One of the two Sioux Falls men arrested last summer for piling into a U-Haul with 30 other masked neo-Nazi goons to turn a Coeur d’Alene LGBT event into a violent melee was among five Patriot Front thugs convicted Thursday of conspiracy to riot:
Derek Joseph Smith, 25, of Sioux Falls, was convicted of criminal conspiracy and sentenced by a Kootenai County judge to serve five days in jail, with credit for two days already served, followed by one year of unsupervised probation. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and banned from being within a two-mile radius of Coeur d’Alene city parks [Hunter Dunteman, “Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 3 Days in Jail for Idaho Patriot Front Riot Conspiracy,” Mitchell Republic, 2023.07.21].
Smith’s lawyer, Robert Sargent, argued that Smith and his co-defendants were simply exercising their First Amendment rights and likened them to Martin Luther King, Jr.:
Sargent argued his clients did not spit, yell or throw a stick at anyone. He said other groups were downtown demonstrating that day, too. Some were carrying rifles and others conducted loud prayers, but they were not arrested.
Sargent said if reading a speech, which Patriot Front intended, is disturbing the peace, then Martin Luther King Jr. should have been arrested.
He said the members’ reward for planning a peaceful protest was police pointing guns at them and ordering them to get on their knees before being booked into jail.
“The government unfairly punished them,” Sargent said [Garrett Cabeza, “Free Speech or Conspiring to Riot? Trial of Five Patriot Front Members Starts in Idaho,” Spokane Spokesman Review via The Chronicle, 2023.07.19].
The defendants maintain their innocence and, apparently, their racist views:
In court Friday, the defendants each addressed the court, saying they respected the jury’s decision but maintained that their intent was to peacefully protest in Coeur d’Alene, not incite a riot.
All five men are still active members of Patriot Front.
“We’ve still stuck with this organization because we believe we were correct in what we did and we believe our organization seeks to better ourselves to benefit our community,” [defendant Devin] Center said.
In their testimony, several defendants acknowledged that Patriot Front promotes the idea that only white people are American and all others are foreign to this country [Kaye Thornbrugh, “Patriot Front Members Jailed, Banned from Downtown Cd’A,” Coeur d’Alene Press, 2023.07.21].
Please tell me Smith is spending the weekend in a cell with a Shoshone man.
Judge James Stow reminded the defendants they are sitting behind bars for planning illegal acts, not having objectionable beliefs:
Before handing down the sentence, Stow emphasized that his intent was not to punish the defendants for beliefs or speech.
Rather, he said the sentence must reflect the gravity of the offense and reinforce that individuals must respect the law and the rights of others when exercising their own rights.
“There does have to be a message sent,” Stow said.
…Planning documents showed that Patriot Front planned to push into City Park with shields and establish a “confrontational dynamic” while some members deployed smoke and leader Thomas Rousseau gave a speech that prosecutors said was designed to provoke Pride attendees to retaliate [Thornbrugh, 2023.07.21].
The other Sioux Falls white-wingnut arrested with Smith, James Michael Johnson, awaits trial in September. Another Johnson, James Julius Johnson of Concrete, Washington, was convicted alongside Smith yesterday.
What’s striking to me is how much that lawyer doesn’t know about history. Martin Luther King, Jr. protested for civil rights for everyone, not to take away rights from others. He was arrested multiple times for civil disobedience. He accepted being arrested, and didn’t whine. When he was arrested, he accepted whatever punishment he faced.
There’s a world of difference between King and these clowns. These neo-Nazis want to strip people of rights. They think they can bully people into altercations and escape responsibility. They take shields, a bullying tactic of the Nazi right, into what they think is a battle for “white rights.”
If you asked me, these guys got a slap on the wrist. The maximum penalty was a year in jail, which is what prosecutors asked for. They got five days. They also don’t have many requirements to meet after they get out of jail.
Patriot Front is sicker than a dog with a congenital twin puppy growing off its neck.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AlyneBnQg8U
James Wesley Rawles coined the phrase American Redoubt in 2011. From his SurvivalBlog.com he supposes Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, eastern Oregon and Washington are survivalist havens for the christian nationalist movement.
As recently as 2017 he used a post office box in Newcastle, Wyoming as his mailing address and credits the late Susan Callaway as his Black Hills connection. She authored the blog, The Price of Liberty until her passing in 2018. That weblog is maintained by Nathan Barton, a Rapid City Libertarian who ran for governor in 1994 and again in 2002.
Rawles’ son, Jonathan operates Survival Realty that features off-grid properties including some with bunkers and greenhouses.
The Black Hills region is a de facto part of the American Redoubt so Spearditch resident and Republican legislator, Scott Odenbach is tapped into the survivalist real estate boom, too.
