Who are the Oath Keepers?
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 20 September 2021
⏱️ ? minutes
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Summary
Members of far-right extremist organizations — such as the Oath Keepers, a self-styled militia movement — are being charged by federal prosecutors for their alleged participation in the Jan. 6 riot. But prosecution may not wipe out their ideologies.
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Law enforcement officials in D.C. were prepared for a big rally this weekend — the so-called Justice for J6 rally in support of people charged in connection to the Jan. 6 insurrection. While turnout in D.C. was low, underlying conspiratorial ideologies are thriving, showing up in protests at local government offices and school board meetings around the country.
One of the groups that has pushed that hard-right agenda is called the Oath Keepers. Many members are now being investigated and charged by federal prosecutors. Hannah Allam reports that the ideologies of this anti-government militia group continue to spread, even as members face legal consequences.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Over the weekend, Washington, D.C. geared up for a rally for right wing extremists. |
| 0:07.5 | It was called Justice for J6. |
| 0:12.9 | It was supposed to be the show of support for the January 6 insurrectionists. |
| 0:20.0 | The city called in the National Guard, D.C. police worked out in huge numbers. |
| 0:24.9 | People were nervous. |
| 0:26.8 | In the end, there were more police and reporters than actual attendees. |
| 0:33.8 | Before we get started, I want to make sure that everybody got their wrist measured before |
| 0:38.3 | the handcuffs and the FBI suits in to take us all away. |
| 0:41.6 | We all got a wrist measure, right? |
| 0:43.6 | When we came in. |
| 0:44.6 | Part of the reason no one showed up is because members of the right wing groups that were |
| 0:48.5 | at the Capitol back in January, they warned each other to stay away this time. |
| 0:53.3 | But just because they're not showing up in person doesn't mean their ideas aren't spreading. |
| 0:57.8 | They are through groups like the Oathkeepers. |
| 1:05.1 | From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post Reports. |
| 1:08.7 | I'm Emma Talkoff, in from our team powers. |
| 1:11.7 | It's Monday, September 20th. |
| 1:14.8 | All these months after the insurrection, we're still learning more about who the Oathkeepers |
| 1:19.2 | are and how they operate. |
| 1:21.9 | They style themselves as this militia group. |
| 1:25.3 | But a deeper look shows that the Oathkeepers act as more of this far right propaganda machine. |
| 1:31.7 | And people who track extremists say the group's message will endure, no matter what happens |
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