US extremists threaten 'civil war' if Trump loses election

A video clip of self-proclaimed supporter of the far-right Proud Boys group and blogger Walter Masterson, filmed during a Trump rally in Staten Island, New York, has appeared online. The supporter said that if Trump is not re-elected in November, the country will enter a “civil war.” He also advises stocking up on weapons, he writes Newsweek.

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The man, who has not been identified, describes the group as "not fighting" despite being known for its violent rallies and altercations with left-wing groups and movements such as Antifa.

“But we are there. We’re like the Marines, we’re the first ones to come,” he adds.

When Masterson asked how the Proud Boys responded to Trump's "stand back and stay alert" comments he made during a televised presidential debate, a supporter responded that the group took it as "wait for my orders."

“And this is exactly what we are waiting for,” he added.

In the clip, Masterson then suggests that the Proud Boys are "non-violent" before the supporter declares the threat of a "civil war" if Donald Trump loses the election.

“If Trump is not re-elected, there will be a riot. If he is not elected, then a civil war will begin,” he adds.

“My advice to anyone stocking up on ammunition is to take a gun,” the man says.

Then the interview is interrupted and the video ends.

Days after he first posted the clip to Twitter, Masterson announced that he intended to post the full interview online soon.

“Just a reminder that this is how the Proud Boys interpreted Trump's call to arms,” Masterson wrote.

On Instagram, Walter added: “He was very open, he knew he was in front of the camera and also signed the release release. He asked us to turn off the cameras during other parts of the conversation, and we obliged.”

On the subject: The Boogaloo Boys, The Proud Boys and Antifa: Which factions are involved in the US protests

A Proud Boys supporter described how some members follow QAnon, a conspiracy theory that believes Trump is waging a secret war against the "deep state" and satanic pedophiles.

When Trump was once again accused of failing to denounce white supremacy with the help of his “supporters” at the debate, he ended up condemning a group that the FBI listed as “extremist groups with ties to white nationalism.”

"I've said this many times," Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity. “Let me be clear again: I condemn the KKK. I condemn all white nationalists. I condemn the Proud Boys. I don’t know much about the Proud Boys, almost nothing, but I condemn it.”

In the US, 2020 could be a record year for arms sales

More than 2 million Americans bought firearms for the first time in six months, says "Voice of America".

Arkansas, 61, Margaret Powell never thought she would want a firearm. Until recently.

“I thought I didn’t need it,” the woman admits. “I said: “Take away the people’s weapons.” But now my views have changed because the world is changing right before my eyes.”

The woman signed up for lessons in safe handling of weapons.

“It’s like we’re going back to the days of the Wild West, when everyone had a gun,” she says.

And Powell isn't the only one who thinks so. Feelings of fear and uncertainty about the pandemic, and later fears for their own safety after massive protests against racial inequality, forced many, especially African Americans, to buy firearms.

“We started out as a few people getting together,” says Gun Owners Club President Damon Fin. — I teach people to shoot professionally. But since March, when the governor quarantined the state, people have felt uncertainty and risk. We started receiving a lot of calls from those who wanted to buy weapons. And I decided - let's open a club. We are affiliated with the National African American Gun Owners Association. And the number of club members is doubling, even tripling, every day.”

Since June, Americans have bought a record nearly 4 million firearms. The biggest surge in shopping during the pandemic, according to the FBI, came in mid-March, when President Trump declared a national emergency due to the coronavirus. The second surge occurred in early June at the height of protests after the death during arrest of African American George Floyd. Club members say they feel increased interracial tension.

“When we ask people why they joined us, it's usually for their own safety, to learn how to shoot,” Fin explains. “With everything going on in the world, they want to be able to protect themselves and their family.”

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Racial problems also provoke various armed groups. Some promote the idea of ​​white supremacy, others promote the purchase of guns among African Americans. With more rifles in people's hands, the club says it's a priority to teach new members how to use them safely.

“We have law enforcement officers, school teachers, lawyers, salespeople, youth, men and women,” Fin elaborates.

“Self-defense is a universal law,” says club co-founder Gahidji Manderson. “We don’t look for problems, but we must protect ourselves if the problem comes.”

Psychologists say that often the acquisition of weapons gives the illusion of regaining control over their own lives.

“It’s definitely for self-defense. I don’t want to be in a situation where I need a weapon and don’t have one,” comments Margaret Powell. “I want to be able to defend myself in a situation that is difficult to imagine.”

Latin Americans also began to acquire weapons more often. Experts say that such massive arming of the population carries significant risks. In particular, acts of violence with shooting, suicides and accidents due to the careless handling of weapons by both adults and children have become more frequent. Law enforcement officials say that weapons cannot always protect if they end up in inexperienced hands. For example, a can of tear gas may be more effective.

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