Militias have grow to be more and more lively in the previous few years, together with in Shasta County.
Trendy United States militias are categorized by the Southern Poverty Legislation Middle beneath its hate-groups umbrella as extremist organizations which have developed right into a far-right paramilitary wing of the antigovernment motion. Militias’ beliefs are their foundational core.
“Present militia members consider they’re true patriots, with many holding onto the notion that they’re modern-day variations of 18th-century colonists who banded collectively to battle off the British,” says the SPLC.
In terms of Northern California militia members, look no additional than the Cottonwood Militia. This militia, additionally known as the Cottonwood Minutemen and the California State Militia Alpha Firm, is deeply interwoven into Shasta County’s political and social cloth.
Though the North State’s most well-known militia is predicated in Cottonwood, its members – largely males – reside all through Shasta County and neighboring counties. For the reason that Cottonwood Militia’s begin, it’s performed coaching workouts all through Northern California.
The Cottonwood Militia was based by Paul “Woody” Clendenen in a dusty barn at his Cottonwood ranch shortly after the 2008 Presidential Election. Politics play an enormous half within the militia mindset. The now 56-year-old Clendenen defined in a latest interview that he considered Republican candidate John McCain as a “RINO,” that’s, “Republican in Title Solely”.
The truth that the Cottonwood Militia’s inception coincided with Barack Obama’s presidential election wouldn’t shock anybody on the the SPLC.
“The militia motion is primarily pushed by worry of gun confiscation, globalization and antigovernment conspiracy theories,” says the SPLC’s web site. “Although these are perennial fears, the urgency to prepare exterior respectable channels will increase throughout liberal administrations.”
Woody Clendenen, founding father of the Cottonwood Militia.
The Cottonwood Militia’s early days started when Clendenen invited a couple of dozen like-minded buddies to his property for a gathering. Since then, Clendenen, who nonetheless serves because the militia’s commander, estimates he and fellow militia members have educated greater than 1,000 recruits. The Cottonwood Militia was based across the similar time because the California State Militia in Sacramento. The California State Militia accommodates 4 totally different firms based mostly in numerous areas of central and southern California.
Shasta County District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones and newly elected District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom are each identified supporters of the Cottonwood Militia.
Woody Clendenen (left) and newly elected District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom put on shirts that say “Shas-Taliban Militia”. Doni Chamberlain of A News Café coined the time period “Shas-Taliban”.
At any given second, the militia can mobilize 100 or extra folks; as witnessed at a peaceable downtown Redding protest June 2 of 2020. The protest was in opposition to racial inequality following George Floyd’s dying.
The protesters had been practically outnumbered by a whole bunch of armed militia members and “further assist” described by Clendenen as everybody from bikers to cowboys who confirmed as much as ostensibly “preserve the peaceable” at the protest.
As beforehand reported, a number of militia insiders had been adamant of their claims that some Redding Police Division officers and a few Shasta County Sheriff’s deputies had been in communication with key militia members in the course of the June 2020 protest. In line with militia insiders, some legislation enforcement personnel saved in contact with some militia members as each backup, as effectively to request militia members try rumors of “suspicious” exercise all through town, corresponding to later-refuted stories of vans loaded with pallets of bricks pushed by BLM and Antifa parked off Hilltop Drive. Redding Police Cheif Invoice Schueller and then-Shasta County Sheriff Eric Magrini each denied these allegations.
In December 2020, on the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the militia distributed posters to native companies that stated any compelled closure of companies to forestall the unfold of COVID-19 could be met with resistance from the militia. When the far-right recall motion was at its peak in 2022, members of the militia repeatedly confirmed up at Shasta County Board of Supervisor conferences, an motion that resulted in emotions of worry and apprehension amongst many anti-recall proponents.
Militia poster distributed to native companies in the course of the pandemic.
The subject of Redding’s 202o peaceable protest reared its head once more the next yr throughout a Freedom Coalition assembly on the Church of Glad Tidings in Dwell Oak, Calif., the place Clendenen was a speaker.
Photograph supply: FacebookThere, he boasted {that a} Reddingpolice officer confided in Clendenen that had it not been for the militia’s presence, officers “would have gassed the protesters.”
This assertion was additionally denied by Redding’s police chief.
