Lion Guard
Lion Guard Lions of Trump | |
|---|---|
| File:LionGuardEmblem.jpg | |
| Leader | Decentralized |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Dissolved | 2017 |
| Ideology | Conservative |
| Political position | Right Wing |
| Website | |
| http://lionsoftrump.net/ | |
The Lion Guard (also known as the "Lions of Trump" or the "Lion's Guard Militia") was a paramilitary far-right wing political group that was formed in 2016 in order to provide self-imposed security (outside of private security and professional law enforcement) at the rallies of Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump.[1]
Origins and organization
On March 15, 2016, the group was formed after launching an official website with a stated mission to “Provide safety and security to Trump supporters while willing to forcefully protect Donald Trump from people who threaten him." Its name came from a tweet in which Trump quoted Benito Mussolini.[2]
The group had no clearly defined central leadership, and its website was operated through Domains by Proxy which allows the webmaster to remain anonymous. With no national leadership, the organization was instead based upon semi-autonomous local chapters.[3]
The primary Lion Guard mission statement read on its website, "We do not endorse instigating fights or brawling with anti-Trump marauders. The Lion Guard seeks to identify and expose plots to attack Mr. Trump, Trump Supporters, and their rallies before they even can happen." The Lion Guard website further offered to "put in touch" Trump supporters in order to form Lion Guard chapters and also offered vague guidance as to manner of activities and updated members as to Trump rallies and other events.[4]
Activities
The Lion Guard urged members to report to the 2016 Republican National Convention. The group further urged its members to arm themselves, in accordance with Ohio's open carry laws, due to the "danger of insurrection". The Republican National Convention, due to its high profile status, in fact was a guns-free area and there was no evidence that Lion Guard members arrived to attend or disrupt the function.[citation needed]
Known chapters
The Lion Guard was organized on a loosely defined chapter system, with no national leadership. during its existence, the following chapters were noted to have existed.
![[icon]](/enwiki/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2017) |
- Lions Guard Arizona[5]
References
- ^ Edwards, David (March 14, 2016). "Trump militia forms to 'forcefully protect' rally goers against 'far-left agitators'". Rawstory.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Garofalo, Michael (March 18, 2016). ""Exposing plots to attack Mr. Trump": The Lion Guard, a pro-Trump group, is tracking protesters online". Salon.
- ^ https://www.domainsbyproxy.com/, "System Proxy Settings by Net Usage - http://lionsoftrump.net/", Archive Usage Report (July 2016), Retrieved 18Aug16
- ^ http://lionsoftrump.net/about/ (Retrieved 25 Oct 2016)
- ^ "Protesters, counter-protesters gear up for Trump rally in Phoenix" azfamily.com (Retrieved 25 Sep 2017)