Lion Guard
Lion Guard Lions of Trump | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Decentralized |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Ideology | Hard right |
| Political position | Extremism |
| Website | |
| http://lionsoftrump.net/ | |
The Lion Guard (also known as the "Lions of Trump" or the "Lion's Guard Militia") is a paramilitary far right wing political group that was formed in 2016 in order to provide self-imposed security (outside of private security and professional law enforcement) at the rallies of Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump.[1][2] At its height, the group had a reported membership of just over five hundred, although boasted several hundred more followers on Facebook and Twitter.[3]
Origins and organization
On March 15, 2016 the group was formed after launching an official website with a stated mission of:
- “Provide safety and security to Trump supporters while willing to forcefully protect Donald Trump from people who threaten him."
The group has no clearly defined central leadership, and its website is operated through Domains by Proxy which allows the webmaster to remain anonymous. With no national leadership, the organization is instead based upon semi-autonomous local chapters. The Lion Guard website offered to "put in touch" Trump supporters in order to form Lion Guard chapters and also offer vague outlines as to manner of activities and updated members as to Trump rallies and other events. The group also published blog posts which were mainly anti-left wing and anti-Marxist.
Connections with biker groups
A splinter movement, known as "Bikers for Trump" began to appear in summer 2016 composed of motorcycle club members committed to provide security at Trump rallies. The motorcycle groups were closely connected with the Lion Guard movement, often sharing the same symbols and logos. The Bikers for Trump movement reported its membership in excess of 30,000 as of the summer of 2016.
Major activities
Arizona rally
The first major activity of the Lion Guard was to organize a "security patrol" at a Phoenix, Arizona rally for Donald Trump on March 19, 2016. The group claimed that the rally was in danger of being "sabotaged" and urged members to attend the rally and watch for "agitators". The group also claimed that it was "working in connection" with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, a claim which was later denied by county authorities.
New Hampshire rally
In June 2016, the Lion Guard posted several notices about a Trump rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, urging members to attend. In response to criticism that the group was urging conflict and promoting violence, the Lion Guard stated on its website:
- "We do not endorse instigating fights or brawling with anti-Trump marauders. The Lion Guard seeks to identify and expose plots to attack Mr. Trump, Trump Supporters, and their rallies before they even can happen."[4]
Republican National Convention
The last known major action for the Lion Guard was its urging for members to report to the 2016 Republican National Convention, if possible with weapons due to Ohio's open carry laws and the "danger of insurrection". Due to heavy formal security at the event, it is unknown to what extent Lion Guard activists were present.
Decline
As of summer 2016, the group had been condemned by most mainstream political activist groups as a paramilitary fringe organization and was frequently compared to the Sturmabteilung (SA) of the Nazi Party.[5] Connections of the group to neo-fascism were also made, in particular due to the slogan of the Lion Guard being a quote by Benito Mussolini which Donald Trump had once posted on Twitter.
- "It is better to live one day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep."[6]
As of August 2016, the group's Twitter account and website had become inactive.[7]
External links
Sources
- ↑ Haralsson, Hrafnkell, "‘Lion’s Guard’ Group Forms to Bust Heads for Trump". Politicus USA, 15 Mar 2016
- ↑ Edwards, David, "Trump militia forms to 'forcefully protect' rally goers against 'far-left agitators'", Salon On-Line, 18 March 2016
- ↑ McDermott, J. "Trump’s Brownshirts? Militia vows to 'protect' Donald Trump", Arizona Republic, 13 June 2016
- ↑ http://lionsoftrump.net/about/ (Retrieved 25 Oct 2016)
- ↑ Carter, B.J., "Fascist And Nazi Messages Used By Lion’s Guard Militia Now Shadowing Donald Trump", Scranton Times, 13 June 2016
- ↑ Ellefson, L., "Pro-Trump Group Named for Mussolini Appoints Itself to Monitor Protest Activity Online", Mediate.com (Retrieved 27 October 2016)
- ↑ Bloom, Horace, "A Warning About The Fascist Lion Guard Protecting Donald Trump", http://trumplionsguard.com/, (Retrieved 25 October 2016