Southern Poverty Law Center Active "Patriot" Groups in America in 2009 The SPLC Intelligence Project identified 512 "Patriot" groups that were active in 2009. Of these groups, 127 were militias, marked with an asterisk; and the remain- der includes "common-law" courts, publishers, ministries and citizens' groups. Generally, Patriot groups define themselves as opposed to the "New World Order," engage in groundless conspiracy theorizing, or advocate or adhere to extreme antigovernment doctrines. Listing here does not imply that the groups themselves advocate or engage in violence or other criminal activities, or are racist. The list was compiled from field reports, Patriot publications, the Internet, law enforcement sources and news reports. Groups are identified by the city, county or region where they are located. Michigan is home to 34 documented militias among 47 Patriot groups. Militias below are denoted by an asterisk. — SPLC, intelligence report/spring 2010 PATRIOT GROUPS IN MICHIGAN AMERICA FIRST PARTY OF MICHIGAN: Ypsilanti CONSTITUTION PARTY (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan): Grand Rapids DELTA 5 MOBILE LIGHT INFANTRY MILITIA*: Eaton County EAST-CENTRAL VOLUNTEER MILITIA OF MICHIGAN*: Lapeer County HUTAREE MILITIA*: Southern Michigan JACKSON COUNTY VOLUNTEERS*: Jackson County JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY: Statewide LENAWEE COUNTY FREE AND INDEPENDENT MILITIA*: Adrian MICHIGAN MILITIA*: Redford MICHIGAN MILITIA CORPS WOLVERINES 8TH DIVISION*: South Central MICHIGAN PATRIOT ALLIANCE*: Counties: Arenac, Bay, Cheboygan, Clinton, Crawford, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Jackson, Lapeer, Macomb, Midland, Oakland, Oceana, Presque Isle, Saginaw, St. Clair, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola NORTHERN MICHIGAN BACKYARD PROTECTION MILITIA*: Northern Michigan OATH KEEPERS: Statewide PATRIOT BROADCASTING NETWORK: Dexter SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER MILITIA*: Livingston County, Macomb County, Oakland County, Washtenaw County, Wayne County WE ARE CHANGE: Battle Creek, Clio, Detroit, Flint, Royal Oak, Schoolcraft, Statewide WEST MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER MILITIA*: Muskegon County WE THE PEOPLE: Statewide * Indicates Militias 12 April 8 • 2010 Clockwise from top left: David Stone Sr., Tina Stone, David Stone Jr., Jacob Ward, Joshua Clough, Michael Meeks, Kristopher Sickles and Thomas Piatek. Not shown: Joshua Stone. Hutaree Jailed Nine "Christian soldiers" are ordered held without bond. Alan Hitsky Associate Editor F ederal prosecutors told a magistrate in Detroit on April 2 that David Stone Sr. created his own words to describe his Christian militia's adversaries. Those who he claimed undermined the U.S. Constitution were called "Elitists In Charge:' Stone, of Clayton, Mich., between Jackson and the Ohio border, was one of nine members of the Hutaree group charged with building bombs and planning to slaughter hundreds of law enforcement officers — the "Brotherhood" Stone called them — in a plot to overthrow the federal government. The magistrate in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit ordered the nine held without bond. Lawyers for the nine are appealing the decision, claim- ing they are neither dangerous nor a flight risk. Federal prosecutors said Stone was the leader of Hutaree — a name he made up to describe his "Christian warriors:' Stone's 21-year-old son, Joshua Stone, served as second-in- command. The others jailed while awaiting trial are: Stone's new wife, Tina Stone, 44; his 19-year-old adopted son, David Stone Jr.; Joshua Clough, 28, of Blissfield, Mich.; Kristopher Sickles, 27, of Sandusky, Ohio; Michael Meeks, 40, of Manchester, Mich.; Jacob Ward, 33, of Huron, Ohio; and Thomas Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Ind. The suspects' lawyers say they are a group of disgruntled Americans arrested for speaking their minds. U.S. Attorney Joseph Falvey said they planned to turn talk into action. "Owning guns is not a crime. Wearing uniforms is not a crime. Training is not a crime Falvey said. "But when persons with dark hearts and evil intent get together and con- spire to oppose by force with firearms and violence the authority of the United States, it is a crime' Robert Dudley, 80, of North Adams, Mich., agreed to allow the Hutaree to use his woods for training. They gathered three or four times a year, he said. "They were sneaking around, trying to be invisible Dudley said. The men had guns, he said, but he never heard them fire. The group's Web site shows videos of the members training in the woods and firing semi-automatic rifles. According to prosecutors, Stone's goal was to take over a handful of counties in southeast Michigan to lure the enemy to him. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Waterstreet told the magistrate that Stone "believed that war was approaching, and therefore he needed to train harder." Hutaree members regularly talked about killing police officers, Waterstreet said. In one scenario, they would kill one officer, then ambush officers attending the slain officer's funeral. A grand jury indictment unsealed last week charged the nine defen- dants with seditious conspiracy and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction. The Hutaree Web site describes the group as a Christian militia preparing for battle with forces of the Antichrist. But prosecutors say the case is not about religion, but a group of people who want to wage war on the U.S. gov- ernment. Li This story was compiled from newspapers and wire services.