Cottonwood Militia members confirmed up on the 2020 protest for racial equality in Redding. Backside left: Clendenen (black shirt with crossed arms) and militia member Dan Scoville to his proper. Backside proper: Militia member Randy Hubbard offers a thumbs up.
Newly found and beforehand unpublished pictures of some militia members who attended the 2020 protest for racial equality in Redding.
Newly found and beforehand unpublished pictures of some militia members who attended the 2020 protest for racial equality in Redding.
“Previous west” Cottonwood
Cottonwood is a small, unincorporated rural Shasta County bed room group inhabited by about 3,300 folks. In 2020, 70 to 80 % of Cottonwood precincts voted for Trump – in related style as different elements of Shasta County. Cottonwood’s inhabitants is 86 % white, and largely working- and middle-class residents.
Cottonwood was established in 1849 as a Gold Rush stagecoach city. In the present day, the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce describes the city as a Nineteenth-century frontier city. “The outdated west feel and appear makes it a spot the place you’ll be able to loosen up and revel in,” says the chamber of commerce web site.
“Calm down and revel in” so long as you keep on the suitable facet of the militia.
In line with Clendenen, some militia notables embrace the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce president, and a few native water board and college board members.
Clendenen, who truly lives in Tehama County, owns a barbershop in Cottonwood, the place he typically shows the Accomplice Flag.
The Accomplice flag flying exterior of Woody Clendenen’s barbershop in Cottonwood.
Throughout the road from Clendenen’s barber store is the first Battalion/1rst California State Militia Regiment.
Clendenen is a staunch supporter of the novel State of Jefferson separatist motion, and he performed a significant position within the far-right motion’s infiltration in Shasta County’s political system. Clendenen wears many hats exterior of his militia involvement. He’s a forged member in Pink, White and Blueprint’s far-right media propaganda docuseries, and a B-movie actor in Rene Perez movies.
The middle of a Woody Clendenen Fb profile image encompasses a photograph from his bit-acting gig in a B-movie created by native filmmaker Rene Perez.
An outlaw militia
In line with Georgetown College’s Institute for Advocacy and Safety, “All 50 states prohibit non-public, unauthorized militias and army models from partaking in actions reserved for the state militia, together with legislation enforcement actions”.
Beneath California legislation, it’s unlawful to kind a “paramilitary group” of two or extra folks that’s not an company of the U.S. authorities or the state of California that gives “instruction or coaching in guerilla warfare or sabotage”. California Penal Code says that “any two or extra individuals who assemble as a paramilitary group for the aim of working towards with weapons shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not multiple yr or by a nice of not multiple thousand {dollars}”.
The Cottonwood Militia is, the truth is, an illegal entity; an outlaw militia. Even so, to this reporter’s data, within the Cottonwood Militia’s complete 15-year historical past, it has operated in full view and with tacit approval of legislation enforcement with none authorized ramifications or penalties.
That is even though instruction or coaching in guerilla warfare is strictly what the Cottonwood Militia supplies for its members. The militia has actively led guerilla warfare coaching classes for its members throughout Northern California over the last 15 years. YouTube accommodates scores of newbie movies of quite a few militia coaching occasions. Generally militia coaching classes in Northern California even entice militia members from different elements of the state.
In one video shared on YouTube in 2014, dozens of militiamen gathered on the Perry Riffle Trailhead north of Pink Bluff alongside the Sacramento River to coach in guerrilla warfare ways. Attendees within the video had been closely armed and wearing full army fatigue. As seen within the video, militia members on the Perry Riffle occasion had been educated on the way to conduct a visitors cease, the way to take away a driver from a car at gunpoint, the way to search detained suspects, and the way to search autos for bombs and different contraband.
Trainers on the session additionally taught attendees the way to discover protected cowl if a car being looked for a bomb was in danger for explosion. The occasion additionally included firearms coaching. Wearing full army garb, Clendenen, with a handgun strapped to his facet, participated within the occasion.
Clendenen on the Perry Riffle Cottonwood Militia coaching occasion.
Militia members on the Perry Riffle Cottonwood Militia coaching occasion.
Militia members at Perry Riffle occasion working towards visitors stops.
The Perry Riffle militia coaching occasion is only one of many coaching occasions of its type which have taken place within the North State over the past 15 years.
