 | |
| Abbreviation | VA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2015; 10 years ago (2015) |
| Type | Neo-Nazism Neo-fascism White supremacism White nationalism |
| Purpose | Promoting neo-Nazism/fascism and a white supremacist version of American nationalism |
| Location |
|
| Members | 200+ (2017) |
Key people | Dillon Irizarry Thomas Rousseau |
| Affiliations |
|
| Website | vanguardam.us |
Vanguard America is an Americanwhite supremacist,neo-Nazi,neo-fascist organization. The organization is also a member of theNationalist Front.[1][2] The group gained significant attention after it was revealed thatJames Alex Fields had marched with them at theUnite the Right rally before being arrested on murder charges.[3][4] The group has its roots in thealt-right movement.[5]
Vanguard America (VA) had no national presence or coverage until in 2016 whenDillon Irizarry gave a speech at a neo-Nazi gathering inPikeville, Kentucky stating he was the leader of the group, and that they had 200 members in 20 states.[6] Irizarry would go on to say that VA was founded in 2015 inCalifornia and that he wasn't the founder of the group, rather he took over leadership.[6] Irizarry, who legally changed his name in 2006 to Dillon Hopper, is a Marine Corps veteran who had served in Afghanistan, also claimed that "many" members were veterans but active duty service members were barred from affiliating with the group until their contract had ended for their "safety".[7][note 1] Hopper also states that local branches exist inArizona, California,Florida,Indiana,Louisiana,Maryland,Massachusetts,New Jersey,Oregon,Pennsylvania,Texas,Virginia, andWashington. In July 2017, it also created a women's division.[1][2]
In June 2017 the group held a "Texas is Ours" rally inAustin, Texas and during the event the leader of the Texan branch,Thomas Rousseau, gave a lengthy speech and largely sidelined VA's leader Dillon Hopper. After the rally Hopper began to engage in a public feud with Rousseau, accusing him of attempting to portray himself as the leader of VA.[8]
The group had a presence in the Unite the Right rally in August 2017 led byThomas Rousseau with Hopper entirely absent. James Alex Fields, who was later responsible for killing a counter protester and injuring 19 others in avehicle-ramming attack, was seen marching with the group and carrying a shield displaying a symbol associated with Vanguard America.[9] The leadership later disavowed him, stating that he was not a member of the group.[1][3][4] The group took part in the "White Lives Matter" rally in October 2017.[10] On December 18, 2017, its account was suspended byTwitter.[11]
After the rally, as Hopper was largely dealing with the fallout of Fields' action, Rousseau and his Texas branch of the VA split in August to formPatriot Front. As Patriot Front siphoned off most of the VA's more moderate Neo-Fascists, the remaining Neo-Nazis within the VA again started a feud with Hopper, with the remains of the Texas, as well as the Tennessee branch, splitting in January 2018 to form theNational Socialist Legion. Since then, theAnti-Defamation League has stated that VA "has shown very few signs of life."[8]
.svg)
.svg)
The group supports the Nazi concept ofblood and soil.[6]
The group is best known for its racist and anti-Semitic flyers they put up in various towns.[12] This strategy would be carried over by Patriot Front.
Informational notes
Citations
Media related toVanguard America at Wikimedia Commons