Deseret News
Patriots or paramilitary? Armed groups working with police raising questions
United Citizens Alarm works hand in tactical glove with police, but critics say it undermines law enforcement legitimacy By Eric S. Peterson
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
The following story was funded by support from The Fund for Investigative Journalism and was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with the Deseret News.
It started with a call on social media to “back the blue” in the summer of 2020, urging Utahns to stand together in support of police to intimidate potentially violent protesters and deter them from looting and pillaging. Soon 20,000 members online were cheering on Utah Citizens Alarm, a group referred to as a militia by local police, which a year later continues to evolve and thrive.
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