Supporters of the Cottonwood Militia justify their group’s existence as a result of safety beneath the passage of the Structure’s Second Modification that claims, “A effectively regulated Militia, being essential to the safety of a free State, the suitable of the folks to maintain and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”.
Nonetheless, others argue that the Second Modification solely protects a well-regulated militia that’s licensed and managed by the federal government, not an armed group of personal residents who conduct fight guerilla coaching and act as self-appointed law-enforcement officers.
Militia youth camp
Along with holding occasions to coach its personal members, the militia has additionally hosted quite a few youth camps for boys within the Cottonwood space. In 2018, the Cottonwood Militia held a “junior militiamen camp” in Cottonwood for boys 10-14 years outdated. The occasion happened on a 10-acre piece of property simply exterior of Cottonwood owned by Robin Arnold-Bidwell.
The militiamen youth camp was operated by Clendenen and a number of other militia members. Boys who attended the camp discovered about firearm security and survival expertise. Clendenen explains, within the YouTube video recorded on the youth camp, that the objective was to additionally train kids about “American values” and the Structure, and to offer them with male position fashions.
Prime: Cottonwood Militia members who educated kids on the junior militiamen camp; Backside: Footage from the junior militiamen camp.
Higher A toddler who educated at a Cottonwood Militia junior militiamen camp. He holds a pamphlet that claims he accomplished CSM Degree 2.
“We expect it’s essential for them to study expertise to outlive out right here,” stated militia member and youth-camp chief Dan Scoville within the video. Scoville is a First Sergeant within the militia.
In the identical video, militiaman Chuck Wicks added that militia members attempt to train youngsters issues they will take to highschool with them, and issues that may make them “higher males”. Militia member Mike Ramirez added that the militia camp was designed to show youngsters the way to reply if their faculty was attacked by an lively shooter. Ramirez is a Sergeant within the militia and a U.S. Army veteran. He’s a rehabilitation specialist who moved to Cottonwood about seven years in the past.
Ramirez additionally stated the militia youth camps assist younger males who come from fatherless households.
Photograph supply: video display seize.
Single moms and “robust Christian younger males”
“My boys have had the privilege of attending this camp that the wonderful males of the California State Militia Alpha Firm placed on for our group’s kids,” stated mom and Cottonwood resident Dusty Steele in a Fb publish by which she thanks the militia. Steele tagged Clendenen, Wicks, and Ramirez within the Fb publish.
“These males are pillars of our group, leaders, position fashions, group activists, and I’m fortunate sufficient to name them my buddies,” stated Steele.
Not lengthy after the 2018 militia youth camp, Scoville posted a video concerning the militia youth camps on YouTube. The video reemphasized the purpose that the militia was a optimistic drive for younger males in Cottonwood. The video began with a mom from the Cottonwood space who claimed that after the boy’s father had handed away, the militia taught her son essential values that each boy ought to know.
“I feel our nation’s been going the incorrect path for a very long time now,” Clendenen says within the video. “So we take these boys out and train ‘em some repelling, some gun security – however we additionally train them it’s a superb factor to be a powerful Christian younger man”.
As Clendenen stated, “robust Christian younger males” the video panned to a picture of a person in camo gear cocking a shotgun in entrance of a gaggle of boys.
A toddler learns the way to fireplace a rifle at a Cottonwood Militia junior camp.
The rest of the video confirmed younger males of assorted ages who attended the youth camp combating with one another as Clendenen and different militia members and younger boys stood in a circle and watched.
“These are the rules we instill in our younger males,” stated Scoville after the combating scene.
Boys interact in combating workouts at a Cottonwood Militia junior camp.
Navy veterans and personal army safety expertise
Clendenen was a visitor on a latest KCNR State of Jefferson radio podcast with fellow militia members Randy Hubbard and Todd Hambly. Hambly is a First Sergeant within the militia. Hubbard is what he described as a “maneuver specialist”.
Pictures of Hubbard in his Cottonwood Militia gear. Prime left, Hubbard shares on Fb his photograph of fellow militia members on the 2020 Redding protest.
In the course of the State of Jefferson podcast, Clendenen advised host Terry Rapoza that the militia consists of males who beforehand served in numerous branches of the army, a few of whom have additionally labored for personal army safety firms. Clendenen stated these males assist lead coaching classes for members of the militia.
