| Formation | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Michael “Lewis Arthur” Meyer |
| Type | Militia |
| Purpose | Vigilantism |
| Headquarters | Pima County, Arizona |
Veterans on Patrol is an American militia movement founded by Michael “Lewis Arthur” Meyer. [1] [2] [3]
History and aims
Veterans on Patrol was founded in Pima County, Arizona [1] in 2015 with the initial aim of supporting military veterans. [2] Since 2018, the activities of the organisation shifted away from its initially stated goals and towards anti-human trafficking activities on the Mexico–United States border. [2]
Philosophies of the organisation include nativism, Christian nationalism, and anti-government values. [1] [2] Views shared by the group include antisemitic, anti-Mormon, anti-Catholic, anti-indigenous misinformation. [1] Members embrace QAnon conspiracy theories and vigilante activities. [2] In 2018, the group labelled a homeless encampment as a child sex-trafficking location. [4]
The group has over 70,000 followers of its Facebook page. [3]
References
- ^ a b c d "Veterans on Patrol". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ a b c d e Schmitz, Avery (2023-02-21). "Borderless Vigilantism: The Nativist US Militias Entering Mexico". Bellingcat. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ a b REIDY, E. Not in My Backyard. Mother Jones, [s. l.], v. 44, n. 3, p. 50–65, 2019. Disponível em: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=135706693&site=eds-live&scope=site . Acesso em: 22 fev. 2023.
- ^ Zadrozny, Brandy; Collins, Ben (7 June 2018). "Arizona veterans group finds homeless camp — and fuels a new 'pizzagate'-style conspiracy". NBC News. Retrieved 2023-02-22.