Wendel Hiland was a Newell-area handyman and self-styled ‘sovereign citizen’ who faced 300 years in prison after he was arrested and charged in 2013 with 30 counts of abuse of a minor over the age of seven. He raped a minor, forced her into child marriage and has called Attorney General Marty Jackley “as crooked as they come.” Hiland now lives in Moyie Springs, Idaho in the bowels of the American Redoubt.
But, how these bozos expect to take on ATF, FBI, and Homeland Security is the height of ignorance. Think Katrina: if civil order is temporarily suspended these idiots will kill only those innocents by whom they feel threatened. Unarmed people would be preyed upon by these monsters unrelentingly.
We will never allow the White Race to die off, regardless of extreme the Federal Govt goes to allowing open borders that allows illegal immigration into the country. We have known for decades, that the democrat agenda is to over load our borders with war criminals, other people with the intent to decrease the White population. That is evident in all federal policies such as same sex marriage,promoting inter-racial marraiges, abortion, etc. Blame the FEDS for all this division among the races..
I added the above comment by Mike Zitterich to his file. Enough said.
See? Turning South Dakota into Idaho.
Boy, Mike Z., that’s pretty much what the Nazis said during the 1920s and 1930s. I’d hate to live with as much ignorance as you exhibit.
There isn’t a biologically defined “race” of “white people.” Indeed the social construct of the “race” of “white people” has changed over centuries. Italians, Greeks, even Irish were once not considered “white.”
Decrease the white population?? Latino’s are classified as white. So, it ain’t eveah gonna happen, now you can stop being such a downer.
Oh Goody, a Democrat is creating a file on me, lol, thank you. I do not know where I did or said anything wrong,but hey, I am becoming a excellent American.
However, my own website presents to many people who I, and thanks to that committment, I am becoming very respected in the community of someone who takes the time to study, research the truth, the facts, and help spread the good word,
God Speed,
ty
Calling immigrants “war criminals” represents a commitment to the opposite of research, truth, and the Good Word.
I am disappointed that, as in much public discourse, conversation in this blog’s comment section too often becomes dominated by the most radical fringe.
Smith conspired to interrupt public discourse and spark violence. Neither Smith, his actions in Coeur d’Alene, nor his racist principles merit defense.
Hey Mike Z:
Are you related to a Rosa Ocenada Zitterich?
https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/40/?name=_zitterich&pg=1
Dude is now espousing white nationalist rhetoric? Good lord.
Mike, like his Nazi brothers, pretends that “white” is a race. Melanin shade is no more a race than is eye or hair color. There is one race. The human race. Everything else is mere ugly, indefensible bigotry. (A few of us actually are bi-racial, carrying Neanderthal DNA.)
Mike’s co-opting the bigotry of others – thus prolonging the long discredited fanaticism of eugenics.
Peter Turchin’s, End Times, and George Friendman’s, The Storm Before the Calm – highlight that morons like Mike, will be prominent through the 2020s. And they highlight that human social evolution is a two-way street (having the Roman Republic before the Dark Ages). Thus, to move society forward, we must confront the morons at every opportunity.
Examining why political blogs become dominated by the radical fringe.
In this realm of digital discourse, the allure of the most radical fringe is an enticing phenomenon that permeates the very essence of political blogs. Like a siren’s call, it captivates, tempts, and astonishes, drawing avid participants into a world where extremism reigns supreme. But alas, the question begs to be asked – why does conversation in political blogs tend to be consumed by this fervent minority?
First and foremost, one must examine the immediate nature of political blogs. In this fast-paced digital age, where immediacy reigns supreme, the relevance and urgency of a topic tend to overshadow rationality and moderation. It is in these chaotic moments that the most radical fringe finds its voice amplified, like a beacon amidst the cacophony, forcing their views into the spotlight. Their ideas, often unconventional and unyielding, stand out amidst the sea of more measured and tempered voices, captivating attention and infiltrating the bloodstream of the conversation.
Moreover, within the vast expanses of the internet, anonymity fosters a breeding ground for uninhibited expression. The veil of invisibility emboldens individuals who may not otherwise share their most extreme ideas openly. Masked behind a screen name and shielded by virtual walls, they feel liberated to espouse views that may be frowned upon in traditional social settings. In this realm, the most radical fringe gains strength, flourishing in the freedom to express opinions without fear of immediate retribution or judgment.
Additionally, the algorithms and structure of social media platforms and online communities contribute to the dominance of radical voices. These platforms are designed to maximize engagement and promote content that generates interest, often measured by the extent of reactions or shares. Unfortunately, the audacious, provocative, and sometimes outrageous rhetoric of the extreme minority tends to provoke strong reactions, creating a snowball effect of engagement and further amplification. In this relentless cycle, the more sensationalistic and extreme viewpoints become the lifeblood of the conversation, overshadowing the more moderate and nuanced perspectives.
