Three Percenters

The Three Percenters (3 Percenters, 3%ers and III%ers) is a far right, terrorist"Canada puts U.S. Three Percenters militia on terror list, cites risk of violent extremism" by David Llunggren, Reuters, 2021 June 25 anti-government militia organizationAntigovernment Movement Southern Poverty Law Center. founded in 2008, after Barack Obama was first elected President, by a bunch of gun nuts who were afraid that he was gonna take their guns.Three Percenters are Canada's 'most dangerous' extremist group, say some experts: Far-right group says it welcomes everyone, but some who've studied it say it's an anti-Muslim militia by Kristy Hutter (Posted: May 10, 2018 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 10, 2018) CBC News. Though the Three Percenters began in the United States based on anti-Tory mythology, the group established its first Canadian chapter in Alberta in 2017 despite Canada having been a refuge for fleeing Tories after the American Revolution.Inside Canada's Armed, Anti-Islamic 'Patriot' Group by Mack Lamoureux (June 14, 2017, 9:34am) Vice. The foundational myth of the Three Percenters was that only 3% of American colonists fought against the British Empire; the actual percentage was in the range of 15-25% of the population (including women and children).More Americans Fought in the American Revolution Than We Thought: Our founders fought a hard, popular war for freedom by John A. Tures (07/03/17 6:30am) Observer. The name is also reflective of the group's contempt for both the majority of Americans and the very concept of democracy.
The original organization, now called The Three Percenters Original (TTPO), was co-founded by Michael "Mike" Brian Vanderboegh ,Longtime militia and 'Patriot' leader Mike Vanderboegh dies at 64 by Judy L. Thomas (August 10, 2016 11:43 AM, Updated August 10, 2016 02:37 PM) The Kansas City Star. who had previously been a member of Alabama militia groups.Profile on the Right: Three Percenters by Spencer Sunshine (January 5, 2016) Political Research Associates. From about 1969-1975, Vanderboegh was involved in various leftist and radical causes, including and the Socialist Workers Party.Mike Vanderboegh collection Ohio History Connection. Vanderboegh said that after he read the book Road to Serfdom by Friedrich August von Hayek (of the Austrian school), he moved politically from left to right.Wingnuts: Extremism in the Age of Obama by John P. Avlon (2014) Beast Books. 2nd ed. ISBN 9780991247608. By the 1990s, he became active in the militia movement. Following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, Vanderboegh promoted related conspiracy theories. In 2008, he started a blog called the Sipsey Street Irregulars, which he used to create the Three Percenters.Sipsey Street Irregulars
The Three Percenters are considered to belong to the larger 'patriot movement' that includes militias, sovereign citizens, and tax protesters. The last time that membership was listed was in 2015, when they claimed about 470 members.Members The Three Percenters (archived from August 3, 2015). Among these members are Daniel "Cully" Pratt and potentially his more famous brother, actor Chris Pratt."Chris Pratt seen wearing hat supporting white supremacist group, ‘Three Percenters’", The Brag.] Hmm, suspicious. 
==Malheur National Wildlife Refuge==
After Cliven Bundy, a sovereign citizen of Nevada, fought the Federal government over his 'right' to do whatever he wanted on Federal land, he moved on with his well-armed sons and buddies to take over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in 2016 (though Bundy has claimed to be a citizen of Nevada, not the US).United States of America vs. Cliven Bundy, 1998 This asinine takeover was based on their pseudolaw idea that the Federal government was required to turn over most of the land that it owns within states to the respective states themselves. The Bundys were joined by the Pacific Patriots Network,There's Another Armed Group In Burns And It's Not The Bundys by Amanda Peacher (Jan. 10, 2016 8:55 a.m.) Oregon Public Broadcasting. an umbrella group that includes regional Three Percenters (Idaho and Oregon) and Oath Keepers groups.Partners Pacific Patriots Network (archived from July 13, 2016). The weeks-long armed standoff with law enforcement resulted in the death of one of the participants, 
==2021 U.S. Capitol riot==
The Three Percenters had some noticeable presence at the 2021 Capitol riot-cum-insurrection based on photographic evidence of insignia. About 20 Three Percenters were charged with crimes at the riot,Alleged supporters of right-wing Three Percenters group charged in new Jan. 6 Capitol riot conspiracy by Spencer S. Hsu & Rachel Weiner (June 10, 2021 at 4:03 p.m. PDT) The Washington Post. including:
*Robert Gieswein of Colorado. Gieswein is also a Proud Boys and Oath Keepers member, and runs a paramilitary training group.FBI moves on alleged members of extremist groups Oath Keepers, Three Percenters by Devlin Barrett & Spencer S. Hsu (Jan. 17, 2021 at 11:33 p.m. PST) The Washington Post. He was convicted of "assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers", by using an aerosol irritant; he was sentenced to 48 months in prison and 36 months of probation.Colorado Man Sentenced For Assault on Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach (June 23, 2023) United States Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, Department of Justice.