“John Legislation and Ralph Powers each spent $50,000 on the coaching they’ve and stuff they usually impart all of that to you for becoming a member of and serving to out the group,” stated Clendenen concerning two fellow militiamen. Each Legislation and Powers beforehand labored as non-public army safety brokers for the beleaguered Blackwater firm. Legislation can be a U.S. Marine Corp veteran.
Legislation owns and operates Mountain Tactical Coaching in French Gulch. Legislation’s enterprise is positioned 26 miles north of Freeway 299 in a mountainous and sparsely populated part of western Shasta County. Legislation, the first coach, teaches army ways and tactical coordination programs, and firearm coaching programs that characteristic reside fireplace drills.
“We provide severe pistol and carbine lessons to be used on the road,” says Mountain Tactical Coaching’s Fb web page.
Collegial birds of a feather: The militia and the Proud Boys
In June of 2016, Powers attended the speech given by President Trump on the Redding Airport. Powers had his image taken with far-right extremist Joe Biggs on the occasion. Biggs is a pacesetter of the Proud Boys.
The Southern Poverty Legislation Middle says about rank-and-file Proud Boys leaders: “(they) recurrently spout white nationalist memes and preserve affiliations with identified extremists. They’re identified for anti-Muslim and misogynistic rhetoric.”
Biggs was indicted for seditious conspiracy expenses for his position within the 2021 U.S. Capitol Assault. The Proud Boys’ Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy case involving Biggs is presently in progress.
Powers and Biggs on the Trump rally and speech on the Redding Airport with a further {photograph} of Powers and the again window of his truck.
The Cottonwood Militia’s connection to the Proud Boys doesn’t cease there. Hubbard, who additionally appeared on the podcast with Clendenen and Hambly, talked and laughed with 5 members of the Proud Boys exterior of the Shasta County Superior Court docket constructing at Carlos Zapata’s arraignment in July of 2021.
Hubbard isn’t any stranger to A News Cafe. Inside a Shasta County Superior Courtroom on the day of Zapata’s arraignment, a laughing Hubbard sat subsequent to News Cafe writer A Chamberlain, pressed himself in opposition to her left leg, and leaned his physique over hers in a present of studying her notes till she advised him to cease.
Zapata, a member of the Cottonwood Militia and well-known far-right extremist, was finally convicted on misdemeanor assault expenses for taking part in an assault on a Redding resident who had publicly mocked and criticized far-right extremists in Shasta County on social media.
Clendenen helped set up the protest occasion. It attracted dozens of native Zapata supporters. Hubbard tried to dam A News Café from photographing the Proud Boys on the pro-Zapata protest. Zapata later stated on social media that the Proud Boys who attended the protest had been “good males”.
Hubbard and the Proud Boys at Carlos Zapata’s arraignment.
Hubbard’s second ANC encounter occurred throughout a protest organized by Clendenen in opposition to Shasta County’s district in entrance of the courthouse. Hubbard, to the delight of many fellow protesters, turned to Chamberlain and loudly addressed her as a “piece of shit”.
Hubbard holds an American flag as A News Cafe writer Doni Chamberlain (within the straw hat) takes notes, moments after Hubbard known as Chamberlain a “piece of shit”.
By the way, only a few days earlier than the Proud Boys appeared at Zapata’s arraignment, a Black Lives Matter poster within the window of a small hippie-themed present store in downtown Pink Bluff often known as Wild Oak was defaced with a State of Jefferson Proud Boys sticker. Wild Oak is a couple of 2-minute stroll from Zapata’s downtown Pink Bluff bar and restaurant often known as the Palomino Room.
On the time, many individuals suspected that a number of of the Proud Boys who confirmed up in Redding to assist Zapata may have visited Zapata at his Pink Bluff institution and positioned the sticker on the window.
These suspicions had been just lately bolstered as extremely most likely. Robert Sunday, one of many Proud Boys who attended the protest and whose id was later confirmed by web sleuths, just lately shared an image of himself posing in entrance of the sticker on his Telegram account. Sunday, who goes by TheBeard77 on Telegram and lives within the Sacramento space, is flashing the white energy “OK” hand gesture within the {photograph}.
Prime left, Robert Sunday at Zapata’s listening to. Prime proper, State of Jefferson Proud Boys sticker on window of Wild Oak. Backside, Sunday’s Fb web page (which not exists) reveals connections with Zapata.
