ADL: Military and police have ties to extremist groups (includes video story)

Some members of the military and law enforcement allegedly have ties to extremist groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, according to an investigation by the Anti-Defamation League. These groups participate in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. 

Oren Segal, vice president of the ADL’s Center on Extremism, said in a CNN interview: “What we found in our investigation was 373 individuals who are currently serving in law enforcement, we believe signed up for Oath Keeper membership.”

The ADL also shared messages that showed the connection between officers and the Oath Keepers. According to the ADL investigation, a member of the military wrote, “I currently coordinate ground movements, I have the influence of nearly 46,000 Marines and sailors.” 

Another message from a California police officer said: he had “a wide variety of law enforcement experience, including undercover operations, surveillance and SWAT.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said that one of his priorities is rooting out extremism among the nearly two million active-duty and reserve personnel. 

Some police departments have gone as far as firing officers with ties to the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and other extremist groups. Several people whose names have appeared in extremist groups’ databases say they are either no longer active members or do not share their ideologies.

Nicole Castañeda is a psychologist and designer double major at Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá and has a master degree in Clinical Psychology and Logo-therapy. She is currently doing her masters in Spanish Journalism at Florida International University. She is passionate about fashion and journalism and her goal is to be able to work as a reporter in a Latin American channel.