-Jasmine Dyer-

Cousins!

Earlier this month, local Idaho police arrested 31 members of Patriot Front, a Texas-based white supremacy group, for conspiring to riot at a Pride event!

A concerned citizen called 911 after seeing what looked like a “little army” of men in matching clothes and white ski masks piling into a U-Haul truck at a hotel in Coeur d’Alene. Authorities also found shields, shin guards, and a smoke grenade. 

You may remember the Patriot Front from the Charlottesville riot incident in 2017, where one of the extremists killed one person and injured 19 others by plowing through a crowd of protesters with a car. 

Police stated that the men arrested ranged from ages 21 to 36 and came from over 12 states to start a riot at the Pride parade. Mayor Jim Hammond confirmed that local and state police were on high alert “to make sure this event went off safely” due to receiving threats throughout the week.

Authorities are unclear about the group’s definite plans, but they wanted to cause a disruption due to the absence of firearms. The North Idaho Pride Alliance, the organizers of the event, reassured everyone that their members are resting “after successfully organizing a momentous, joyful, and SAFE Pride in the Park community celebration under the most challenging of circumstances.”

The Pride Alliance also showed their appreciation for the law enforcement that responded to the call and acted accordingly.