*Alan Hostetter, California/Texas, ex-police chief, yoga instructor,Meet the police chief turned yoga instructor prodding wealthy suburbanites to civil war by Radley Balko (Jan. 27, 2021 at 10:24 a.m. PST) The Washington Post. allegedly adopted Three Percenters rhetoric and used the American Phoenix Project website "as a platform to advocate violence against certain groups and individuals". Charged with conspiracy, unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon, and obstruction.Alleged supporters of right-wing Three Percenters group charged in new Jan. 6 Capitol riot conspiracy by Spencer S. Hsu & Rachel Weiner (June 10, 2021 at 4:03 p.m. PDT) The Washington Post.U.S. v Alan Hostetter et al Indictment (Updated Jun 10, 2021 at 12:52 PM) The Washington Post. Hostetter was "convicted of conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon." He was sentenced to 135 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.Texas Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Conspiracy To Obstruct Congress and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach (December 7, 2023) United States Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, Department of Justice.
*Derek Kinnison, California, was "convicted of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding" and "tampering with documents or proceedings, a felony".Defendants Conspired Together to Travel and Obstruct Official Proceedings on Jan. 6 (November 8, 2023) United States Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, Department of Justice.
*Felipe Antonio “Tony” Martinez, California, was "convicted of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding".
*Patrick McCaughey III of New York allegedly dragged a beaten police officer down the Capitol steps.Capitol riot latest: Man who allegedly dragged beaten officer down steps charged by Luke Barr et al. (January 22, 2021, 4:30 PM) ABC News. He was charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, and using a dangerous weapon.Investigations regarding violence at the Capitol. United States Department of Justice.Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein, Feds: Evidence shows well-laid plan by some Capitol insurrectionists. Politico, 20 January 2021. McCaughey was convicted of 9 counts, including felony assault charges (crushing a police officer with a shield); he was sentenced to 7 years in prison.Capitol rioter who crushed officer with shield gets 7 years by Michael Kunzelman (4:51 PM PST, April 14, 2023) AP.
*Ronald Mele, California, was "convicted of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding".
*Chris Miller, a Republican member of the Illinois General Assembly, had a decal of the Three Percenters anti-government movement prominently displayed on his truck while it was parked at the East Front of the Capitol — an area that was highly restricted on January 6. Miller denied that he knew what the symbol meant even though it was large and prominent.'Three percenters' truck at Capitol belongs to husband of congresswoman who said, 'Hitler was right on one thing' by Kim Bellware (Feb. 27, 2021 at 5:26 p.m. PST) The Washington Post.Three Percenter Truck at Capitol on Jan. 6 Belongs to Hitler-Quoting Rep's Husband by Adam Rawnsley et al. (Updated Feb. 26, 2021 10:10AM ET / Published Feb. 25, 2021 11:33PM ET) The Daily Beast. The denial rings hollow since his views are more-or-less in alignment with Three Percenters. Immediately before the insurrection, he went so far as to call Democrats "terrorists" and to say, "we’re engaged in a great culture war to see which worldview will survive." Miller is married to US Representative Mary E. Miller (R-IL). Mary Miller was forced to apologize for paraphrasing Hitler at the pre-insurrection Trump rally.Illinois Republican congresswoman apologizes for invoking Hitler as she faces calls to resign by Veronica Stracqualursi (Updated 3:47 PM ET, Sat January 9, 2021) CNN.
