There Goes the Neighborhood is a weekly series from Imagine 2050 staff highlighting upcoming nativist events.
This week, anti-Muslim rallies nationwide and John Guandolo heads South Dakota.
On Saturday, June 10, anti-Muslim grassroots group ACT for America will hold a series of bigoted rallies across the country. As the Center for New Community reported last month, the rallies have attracted participation from anti-government militia and white nationalist alt-right groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center has also detailed the brazenly racist language found on websites promoting the rallies and neo-Nazi Billy Roper’s role in organizing one of the rallies in Arkansas. Along with Muslim Advocates, the Center for New Community has organized an online response to #CounterACTHate on Thunderclap.
Also on Thursday, June 15, disgraced former FBI agent and anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist John Guandolo will speak in Rapid City, South Dakota. Guandolo runs the anti-Muslim consulting outfit Understanding the Threat (UTT) and primarily spends his time leading bigoted training sessions for law enforcement officials. In South Dakota, Guandolo will be joined by his UTT colleague Chris Gaubatz at an event organized by the local chapter of ACT for America. According to Dakota Free Press, the Family Heritage Alliance, several area churches, and the Pennington County Republican Party are assisting ACT as co-sponsors the event. Dakota Free Press also reports that South Dakota ACT leader Amy Wilson has invited state legislators to attend.
The following day, Friday, June 16, Guandolo and Gaubatz will speak in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Their appearance will be hosted by anti-Muslim outfit Americans First, Task Force. The group was formed last year and has previously hosted anti-Muslim speakers like Usama Dakdok and Ron Branstner.
Additional information on these events and others can be found in the map below. A red star indicates events scheduled for next week.
Know of any nativist events not located on this map? Please contact us or fill out this form: