identities with masks, something that Identity Evropa did not do very well. They tend to produce relatively high-quality media and propaganda, and often partake in torch marches, banner drops, and flash mobs involving flares and scripted speeches over a megaphone.
(PF-Texas command structure chart from IGD, link in sources below.)
(Masked Patriot Front members)
Patriot Front has recently been active in Buffalo, stickers have been found in multiple locations throughout North Buffalo, UB, and surrounding neighborhoods.
(Patriot Front stickers found along Hertel Ave. near North Park Theatre and Spot Coffee, on October 27, 2019. Red scribble was used to disrupt the scan code.)
(Sticker found at corner of Niagara Falls Blvd. and Ridge Lea rd. on October 21, 2019.)
(Posted on Patriot Front’s twitter page, October 8, 2019.)
Notable Actions:
Austin, Texas, November 5, 2017: Patriot Front members and associates lit flares during a demonstration in front of a bookstore they described as a communist gathering place.
Austin, Texas, November 4, 2017: Approximately 25 Patriot Front members and associates, wearing masks and carrying burning torches, demonstrated in front of the George Washington statue at the University of Texas.
Houston, Texas, September 24, 2017: Twenty-nine members of Patriot Front, Daily Stormer book clubs, Whomsters and Houston Goylers gathered outside a Houston Anarchist Book Fair where they unfurled a “Blood and Soil” banner, used smoke bombs, and chanted phrases such as “Blood and Soil,” “Fuckk you f*****s,” and “anti-White.”
If you come across any Patriot Front or other far-right propaganda, please take pictures before tearing it down, and send all pictures and information to defend716@riseup.net
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More on Patriot Front and it’s formation from Vanguard America:
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/12/11/meet-patriot-front-neo-nazi-network-aims-blur-lines-militiamen-alt-right
More on founder Thomas Rousseau:
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/thomas-rousseau
More on PF-Washington members and connections to Crew 38:
https://eugeneantifa.noblogs.org/post/2018/07/20/from-patriot-front-to-crew-38-tracking-the-fascist-activity-of-jake-prior-and-kenzie-clark-in-washington/
More on PF-Texas members and their leadership structure:
https://itsgoingdown.org/getting-to-know-patriot-front-in-texas-and-its-leadership-structure/
More on PF’s inside communications/chat logs:
https://unicornriot.ninja/2018/americans-fascists-inside-patriot-front/