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Far right movement topic of public presentation

By B.L. Azure

Montana Human Rights Network Director Travis McAdams was the main speaker at the far right wing movement in Montana presentation. (B.L. Azure photo)

ST. IGNATIUS — The recent presentation on the resurgence of the extreme right wing by the Helena-based Montana Human Rights Network at the Senior Citizens Center drew approximately 50 people. It also drew a lot of fire from some of those folks who said their views were not extreme and were only a logical reaction to what they say is a run away big government that is fiscally irresponsible and intrusive in the lives of American citizens.

The meeting was not an open forum, it was a presentation that would take written questions and answer them at the end of the event. Audience members were advised of that and encouraged to exercise civility. However, it didn’t take long before that advisement was ignored.

MHRN Director Travis McAdams gave a presentation entitled: The Resurgence of Right Wing Extremists in Montana” focused on the history and recent second coming of the far right movement in Montana.

The Montana far right movement had its genesis in the early 1990s and adopted the far-right construct that is the backbone of the extreme right movement.

McAdams said the far right groups promote a conspiracy-based ideology. They say the system has failed them due to wide spread corruption; promote an “us against them” mentality, provide simplistic answers to complex questions; and, among other things, have access to a higher truth.

Several folks opposed to the presentation content spoke out against it including this man who said the day may come when he has to take up arms against the federal government. (B.L. Azure photo).jpg

McAdams said people joining the far right anti-government and patriots movement for various reasons, including economic dissatisfaction, anti-tax, gun rights, racism, land use issues, and so on.

“They believe in the one-world government conspiracy - the new world order - and black helicopters,” McAdams said. “The ‘them’ becomes the UN or some multinational entity.”

McAdams said most people drawn to the groups might attend the meetings then go on with their everyday lives. However, there are those in the movement that go to the extreme to express their views. Timothy McVeigh, who along with Terry Nichols, blew up the federal Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City in 1995 is an example of that.

McAdams then focused on the movement close to home. He said groups like the Hamilton-based Celebrating Conservatism organization and the Calling All Conservatives group in Lake County usually draw large groups at their initial meetings. However, many people drop out of such groups when the extremists start guiding the conservation and issues.

The recent re-rise of the groups is based on what McAdams said was a “perfect storm” for them. The perfect storm ingredients include the election of a person of color (Barack Obama) to the U.S. presidency and the current economic downturn or recession.

“There is now something out there to really focus on,” McAdams said.

McAdams said that is why it is important for people in communities where the movement is spouting their agenda to express their opposing views.

“What kind of community do you want to have?” McAdams asked rhetorically. “I think it is important for those of us who have opposing views to be talking to people as well. We feel that we are starting to get to the position where those who speak the loudest and those that have the most weapons are the ones dictating what’s happening in the communities.”

Following the formal presentation McAdams answered several questions that were submitted by the audience. Most of the questions came from people opposed to or who had issues with the presentation.

Jerry Hudgins said America was a republic guided by Christian ideals and not a democracy. (B.L. Azure photo)

One man asked if those in the audience could understand why he would take up arms against the federal government if things continue to spiral down in his opinion. There wasn’t an answer but there was bewilderment by some who wondered what would be so intrusive or wrong with the federal government that the man felt he had to go to war against the government like the Revolutionary Army and Militia did against Great Briton.

“Trying to equate that era of American history, I don’t agree with,” McAdams said. “ I think the founding fathers had gotten to the point where they had no redress for their grievances. I still believe we do through the democratic process and voting.”