Image Above:
Poster: The rapper, Major Toure, plans a Black Second Amendment Rally with BLM757 in Richmond on 15 August 2020.
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Bottom Line Up Front:
Since late May 2020, TRAC has detected a trend of both armed Protesters and armed Counter-Protesters increasing willingness to cross state lines, even a willingness to travel from coast to coast, to participate in local protests. This alarming trend should be a real concern for the United States. Some are driven by magnetic leaders; yet, others are driven by disinformation distributed on Facebook and other social media sources. Armed Counter-Protesters are almost exclusively motivated by the need to ‘protect’ others; while armed Protesters are often motivated by ‘seeking justice’. Either way, armed Counter-Protesters and armed Protesters, who cross state lines into communities that are foreign to them, are often seen by the locals as ‘outside agitators’ and not as welcomed assistance.
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Photo Above:
Boogaloo Bois, led by Mike Dunn (right side unmasked white male) and BLM757 led by Aubrey “Japhari” Jones (left side with purple head band) pose for photo on Monument Avenue Richmond, Virginia.
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TRAC INCIDENT REPORT: Armed Protesters of Boogaloo Bois and BLM757 Crew Co-Participate in Portland Solidarity Protests in Monroe Park in Richmond, Virginia, United States
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On 22 July, TRAC first detected many posters on pro-BLM Telegram channels announcing 'Abolitionist' solidarity protests for the protests in Portland, Oregon to occur on 25 July. In Richmond, Virginia, two armed groups that took part in the protests were the Boogaloo Bois and BLM757 Crew. The Boogaloo Bois, led by Mike Dunn and BLM757 Crew, led by Aubrey “Japhari” Jones, purportedly first met and aligned during the VCDL Second Amendment protests in Richmond back in January 2020. The phenomena of seeing self-identified Boogaloo supporters intermixing with Black Lives Matter protesters began at the very first George Floyd protests in Minneapolis. What began as a protest for racial justice has been increasingly co-opted and has created alliances between disparate groups with a shared objective of igniting a civil war.
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TRAC INSIGHT: A Perfect Storm Both 111% / Three Percenters Militia and NFAC Militia Announce Armed Counter-Protests To Take Place on 25 July 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky, United States
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The 'Not Fucking Around Coalition' (NFAC), armed protest in Louisville, Kentucky was less likely about the death of Breonna Taylor and more about the group reestablishing itself as legitimate with serious demands, after the NFAC’s misstep earlier in the month at a protest in Stone Mountain, Georgia which TRAC covered. The NFAC is technically a separatist group and the group's main demand is for the U.S. to carve out an entirely Black Ethno-State; entirely independent from any jurisdiction by the U.S. federal government. Though actual origins of the NFAC militia remain unclear, Black Lives Matter of the United Kingdom speculate that there is a membership overlap with Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ (ICGJC), more popularly referred to as Black Hebrew Israelites. Others have speculated some affiliation with the New Black Panther Party (NBPP), though it is unclear what that connection may be. Grand Master Jay claims to have been the armed militia that appeared in Brunswick, Georgia after Ahmaud Arbery was killed by Greg and Travis McMichael in May 2020.
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Image above:
'
Assemble Black Nation' on 25 July in Louisville, KY on the Grandmaster Jay Facebook page
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3% Call To Action Stand Against the NFAC' 25 July in Louisville, KY
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(Claims) Islamic State Somalia (Abnaa ul-Calipha): 7 elements of American and Somalia militia forces were killed/wounded during clashes in Timirshe, southeast of Bosaso, Somalia on 21 July 2020
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TRAC INCIDENT REPORT: U.S. Airstrike Assists Somali Ground Offensive Targeting Islamic State (Abnaa ul-Calipha) Presence Near Timirshe, Southeast of Bosaso, Somalia - (IS Claims To Have Killed US Forces)
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A coordinated operation between U.S. pilots and Somali Federal elements (Puntland Security Forces) targeted Islamic State Somalia (Abnaa ul-Calipha) militants near Timirshe, southeast of Bosaso, Somalia on 21 July. Islamic State fighters had previously attacked security forces in the area, and this airstrike killed at least 7 militants. U.S. assets were on the ground to assist the Somali forces in targeting Islamic State forces. As such, in a face-saving gesture, Islamic State claims to have killed and wounded 7 Americans and Somali militiamen; however, US AFRICOM refuted those numbers, pointing out that Islamic State often traffics in lies and propaganda. Islamic State in Somalia - (Abnaa ul-Calipha) in the Bosaso area was the first al Shabaab faction to spin-off and pledge to Islamic State. Operating under Shaykh Abdulqadir Mumin, last estimates of the group's strength stood at somewhere between 30-40 fighters. The airstrikes will take a toll on Abnaa ul-Calipha's operations in Bosaso, but will unlikely affect operations in other areas of Somalia.
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(Cartel Activity) Federal Deputy Ricardo Gallardo Cardona, Seeking to be Governor of San Luis Potosi, May have Ties to Los Zetas and Juarez Cartels - San Luis Potosí, Mexico
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TRAC's Weekly Analyst Review is a small curated list of many events.
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TRAC Weekly Analyst Briefing
As many of our clients know, we invite one organization a week to sit in on our Analyst Briefing. The briefings take place at 10 AM US eastern time and last an hour. We meet virtually in TRAC's online conference center.
If your organization is interested in attending, please schedule with the link below. We look forward to having you join us and ask questions.
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