From Meme to Militia
The compounding pressures of an increasingly polarized society, the global pandemic, and political unrest of 2020 lead to the emergence of Boogaloo Boys from online gun communities onto American streets. These groups, armed with assault rifles, body armor, wearing Hawaiian shirts, meme patches and flags, appeared across the country, with each individual group of Boogaloo Boys claiming different intentions such as opposition to lockdowns and gun control, to protect protesters, or to protect property from protesters. Some of these groups went on to plan or commit acts of violence against police and blame them on Black Lives Matter protesters, others in Michigan attempted to kidnap Governor Whitmer, while still some marched and acted as armed security with Black Lives Matter protesters in Louisville Kentucky.
Mike Dunn, right, stands with other members of the boogaloo movement and Last Sons of Liberty militia, while taking part in an armed protest during Virginia’s annual lobby day event on January 18, 2021, outside of the Virginia State Capitol building, in Richmond, Virginia. Lobby day is an annual event held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day each year in Virginia, where various political groups have the opportunity to lobby for their groups to Virginian legislators. Lobby day is usually a day dominated by pro-gun groups, this year was no different but recent legislation banning the open carrying of loaded firearms near the capitol building and the recent January 6 insurrection caused many groups to attend unarmed or resort to protest convoys while more radical groups like Dunn’s openly carried loaded weapons and challenged police at the event to stop them.
Members of the Boogaloo movement gather in front of the Michigan State Capital Building during a self proclaimed unity rally on Saturday, October 17, 2020, at the Michigan Capitol Building, in Lansing, Michigan. The members of the Boogaloo movement, who organized the unity rally, claimed to have invited Black Lives Matter groups, Antifa, the proud boys, other Militias, and activists to their event to discuss differences and start a dialogue.
A Member of the Boogaloo movements patch during a self proclaimed unity rally on Saturday, October 17, 2020, at the Michigan Capitol Building, in Lansing, Michigan. Members of the Boogaloo movement often wear patches and clothing which reference online memes and their own online subculture.
Boogaloo movement leader Mike Dunn holds a firearms prohibited sign that him and his fellow militia members stole, shot, and defaced the night before the protest, while taking part in an armed protest during Virginia’s annual lobby day event on January 18, 2021, outside of the Virginia State Capitol building, in Richmond, Virginia. Lobby day is an annual event held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day each year in Virginia, where various political groups have the opportunity to lobby for their groups to Virginian legislators. Lobby day is usually a day dominated by pro-gun groups, this year was no different but recent legislation banning the open carrying of loaded firearms near the capitol building and the recent January 6 insurrection caused many groups to attend unarmed or resort to protest convoys while more radical groups like Dunn’s openly carried loaded weapons and challenged police at the event to stop them.
Members of the Boogaloo movement march with rifles during a protest marking one year since the killing of Breonna Taylor by Louisville Police officers, on March 13, 2021, in downtown Louisville. Among the protesters in Louisville the local group of Boogaloo Boys seemed to have good relations with other groups present and acted as security during the protest.
Members of Black Lives Matter group on the left and members of a Michigan Boogaloo movement group argue, after the BLM protesters refuse to protest with them and claim that members of their group had rifles pointed at them in past protests, during a counter protest to a Michigan GOP rally on October 5, 2020, in Howell, Michigan.
A member of the boogaloo movement and the Last Sons of Liberty militia, looks into the camera while taking part in an armed protest during Virginia’s annual lobby day event on January 18, 2021, outside of the Virginia State Capitol building, in Richmond, Virginia. Lobby day is an annual event held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day each year in Virginia, where various political groups have the opportunity to lobby for their groups to Virginian legislators. Lobby day is usually a day dominated by pro-gun groups, this year was no different but recent legislation banning the open carrying of loaded firearms near the capitol building and the recent January 6 insurrection caused many groups to attend unarmed or resort to protest convoys while more radical groups like the Boogaloo Boys openly carried loaded weapons and challenged police at the event to stop them.
A member of the boogaloo movement speaks to a Ohio State Highway Trooper during an armed protest at the Ohio State Capitol building, Columbus, Ohio, January 17, 2021.
The police and Ohio National Guard presence around the Ohio Capitol building during an armed protest by the Boogaloo movement at the Ohio State Capitol building, Columbus, Ohio, January 17, 2021. Police and Ohio National Guard were on high alert in preparation for the protest which was planned in the wake of the January 6 insurrection.
Members of a militia group cover their faces from counter protesters trying to film their faces during an armed protest at the Ohio State Capitol building, Columbus, Ohio, January 17, 2021.
A member of the Boogaloo movement stands on the steps of the Michigan State Capital Building during a self proclaimed unity rally on Saturday, October 17, 2020, at the Michigan Capitol Building, in Lansing, Michigan. The members of the Boogaloo movement, who organized the unity rally, claimed to have invited Black Lives Matter groups, Antifa, the proud boys, other Militias, and activists to their event to discuss differences and start a dialogue.
Members of the Boogaloo movement gather on the steps of the Michigan State Capital Building during a self proclaimed unity rally on Saturday, October 17, 2020, at the Michigan Capitol Building, in Lansing, Michigan. The members of the Boogaloo movement, who organized the unity rally, claimed to have invited Black Lives Matter groups, Antifa, the proud boys, other Militias, and activists to their event to discuss differences and start a dialogue.