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.
Patriots or paramilitary? Armed groups working with police raising questions
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Patriots or paramilitary? Utah armed groups working with police raising questions
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Renee Bright | Headlines via sltrib.com, Photo of John Sulliven by Robin Pendergrast, Photo of Casey Roberston courtesy Casey Robertson
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KUER
John Sullivan, 26, and Casey Robertson, 47, faced off over the summer at Black Lives Matter protests.
When Black Lives Matter protests kicked off in Utah in late May, John Sullivan noticed a lot of the leaders were white.
So the Black, 26-year-old, former speedskater decided to start his own organization. He called it Insurgence USA, and he immediately started organizing protests for racial justice.
Filmed this while covering protests in Provo a few hours ago. Full story in the morning on @UniverseBYUpic.twitter.com/nUB6F3faTR Lisi Merkley (@lisimerkley) June 30, 2020