California man accused of white supremacy “danger to community” | The…
archived 30 Jul 2020 19:52:46 UTC
The shadowy online white supremacist leader who is alleged to be a 27-year-old Orangevale man is one of the most violent extremists in the movement today, but his unmasking may result in his followers fleeing his influence, a researcher into American hate movements says.
Andrew Richard Casarez, who allegedly posted online for years as the “Vic Mackey,” the leader of a Dylann Roof-worshipping group known as the “Bowl Patrol,” is under investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office for alleged hate crimes and earlier this month had a 9 mm firearm seized by detectives who obtained an emergency restraining order.
But public reports of his identity — first by the website Anonymous Comrades Collective on July 7 and then by the Huffington Post a week ago — may scare off followers of the Bowl Patrol, said Cassie Miller, a senior research analyst with the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The Bowl Patrol is a group that posted podcasts advocating violence with about 1,000 online followers that is named for the distinctive haircut Roof sported when he killed nine Black people at a Charleston, South Carolina, prayer meeting in 2015, Miller said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
“Vic Mackey is one of the most explicitly violent figures in the white power movement today,” Miller said. “A lot of people in the movement are hesitant to come out and openly endorse violence or acts of terrorism.
“He’s never held back.”
Casarez has not responded to a request for comment on whether he is Mackey and has not spoken publicly since reports first surfaced tying him to the online poster. He lives with his parents in Orangevale and is reportedly a former restaurant worker and pizza delivery driver.
Split from larger alt-right movement
The Bowl Patrol movement split off from the alt-right white power movement that sought influence through more traditional means, Miller said.
“Members of the alt-right really thought they were going to be an insurgent political movement and they would have actual political power and have politicians representing them,” Miller said.
But backlash over the August 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, splintered the white power movement that Miller said resulted in an “optics debate” about whether to openly endorse violence to achieve their goals.
The result was an “accelerationism” movement that seeks the overthrow of the country and a rebuilding of a white homeland.
“Terrorism is basically at the core of this strategy,” she said. “They know they’re operating from a weak position.
“This isn’t a huge, broad-based movement, so what they advocate for is using acts of terrorism to attack the state and attack people they see as enemies and push the country into some sort of crisis or race war.”
Miller said that such acts of violence are often saluted in online forums.
“When someone does that, they celebrate it, and they talk about christening a new saint,” Miller said. “They refer to it as a ‘holiday’ when someone goes and commits an act of terrorism in the name of white supremacy.”
‘Tainted in the eyes of the movement’
Miller said she had never heard of Casarez before the reports that he is the figure behind Vic Mackey, but added that his unmasking may dramatically affect his influence.
“I think he’s been very much tainted in the eyes of the movement,” she said. “He no longer has the shield of anonymity which has allowed him to operate the way that he has for several years now.
“With the white power movement, anyone who gets doxxed anyone is immediately afraid of associating with him because they might attract the attention of federal police.”
Doxxing refers to the public disclosure, typically online, of an identity, address or other personal details.
The threat that authorities may gain access to Casarez’ electronic devices and online history “is enough to make people afraid,” she said.
Court documents indicate Casarez is under scrutiny by the Sacramento FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, although there is no indication officials have seized any computers or phones, and he has not been charged with any crime.
The search warrant return listing items seized on July 15 from Casarez’ home lists a 9 mm handgun, a gun case with two empty magazines, a black T-shirt with a skull and crossbones and “bowl cut hairpiece on top,” and a pair of gray Levi’s pants, size 38 waist and 34 length.
The search warrant affidavit was written by Sacramento sheriff’s Sgt. Nathaniel Grgich, who is currently assigned to the FBI as a member of the task force, court records show.
Grgich wrote that he began investigating a graffiti incident in December “which appeared to be motivated by hate/race” and that Casarez “was likely responsible.”
Fear of a ‘lone wolf’ attack
Once Casarez was “doxxed” on July 7, Grgich sought a gun violence emergency protective order to seize his firearm and forbid him from possessing any ammunition or magazines. Grgich’s affidavit says Casarez’s “recent behavior” and access to firearms “make him a realistic threat to the community.”
Grgich’s affidavit says that when “true identity is finally revealed, bloggers are often faced with the dilemma of admitting they are a fraud, or they are expected to carry out an act of violence to retain their loyal followers, demonstrating their dedication and loyalty to their shared cause.”
Grgich added that “Casarez’s posts have continued to promote hatred based on race, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation.”
“Your affiant believes Casarez’s recent posts, the expectation to prove his loyalty as a result of being (doxxed) are indicative of random acts of hatred carried out by a ‘lone wolf’ attacker,” Grgich wrote. “Motivated by his ideology and support of white supremacy.
“As a result of Casarez’ posts, blogs and podcasts, your affiant questions Casarez’ mental stability.”
Miller said the ultimate result of Casarez being named as Vic Mackey may diminish the Bowl Patrol influence on the white power movement.
“Vic Mackey was kind of the central figure within that world, and so without his influence I think they are going to recede a little bit in terms of their role within the movement,” she said.
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So they took away his guns because he made edgy posts online and got doxxxxed? Why would getting doxxxed make him commit illegal acts? Bowl Patrol isn't a movement either, it's just a shit tier podcast nobody listened.
Antifa doxxxxxxxing:
