Not Fucking Around Coalition

The Not Fucking Around Coalition (NFAC) is a paramilitary organisation in the in the United States. It has been described by news outlets as a Black militia.[1][2]

"NFAC" redirects here. For the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex, see Ames Research Center.

While it has been linked to the New Black Panther Party,[3] it denies any connection to the Black Panther Party or Black Lives Matter.[4]

Background and organisation

John Jay Fitzgerald Johnson, known as Grand Master Jay, claims leadership of the group[5] and has stated that it is composed of "ex military shooters."[6] Johnson, who was an independent candidate for U.S. president in 2016,[5] stated, "We are a Black militia. We aren't protesters, we aren't demonstrators. We don't come to sing, we don't come to chant. That's not what we do."[7] Furthermore, in the same interview, Johnson expressed Black Nationalist views, putting forth the view that the United States should either hand the state of Texas over to African-Americans so that they may form an independent country, or allow African-Americans to depart the United States to another country that would provide land upon which to form an independent nation.[3][8]

Activities

The first reported appearance of NFAC members was a May 12, 2020 protest near Brunswick, Georgia over the February killing of Ahmaud Arbery,[6] though they were identified by local media as "Black Panthers".[9]

Johnson states that NFAC provided armed security for the sister of Rayshard Brooks at her request. NFAC escorted her to a rally in downtown Atlanta in late June.[7]

On the Fourth of July 2020, about 100 or 200 mostly armed NFAC members marched through Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, Georgia, calling for the removal of the Confederate monument. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association, which operates the park, stated that the protesters were peaceful and orderly.[10] Johnson stated of the site, which is important to the Ku Klux Klan: "Our initial goal was to have a formation of our militia in Stone Mountain to send a message that as long as you're abolishing all these statues across the country, what about this one?"[7] A NFAC member at the protest said, "I want the heart of the Ku Klux Klan to hear me no matter where the fuck you are. I'm in your house. Where you at? You made a threat. We don't threaten."[11]

On July 25, about 200 NFAC members gathered in Louisville, Kentucky to protest the lack of action against the officers responsible for the March shooting of Breonna Taylor.[12] On July 20, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Louisville Metro Council President David James had a phone conversation with Johnson, which the AG's office described as "productive".[13] In response to the announced NFAC presence, about 50 armed Three Percenters counter-protested. Louisville police in riot gear separated the two groups.[14] Three NFAC members were wounded during a negligent weapon discharge.[15]

References
  1. James, Gerry Seavo; Shugerman, Emily (2020-07-25). "Three Injured as Rival Armed Militias Converge on Louisville". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  2. Blest, Paul. "Protests Against Police Brutality and Trump's Secret Police Are Exploding Across the U.S." www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  3. Powe, Janet (5 July 2020). "Wow! NFAC black nationalist armed militia challenges far right". Black Lives Matter Movement. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  4. Creekmur, Chuck (5 July 2020). "Not The Black Panthers: The NFAC Convenes On KKK Stronghold Outside Of Atlanta". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  5. Ashley, Asia (6 July 2020). "Local militia challenges White supremacy during Fourth of July march". The DeKalb Champion. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  6. Davis, Zuri (29 May 2020). "Black Civilians Arm Themselves To Protest Racial Violence and Protect Black-Owned Businesses". Reason.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  7. Fearnow, Benjamin (5 July 2020). "Armed Black Militia Challenges White Nationalists at Georgia's Stone Mountain Park". Newsweek. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  8. USA Black Ethnostate Leader will take Texas. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  9. Gough, Lyndsey (9 May 2020). "Hundreds gather to release balloons to honor Ahmaud Arbery's birthday". WTOC 11. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  10. Gorman, Steve (5 July 2020). "Predominantly Black armed protesters march through Confederate memorial park in Georgia". Reuters. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  11. King, Michael; Buchanan, Christopher (4 July 2020). "'I'm in your house' | Armed group condemns systemic and overt racism, marches to Stone Mountain". 11 Alive. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  12. "NFAC militia leader says Saturday's planned march is about 'justice for Breonna Taylor'". WDRB. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  13. Tobin, Ben (21 July 2020). "Daniel Cameron holds meeting on Breonna Taylor with Black militia leader". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  14. "Armed militias converge in downtown as Louisville protests continue". The Courier-Journal. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  15. Woolston, Bryan (26 July 2020). "Black armed protesters march in Kentucky demanding justice for Breonna Taylor". Reuters. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.