Marina S. | Red Phoenix correspondent | Kansas–

On Saturday, May 24, around 150 members of the fascist paramilitary group known as the Patriot Front, emerging from a fleet of rented cargo vans, invaded the steps of the Kansas City World War I Memorial also known as Liberty Memorial. The fascist demonstrators, dressed in uniforms of navy blue shirts, tan khaki pants and white masks, lined up outside Liberty Memorial holding inverted American flags, as well as Patriot Front and Confederate banners. Some members held painted riot shields. The only unmasked member of the fascist mob was Patriot Front founder Thomas Rosseau, who gave a brief speech while affecting a “paramilitary bravado” that would be ridiculous under different circumstances. After the conclusion of the speech, the fascists marched in a loop through Kansas City’s Crossroads Neighborhood chanting “Reclaim America!”, impeding traffic and intimidating local residents. Before long, they filed back into the cargo vans as police observed from a distance. The rally was not advertised and apparently no one in the communities invaded had any knowledge that they were taking place.

Despite being caught completely by surprise, several Kansas City residents gathered to confront the marchers, making it very clear that they were not welcome in their neighborhoods. However they were stopped by police and told to allow the Patriot Front members to safely leave. While perfunctorily denouncing the marchers as “abhorrent”, KCPD Deputy Chief Joseph Mabin stated the department’s first concern was diffusing a potentially violent situation. “Once we arrived,” Mabin said, “we also saw a social media post that suggested there were counterprotesters responding to the area, and that’s always a safety concern. Therefore in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, it was best that the members of the group left the area.” No one involved in the Patriot Front rally was arrested or cited as the only ordinance that was violated was “unlawfully riding” in the back of the cargo vans. 

This claim by the KCPD to value “de-escalation” however is difficult to take seriously given the department’s reputation in regards to progressive demonstrations in the city. During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in response to the killing of Geroge Floyd, the KCPD threatened protesters with violence and pepper spray as well as arresting hundreds of people for various offenses including failing to remain on the sidewalk, an “offense” that several of the Patriot Front marchers were reported as doing.

When news of the fascist rally broke, Kansas City Mayor Quentin Lucas released a predictably noncommittal response: “While the First Amendment provides the right to bring any message to Kansas City, we know that our diversity, our welcoming community, and our respect for the rights of all reject whatever hate and cowardice come our way.”

While every effort by the local authorities is made to protect the freedom of speech of fascist demonstrators, any attempt to advocate for the liberation of oppressed peoples is met with the full force of state violence. 

The events of May 24 make it clear that fascism is not on its way to Kansas City. It is already here and prepared to show itself in force. According to the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, Missouri was ranked as the third highest state in the country for Patriot Front activity and evidence suggests they are only growing larger and more dangerous. Events like the rally at Liberty Memorial remain central to their growth. These events are filmed and used to make propaganda videos that have been highly successful at recruiting new members.

The inaction of Kansas City officials, knowingly or not, enables fascist invasion into our communities. But the situation is not hopeless. The bluster and discipline shown by the Patriot Front has repeatedly dissolved when the communities they assault show up and confront them. The solution to fascist incursion has been and always will be, concerted antifascist action organized by the working and oppressed masses. When met with the disciplined resistance of the people, fascism will always falter.

Categories: U.S. News