Armed libertarians join Milwaukee protesters
Organizer says they are not white nationalists or white supremacists
Organizer says they are not white nationalists or white supremacists
Organizer says they are not white nationalists or white supremacists
Armed libertarians joined in on the protests Wednesday night in Milwaukee.
Video shows a group of several armed protesters carrying long guns in the Black Lives Matter march through the east side of Milwaukee.
Matt Wild, who runs the website Milwaukee Record, has been documenting the protests.
"Do you feel people around them were nervous?" WISN 12 News reporter Hillary Mintz asked.
"There were some folks who were nervous, some folks who were talking to them, asking them why they were there, saying their presence with firearms was not welcome," Wild said. "There's a lot of conflicting information about them."
WISN 12 News tracked down the armed group who was out there. An organizer said they're part of the nationwide "boogaloo" movement.
"Who are you?" Mintz asked.
"We are a libertarian movement for the pro-liberties of all American citizens, no matter your race, creed, gender, sexuality, any of that," the organizer said
He told WISN 12 News that people have the wrong idea about them.
"We do not accept white nationalists. We do not accept white supremacists. We do not accept racism of any kind," the organizer said.
At one point during the protests, the armed men met up with protest organizers and hugged.
"The video that I shared about meeting up with protest leaders and showing them that we're not a threat to them, we're here to protect them," the organizer said.
Wisconsin is an open carry state, therefore citizens can open carry a gun.
Milwaukee police said they are aware of the group that was openly carrying long guns.
No arrests were made.