Robert Sunday poses in entrance of the State of Jefferson Proud Boys sticker that appeared on the Wild Oak window inside 24 hours of Zapata’s arraignment.
The Southern Poverty Legislation Middle classifies the Proud Boys a hate group. Redding appeared on the SPLC’s 2021 United States “Hate Map” for the Proud Boys’ look in Redding.
“Cottonwood justice”
In the identical KCNR Sate of Jefferson podcast, Clendenen, Hambly, and Hubbard defined the optimistic actions the militia undertakes. For instance, Cottonwood Militia members have cleaned up litter left behind in homeless encampments. Cottonwood Militia members have helped with group fundraisers and occasions. Cottonwood Militia members have stuffed sandbags throughout instances of storms and floods. Cottonwood Militia members have aided residents and livestock throughout wildfire evacuations.
However there’s no disputing the truth that along with all these attributes, the Cottonwood Militia is a Proud-Boys-friendly, unlawful, illegal paramilitary drive that gives militaristic assist for far-right North State causes.
Living proof, Hubbard was amongst militia members who confirmed up on the June 2020 racial inequality protest in Redding. Hubbard stated he had been doing coaching on his personal earlier than becoming a member of the militia.
Within the podcast, Clendenen and his fellow militiamen additionally claimed that the militia helps battle crime, and was shaped partly as a result of residents’ 911 calls usually went with out response, primarily as a result of a shortage of obtainable responding deputies. All three males advised of some cases when the militia ran folks out of Cottonwood who they deemed a risk.
“Cottonwood justice” is how Clendenen described how the militia handles law-breaking people they understand as inflicting issues.
“We had some stuff get stolen and we noticed a video of the place it went and we went there,” Clendenen stated about some latest militia exercise. “We had been proactive, knocked on their door, had a bit go to with them, walked via their home and they didn’t ask us to depart”.
As Clendenen concluded his story, Hambly and Hubbard sat silently, grinning.
Clendenen stated within the podcast that legislation enforcement officers can’t at all times be trusted in terms of taking good care of crime in locations like Cottonwood, and he expounded upon anti-law enforcement sentiments. Clendenen and the podcast visitors defined their mistrust of many federal-level legislation enforcement officers; even the rank-and-file, Clendenen stated. These statements had been made even though some members of the militia have shut ties with many native legislation enforcement officers.
Cottonwood Militia featured in cable TV docuseries
The Cottonwood Militia was just lately featured in a portion of an episode of the Vice TV docuseries “QAnon: The Seek for Q”. This system’s option to report on the militia is a sign of militias’ affect and exercise. A lot of the footage within the part of the episode that targeted on the militia was filmed at Clendenen’s Cottonwood ranch.
The episode additionally featured footage of militiamen like Hubbard and others firing high-powered firearms at an undisclosed location. Shasta County District 4 Supervisor and chair Patrick Jones was interviewed for the episode, introduced as a militia ally and pal. As he spoke, Jones stood behind the counter of Jones’ Fort, his household’s Redding gun store.
District 4 Shasta County Supervisor Patrick Jones at Jones Fort, as seen in RW&B Episode 5. Jones was additionally interviewed on the household gun store for the Vice TV docuseries “QAnon: The Seek for Q”.
Jones stated Shasta County is a conservative nation and that it ought to be represented by conservatives; a degree he’s repeated on a number of events. He additionally defined that gun gross sales have skyrocketed of late at his household’s gun store. Jones was requested what position religion performed within the far-right motion in Shasta County. He stated that “your rights come from God” and that the Structure backs this up.
Shasta County District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones.
Although Shasta County’s inhabitants is simply barely extra 182,000 folks, it’s house to the best variety of hid carry firearm permits per capita in California. The variety of unpermitted Shasta County firearms is unknown.
Nonetheless, what is identified is that there’s a rising variety of North State gun homeowners who refuse to use for gun permits as a result of they view gun-ownership as a God-given proper, and they won’t search authorities permission for such a proper. One high-profile instance is newly elected District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom, who boldly claimed throughout marketing campaign boards that he carries a firearm and not using a CCW allow.
Shasta County Sheriff’s Workplace Lieutenant Tyler Thompson additionally owns a gun store often known as Redding Weapons LLC. Politicians and legislation enforcement officers are actively taking part in arming Shasta County’s inhabitants.