*Guy Wesley Reffitt of Texas, who, according to his wife, threatened to kill their children if they turned him in.Texas man at Capitol riot allegedly threatened to kill his kids if they turned him in: 'Traitors get shot' by Jaclyn Peiser (Jan. 19, 2021 at 1:02 a.m. PST) The Washington Post. He was charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly threatening his family and unlawful entry into the Capitol. Reffitt was found guilty on five charges: "obstruction of an official proceeding, interfering with police in a riot, transporting a firearm for that purpose, armed trespassing and witness tampering."Guy Reffitt guilty on all counts in first Capitol riot trial by Rachel Weiner & Spencer S. Hsu (March 8, 2022) The Washington Post. Reffitt sentenced to 87 months in prison.Defendant Carried Loaded Gun Onto Capitol Grounds, Led Charge Against Law Enforcement, Later Sought to Obstruct Justice (August 1, 2022) Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice.
*Erik Scott Warner, California, was "convicted of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding" and "tampering with documents or proceedings, a felony".
After the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot, the Three Percenters Original webshite briefly maintained their original bravado:
However, in the face of serious charges against some Three Percenters, TTPO quickly folded their cards and dissolved their organization,TTPO's Final Statement (Feb 21, 2021) The Three Percenters Original. claiming that their Three Percenters group did nothing wrong, it was some other Three Percenters:
There was no formal membership for Three Percenters, and one merely had to say that one was a member,Three Percenters ADL. a convenient escape hatch. There were once many chapters of the Three Percenters. If one puts a bunch of belligerent assholes in the same space for long enough, there's gonna be a blowup; hence there have been numerous schisms from TTPO.Three Percent Security Force’s Split Highlights Plague of Infighting (September 06, 2019) Southern Poverty Law Center.
Starting in February 2024, there has been a placeholder page on their website with just their logo.The Three Percenters (archived from February 22, 2024). Perhaps they are waiting for a Trump reelection in 2024 and hoping that they all get pardoned.
==Gallery==
File:Three Percenter militiaman – Ohio Statehouse Rally Against Red Gun Laws (09.07.19).jpg|A Three Percenter in military gear menacing the Ohio Statehouse in 2019
File:Three Percenters vs. Redcoats.jpg|Did you know that American colonists shot at the Redcoats during the revolution with AR-15 semi-automatic rifles? They also recited The Pledge of Allegiance, which did not exist until a century later.
File:46.ProudBoys.USSC.WDC.6January2021 (50810872007).jpg|A man with only 4 pieces of flair:Office Space (5/5) Movie CLIP - Joanna Quits With Flair (1999) HD (Aug 11, 2015) YouTube. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (misspelled as ΜΟΛΩΠ ΛΑΒΣ), referencing pseudohistory surrounding the battle of Thermopylae and white supremacy;“Learn Some F*cking History” by Donna Zuckerberg (Oct 5, 2017) Eidolon. Three Percenter; Proud Boys; and tax protester. He is marching towards the 2021 Capitol riot.
File:TrumpRally10.SenatePark.WDC.6January2021 (50808847673).jpg|Three Percenter (left), mesmerized by crazy gramps' oration at the 2021 Capitol riot
File:Chris Miller's truck.jpg|Chris Miller's truck with Three Percenter sticker
==See also==
*The Citadel — A planned Three Percenter garrison in Idaho: scheme or scam?
==External links==
*Michael Brian Vanderboegh Southern Poverty Law Center
*Some of the archived member images of TTPO:
**Members (December 22, 2014)
**Members (July 16, 2014)
**Members (October 28, 2013)
**Members (August 28, 2013)
*The Three Percenters Original — current page
==Notes==
==References==
Category:2021 U.S. Capitol riot
Category:Conspiracy theorists
Category:Convicted felons
Category:Fascism
Category:Gun nuts
Category:Libertarianism
Category:Machismo
Category:Militia movement
Category:Pseudolaw
Category:Racism
Category:Tax protesters
Category:Terrorist organisations
Category:Vigilantes