The Factivist Project
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The Oath Keepers
The Oath Keepers recruit from law enforcement, first responders, and the military, although working in those fields is not a requirement to join. The group claim tens of thousands of members and is one of the largest antigovernment groups in the U.S. today. The group has even found its way into the GOP political mainstream. They are confrontational and have participated in many armed conflicts with the government, including the January 6, 2021 insurrection. Under the leadership of Elmer Stewart Rhodes, the group claims to be protecting the Constitution, but many of the threats to liberties that they claim the government is responsible for are, in fact, baseless conspiracy theories as you will see below.
The Oath Keepers is one of the largest far-right antigovernment groups in America today
Founded by Stewart Rhodes in 2009, the Oath Keepers claim more than 30,000 law enforcement officers, current and former military veterans, and first responders among their ranks
The Oath Keepers played a key role in the insurrection; 11 members have been charged with seditious conspiracy
A recent data leak has provided membership information of extremists in public life. You can see the information provided by the Anti-Defamation League here.
The Oath Keepers are a loosely organized anti-government militia group whose self-appointed role is to defend their interpretation of the Constitution. The name is derived from the oaths that law enforcement and the military are sworn to in this regard.
Unlike other groups, the Oath Keepers recruit from the ranks of law enforcement, the military, and first responders, although employment in those fields is not a requirement for joining.
The Oath Keepers played a major role in the J6 insurrection, with 11 members charged with seditious conspiracy, including founder, Elmer Stewart Rhodes.
Their
current website shows that they are trying to raise money for Rhodes' defense. Their original website, shown here in
archive form, was
shut down after the events of January 6.
Rhodes was denied bail as he awaits trial. The judge deemed him a flight risk, primarily based on the series of elaborate tunnels he has in his back yard.
The Oath Keepers were primed for confrontation prior to the J6 insurrection, but it's clear this was the main event
You can gain more insight into the events of January 6, 2021, here by reading the transcripts of the Oath Keeper podcasts provided by JustSecurity. U.S. prosecutors also released some of their communications, which you can read here.
The Oath Keepers have been fighting the government and engaging in conspiracy theories long before the January 6, 2021, insurrection. They participated in many "Stop the Steal" protests and have been loyal believers in The Big Lie that the election was stolen from Trump. They attended the November 14, 2021, Million MAGA March in Washington, and provided armed security for the November 21 rally in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Oath Keepers officially made their debut on April 19, 2009, when they held a muster on Lexington Green in Massachusetts, largely in response to Barack Obama's election.
They were in attendance at the Bundy Ranch standoff in Nevada in 2014, and also in Ferguson that year after the killing of Michael Brown.
They vowed from the beginning that they would not recognize Joe Biden as president and would resist a Biden administration.
"We hope he will give us the orders. We want him to declare an insurrection, and to call us up as the militia."
Those are the words of Stewart Rhodes, planning for and talking about the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. In an otherwise chaotic day, the Oath Keepers appeared to be quite organized and focused on the task at hand.
Rhodes spent $20,000 on guns, ammo, night vision goggles, and other equipment before the Capitol attack. The group even discussed using a boat to ferry weapons to the militia. On November 7, when it was clear that Trump had lost, Rhodes texted in a group chat, "“We must now do what the people of Serbia did when Milosevic stole their election. Refuse to accept it and march en-mass on the nations Capitol.” He also shared a step-by-step video on BitChute describing how to overthrow the government according to the Serbian model.
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