Clendenen gave a quick historical past of the militia within the Vice TV episode and fired off his handgun at a goal for the digicam particular person. Clendenen stated recruitment in his militia is 10 instances what it was earlier than 2010.
Clendenen firing at a goal within the Vice TV episode.
Hubbard (high) and different members of the Cottonwood Militia within the Vice TV episode.
Clendenen was requested by the hosts of the episode what would make him “pull the set off”. He stated the confiscation of weapons would do it. Clendenen stated 2 million folks would be part of militias in California if weapons had been taken away.
He’ll shoot you in your face in case you vaccinate his youngsters
Essentially the most notable feedback within the episode had been made by Zapata.
“We want an ideal divorce. I hate to say it. It’s full subversion of society, is what they need. Proper? I imply that’s what the opposite facet needs,” stated Zapata.
“Inventory meals, inventory ammunition, inventory your weapons, train your youngsters the way to use these issues. I hope someone else fires the primary bullet. I don’t need it to be me”.
The hosts additionally requested Zapata what it will take for him to make use of his firearm.
“In the event that they got here to my house and tried to take my weapons. In the event that they got here to my house and tried to vaccinate my youngsters. I’ll go to your fucking home and I’ll shoot you within the face if I came upon that my child went to highschool and also you vaccinated ‘em. You understand, I don’t care who you might be, you’re dying in case you vaccinate my youngsters”.
Zapata has, on serval events, taught self-defense programs for native legislation enforcement officers, and is shut buddies with many legislation enforcement officers, corresponding to Nathan Mendes. Identical to the militia, legislation enforcement additionally depends upon army veterans to help with coaching.
Zapata within the Vice TV episode.
If militias are unlawful, why are they allowed to proceed?
Retired Shasta County Public Defender Jeffrey Gorder advised A News Café that one of many difficulties confronted by legislation enforcement in terms of the legislation prohibiting militias is that legislation enforcement usually criminalizes the “act” and never “group”. This leaves teams that decision themselves militias to be protected beneath the First Modification as long as they don’t interact in felony exercise.
Gorder offered a idea as to why legislation enforcement doesn’t go after the militia.
“A lot of the so-called ‘militias’ are likely to kind in rural space of the nation the place there’s usually an unwillingness on the a part of native legislation enforcement to take an adversarial place in opposition to these organizations” Gorder stated, who added that’s extremely doable that that is the case in Shasta County.
“A lot of the anti-government philosophy which animates the militia is usually shared by the Sheriff of the jurisdiction,” added Gorder.
Gorder additionally defined that he senses that state governments don’t suppose it’s definitely worth the hassle to behave in opposition to militias except they’re endeavor some sort of felony exercise or express paramilitary exercise.
Gorder emphasised that militias will be harmful. He cited Oklahoma Metropolis Bomber Timothy McVeigh’s involvement in a militia, and the Michigan Militia’s latest try to kidnap Governor Whitmer as examples. Militias had been additionally current on the Unite to Combat Rally in Charlottesville and the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol Assault.
“The potential for violence on the a part of these militia members is critical,” Gorder stated. “They’re utterly unregulated, clearly, and that’s the reason they clearly fall exterior the 2nd Modification’s reference to a ‘effectively regulated militia’.”
Cottonwood Militia member Mike Cendejas wears a shirt that claims LGBT (Liberty, Weapons, Beer, Trump).
North State militia recap
The North State militia is an influential paramilitary group with an unknown variety of chapters and members. As Clendenen has boasted, the Cottonwood Militia has educated greater than 1,000 members. It has additionally held coaching camps for younger males, particularly these raised by single-mothers who’re maybe extra weak to the affect of the militia.
Some Cottonwood Militia members take delight of their defiance in opposition to COVID-19 mandates, in addition to intimidation of racial-equality activists. What’s extra, some upper-echelon militia members performed key roles within the February 2022 recall of former District 1 Supervisor Leonard Moty. Most just lately, there are militia ties to the far-right Shasta County Board of Supervisors majority.
Some militia members disrupted polls employees in latest Shasta County elections, and there are examples of robust ties between the militia and the Proud Boys. Lastly, the Cottonwood militia continues to patrol Cottonwood roads and past.
Straight outta Cottonwood, comes rural Northern California’s outlaw MAGA militia. Prefer it or not; prepared or not. Militia members reside right here, too.
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