Lastly, one must consider the deeply polarized nature of our contemporary political landscape. Divisions between ideologies and beliefs have become chasms, fostering an environment in which people seek validation for their own beliefs rather than embracing dialogue and understanding. In this climate, political blogs naturally attract individuals with more fervent, absolute convictions, eager to engage with echo chambers that reinforce their preexisting notions. As these contrasting factions collide, the most radical fringe takes center stage, battling for dominance in a never-ending cycle of antagonism.
In the realm of political blogs, it is a tragic reality that conversation too often veers towards the most radical fringe. Yet, in understanding the complex interplay of immediacy, anonymity, algorithms, and the polarized landscape, we can shine a light on the forces that perpetuate this dominance. Perhaps, armed with this knowledge, we can strive for a more balanced and thoughtful discourse, where reason and moderation find their rightful place amidst the clamor of the digital realm.
– P. Aitch’s Assistant
Opinions are like recta
But AI transforms Alexa
Into a preparation
Aitch of smegma.
Mr. Zitterich, I don’t expect the out-of-state name-callers who maintain files on you to be as transparent as the Great State of South Dakota is, but I have requested a photocopy of your file, for which I will pay full freight. After I read it, I might email pieces to you. Those pieces not marked “Do Not Share With Zitterich” I mean. I am sure there are some like that.
PS: If your file is already inches thick, I may have to forego this photocopy request. grudznick has a time and money limit on office help.
Boiled owl
And gravy taters
Make better
Goat stew.
In Conrad’s heart of darkness, Kurtz did stray,
With foolish desires, led his soul astray,
Through struggles profound, he lost his own way,
Madness consumed him, in shadows he’d stay.
Imagine the collective, abysmal stupidity of thirty one neo-Nazi idiots in a U-Haul van. Sounds like a bad joke. It’s a pity they all didn’t die in a devoutly-to-be-hoped-for rollover accident; think of how their welcome deaths would have increased the planet’s IQ.
And what the h*ck is unsupervised probation? Is that where the court sends these bed wetters home to Mommy’s basement to wank with their besties while planning further atrocities?
To clear the air,
1) I did not call Immigrants “War Criminals” – referred to the Democrat, Progressive Concept of open Borders allowing “ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION” that allows war criminals, convicted felons, and other Political Fringed Conspirators to come across our border without being properyly vetted;
2) I am NOT a disrespectful person, I treat people as they wish for me to treat them, based on their demeanor, and respect for each other. IF you want to spout out personal attacks, using bad bahavior towards me, well, I am not afraid to push back and give it back to you;
3) I show everyone respect who does business with me, associates with me, and wishes to engage with me in discussions whether political, or not. Anyone who has ever met me, talked to me knows I am very respectful, and honest with them in return, and we have had great conversations back and forth. I dont care if you are Republic or Democrat, or Black, or White, or Gay or Straight, or whatever the situation. I take the time to sit down with people, listen to them, talk to them, and conversate with them. We may not always agree, but by talking, we better get to know each other, and learn how to get along.
4) According to Jack, there is only one race, so therefore there can be no “Racist” due to the fact there is only one race. Makes the Democrat Logic of calling others “racists” full of crap, since then “WE” are all part of one race. Therefore, it makes Democrats look even more foolish…
5) Since much of South Dakota is born of either Native American dissent, let alone share a common ancestory stemming from the Country of Pommern, meaning that most all S.D Citizens can trace their lineage from a culture of Pomeranian’s – made up of people from East Germany (Mecklinburg), Hungary, Poland, Denmark, Norway, the Baltic States, of whom began to come to America between 1830 and 1890, that makes us all family. This explains why many South Dakotans tend to share in, and have he same characteristics, ways of life, and beliefs.
6) I have never ran into a guy or woman I have not gotten along with, everyone that I come into contact with, I have always shown them respect, engaged with them, and had a lovely conversation with them. That is just how I conduct my life…
“Native American dissent:” priceless.
Mike Z,
https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/img_citizenship/?name=_zitterich
How did this nice lady in Texas end up with “Zitterich” as a last name?
[…Mike Zitterich 2023-07-24 15:54
We will never allow the White Race to die off, regardless of extreme the Federal Govt goes to allowing open borders that allows illegal immigration into the country. We have known for decades, that the democrat agenda is to over load our borders with war criminals, other people with the intent to decrease the White population. That is evident in all federal policies such as same sex marriage,promoting inter-racial marraiges, abortion, etc. Blame the FEDS for all this division among the races.. …]