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Shofar FTP Archive File: people/g/gritz.bo/adl-bo-gritz


Newsgroups: alt.conspiracy,alt.politics.white-power
Subject: Paranoia as Patriotism: Colonel James "Bo" Gritz

Archive/File: pub/orgs/american/adl/paranoia-as-patriotism/bo-gritz
Last-Modified: 1996/07/12

                   Colonel James "Bo" Gritz

Colonel James "Bo" Gritz, who deplored the deadly Oklahoma
bombing but commented that it was a "Rembrandt - a masterpiece of art
and science," is highly influential in the anti-government
"patriot" movement. The former Green Beret and Presidential
candidate of the Populist Party - a political party founded by
Willis Carto, leader of the anti-Semitic Liberty Lobby -
recently created a "Constitutional Covenant Community" in northern
Idaho, also referred to as a Christian Covenant Community.

Established as a haven for "like-minded individuals,"
the settlement, which is known as "Almost Heaven," 
is widely believed to be a paramilitary complex. 

Gritz opposes gun control and he urges supporters to resist any
attempts by the Federal government to "take away their guns."
He leads survivalist, paramilitary training sessions, which he
calls S.P.I.K.E. (Specially Prepared Individuals for Key
Events).

Gritz came to national attention when he assisted white
separatist Randy Weaver in surrendering to Federal
authorities in August 1992 after an 11-day stand off at
Weaver's northern Idaho cabin. Weaver's wife and son and a
deputy U.S. marshal were killed in the siege, which occurred
when Federal authorities attempted to arrest Weaver for
failing to appear on an illegal weapons charge. Gritz has
condemned Federal authorities as "traitors" in both this
incident and the Waco tragedy.

Gritz has served for many years on the advisory board of the
Liberty Lobby's Populist Action Committee. He is particularly
fond of conspiracy theories, asserting that AIDS is a Federal
conspiracy to ease population growth. 

He has also compared the U.S. government to the
Soviet KGB and the Nazi Gestapo. He has expressed
support for the white supremacist "Identity" movement, which
preaches that Jews are "Satan's spawn" and that non-whites are
"mud races."

Gritz gives the distinct impression that he is preparing for a
stand-off with the Federal government, stating: "The FBI
knows me and the Special Forces know me... The last thing they
want to do is tangle with me, because I'm trained in guerrilla
warfare." 

Recently, Gritz once again forced himself into the spotlight
by convincing FBI officials to allow him to help mediate in
the Freeman stand-off in Montana, which began in March 1996.
Grist, along with retired police officer-turned-militia
proponent Jack McLamb, spent several days with the Freemen
(who deny the legitimacy of state and Federal government in
favor of "common law"), attempting unsuccessfully to convince
them to surrender and face trial in Federal court. (The
Freemen stand-off ended peacefully on June 13, 1996.) 
(Anti-Defamation League, 19)

                       Work Cited

Anti-Defamation League. [Special Report] Paranoia as Patriotism:
Far-Right Influences on the Militia Movement. 1996.


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