History of Patriot Front in Timeline
Patriot Front is an American white supremacist and neo-fascist hate group that emerged from Vanguard America after the 2017 Unite the Right rally. The group blends American symbols with fascist imagery. By late 2021, internal sources indicated a membership of around 200. The Anti-Defamation League reported that Patriot Front was responsible for 82% of the reported incidents involving the distribution of racist, antisemitic, and other hateful propaganda in the U.S. in 2021, totaling 3,992 incidents across all continental states.
2017: Formation of Patriot Front
In 2017, Patriot Front split off from Vanguard America after the Unite the Right rally.
2017: Rousseau Rebrands Vanguard America as Patriot Front
In 2017, following bad press from the Unite the Right rally, Thomas Ryan Rousseau rebranded Vanguard America as Patriot Front.
2019: Estimated Membership Size
In 2019, an investigation estimated Patriot Front had about 300 members.
2020: Hateful Propaganda Distribution
In 2020, the ADL estimated that Patriot Front generated 80% of reported incidents of distributing racist, antisemitic and other hateful propaganda in the U.S.
December 14, 2021: Rousseau Discusses Membership Struggles
On December 14, 2021, Rousseau expressed concerns about Patriot Front's stagnant membership numbers in a conversation with "lieutenants."
2021: Leading White Supremacist Group
As of 2021, Patriot Front was considered a leading white supremacist group, actively using flyers for recruitment.
2021: Propaganda Distribution
In 2021, Patriot Front reportedly generated 82% of racist, antisemitic, and hateful propaganda incidents in the United States.
2021: Group Communications Revealed
In 2021, leaked communications revealed the group attempted to inflate its membership numbers, outlined plans to spread misinformation, and detailed notes of interviews with potential members.
January 2022: Members Required to Deface Racial Justice Murals
According to leaked chats made public in January 2022, Patriot Front members are required to deface racial justice murals in their areas.
January 21, 2022: Chat Server Leak
On January 21, 2022, Unicorn Riot published leaked audio files, chat logs, documents, photographs and videos from Patriot Front's chat server.
July 2, 2022: Attack on Charles M. Murrel III
On July 2, 2022, Patriot Front was alleged to have attacked Charles M. Murrel III, a black man, during a march by the group in Boston.
2022: March for Life Rally
In January 2022, members of Patriot Front were seen at the March for Life anti-abortion rally in Washington, D.C.
2022: Federal Lawsuit Filed by Members
In June 2022, five members of Patriot Front filed a federal lawsuit against an alleged leftist activist who they said had infiltrated the group and publicly disclosed their identities.
February 2023: Legal Proceedings Following Arrests
As of February 2023, after the June 2022 arrests of Patriot Front members in Coeur d'Alene, one member had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to riot, three members failed to appear, and various others had jury trials scheduled.
May 2023: Conspiracy Theories
In May 2023, some commentators, including Joe Rogan, suggested without evidence that the organization was an FBI sting operation or false flag by Antifa.
July 20, 2023: Conviction and Sentencing for Conspiracy to Riot
On July 20, 2023, five Patriot Front group members were convicted of misdemeanor conspiracy to riot and the next day sentenced to five days in jail, credited for two days already served, plus $1,000 fines and one year of probation.
August 2023: Lawsuit Against Alleged Infiltrator
In August 2023, five Patriot Front affiliated individuals filed a lawsuit against an alleged member of the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club for the infiltration, demanding punitive damages and claiming the disclosure of their identities cost them their jobs.
September 2023: Rousseau's Pre-Trial Appearance Moved
In September 2023, Rousseau was granted a continuance, with his pre-trial appearance moved.
December 2023: Elon Musk Contributes to Speculation
In December 2023, X (Twitter) owner Elon Musk contributed to the speculation, replying to a user who described the group as "Fed Front" and echoing the user's question as to why group members who were arrested did not have their masks removed by police.
July 2024: Disruptions in Nashville
In July 2024, Patriot Front, along with other groups, distributed flyers, asked passersby if they were Jewish, and disrupted a City Council meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
January 13, 2025: Federal Judge Orders Damages Payment
On January 13, 2025, a federal judge ordered Patriot Front to pay approximately $2.7 million to Charles M. Murrel III for violating his civil rights.
January 2025: Federal Judge Orders Damages Payment
In January 2025, a federal judge ordered Patriot Front to pay damages of over $2.7 million due to a lawsuit stemming from an incident in July 2022.
