Hutaree is a 'cult,' says Eastern Michigan University militia expert
Trailers on the property belonging to David Brian Stone, the leader of Midwest Christian militia Hutaree, are shown Monday - the day after an FBI raid in Clayton, Mich.
Madalyn Ruggiero | The Associated Press
When local militia expert Jack Kay first ran across a MySpace page for Lenawee County-based Hutaree six months ago, he thought it was just another militia group wrapping itself in God and country.
On Monday afternoon, following weekend raids by federal authorities in three states, Kay said the group went beyond that initial assessment. Kay, the provost and executive vice-president of academic affairs at Eastern Michigan University, has done extensive research on militias.
“Everything I’ve read about them and on their website establish to me that they are a cult,” he said. “They are true believers. They feel they are on a divine mission. They are willing to be martyrs. It goes beyond patriotism and gets into groupthink.
“They believe everything is a conspiracy. They create their own fictional future. It’s just not logical to think you’re going to wake up someday and overthrow the government.”
Even members of other militias describe Hutaree as a cult.
"You have an older religious leader with several young followers who obey his every command,” said Michael Lackomar, a spokesman for the Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia, which was not targeted in the raids. His unit has trained with Hutaree in the past.
Nine Hutaree members are charged with planning to kill an unnamed local law enforcement officer and then attacking the resulting funeral procession, targeting law enforcement vehicles with improvised explosive devices.
EMU Provost Jack Kay
“There are a lot of groups that use the rhetoric that this group uses,” Kay said. “Their plans, if what is in the indictment is true, go well beyond that. If what’s in the indictment is true, this would be among the most extreme groups out there.”
On its website, the group uses heavy doses of Bible to justify its actions and claims members are getting ready to battle the Anti-Christ.
The group wrote, “Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment. The only thing on earth to save the testimony and those who follow it, are the members of the testimony, til the return of Christ in the clouds. We, the Hutaree, are prepared to defend all those who belong to Christ and save those who aren’t. We will still spread the word, and fight to keep it, up to the time of the great coming.”
Donna Stone said her ex-husband, David Stone, the accused leader of the group, pulled her son David Jr. into the movement. Another of Stone's sons, Joshua Stone, also was charged.
"It started out as a Christian thing," Donna Stone said. "You go to church. You pray. You take care of your family. I think David started to take it a little too far."
The wife of one of the defendants described Hutaree as a small group of patriotic, Christian buddies who were just doing survival training.
"It consisted of a dad and two of his sons and I think just a couple other close friends of theirs," said Kelly Sickles, who husband, Kristopher, was among those charged. "It was supposed to be a Christian group. Christ-like, right, so why would you think that's something wrong with that, right?"
Sickles said she came home Saturday night to find her house in Sandusky, Ohio, in disarray. Agents seized the guns her husband collected as a hobby and searched for bomb-making materials, she said, but added: "He doesn't even know how to make a bomb. We had no bomb material here."
Sickles said she couldn't believe her 27-year-old husband could be involved in anything violent.
"It was just survival skills," she said. "That's what they were learning. And it's just patriotism. It's in our Constitution."
The overall militia movement has exploded across the country recently, driven in large numbers by the election of Obama as president.
About 50 militia members from five units live in Washtenaw County, militia leaders told AnnArbor.com. Most are survivalists who favor larger local government and a smaller federal government. Members are fiercely protective of their free speech and gun rights.
The Hutaree claim between 25 and 30 members, and say at least one lives in Scio Township and at least three live in Manchester Township. One of the those arrested, Michael Meeks, Â is from Manchester Township.
“Members tend to be very committed,” Kay said. “These group tend to like to have smaller groups, almost like splinter cells where they are very close and many are members of the same family.”
Kay said the leadership in militia groups tends to be “sophisticated” about communication and recruitment, and often target those who are “downtrodden.”
Followers tend be those “who have had something taken away from them by some authority, either the government, or a bank, or someone.”
Lee Higgins of AnnArbor.com and the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Comments
eyeloveypsi
Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 12:51 p.m.
Thanks for the headline - nobody would have guesses they are a cult...
Alan Benard
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 4:10 p.m.
Bob, I'm glad to hear it. But it's not good, is it, how anonymous people can spread disinformation in unedited comments attached to news stories and blog posts, huh? It can give people the wrong idea sometimes.
Alan Benard
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 3:44 p.m.
Oh, and further down in the TPM Muckraker piece, there are commentators citing the utterly annarbor.com "lost kid militia" story, and how there seem to be some missing paragraphs.... Care to respond to that, Tony?
Alan Benard
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 3:34 p.m.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/expert_hutaree_were_right_smack_in_the_middle_of_t.php?ref=mblt Appearing on CNN this morning, Michael Lackomar, a member of the Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia, called the Hutaree -- also primarily based in Michigan -- "really a fringe group outside of anything we do."...But Mark Potok, the executive director of the Southern Poverty law Center, which tracks extremist groups, told TPMmuckraker that the Hutaree fit comfortably within the broader militia movement.... "The Hutaree were apparently ensconced right smack in the middle of the militia movement," said Potok...."The only difference with the Hutarees is that they put this millenial spin on it," Potok said. Part of the problem we have here is completely uncritical reporting -- in the larger sphere by CNN, locally by annarbor.com -- which uncritically prints quotes from guys like Lackomar and the militia people in the earlier article about the militia members looking for the lost child.We count on journalists to put statements in to context and to reveal the point of view of those quoted.
jcj
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 2:40 p.m.
Myspace? Whats that? Any chance they are hiring? Gotta go to a funeral now. I will miss you guys!
Lokalisierung
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.
Look out I think jcj works for myspace!
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 2:11 p.m.
I bet they were complete awesome in Farmville.
jcj
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 1:55 p.m.
"Nah, below average intelligence, angry at authority, weird made up words." Is it implied that only those of below average intelligence would try such a plot? "Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, on November 5 went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Texas." Below average intelligence? One might argue that. But I would argue that hate and terror is not the domain of only those with "below average intelligence" It does not matter where the terror comes from the result can be just as dastardly.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 1:05 p.m.
I'm not sure how they would not be classified as terrorists if they carried out this plot. Also not sure how any major organized religion would not be classified as a cult under the popular definitions.
Lokalisierung
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 12:36 p.m.
Yes Gribble it used to be the question....so they changed the answer and made WMD anythig that can kill a couple people. I guess that's one way to make sure they find them. "When local militia expert Jack Kay first ran across a MySpace page for Lenawee County-based Hutaree six months ago, " Myspace eh? These guys are behind the times.
1ofalpha
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 12:23 p.m.
What a profound observation vis-a'-vis Hutaree and cult status. What about "psychotics?" Also, I'm wondering "Where the weapons of mass destruction were or are?" Could this be portrayed more dramatically please? It will save me CNN time.
jcj
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 12:20 p.m.
As we have a tendency to do on these post I might have went over the top a little. I certainly do not mean to belittle education and thinking. But I strongly (in case it was not obvious)resent the arrogance that comes across when a large number of the (I will use the term educated since there was a post earlier that referred to "the educated") make a post or statement. The holier than thou comment was speaking more to some earlier post. And I have generally not tried to make less of a person based on their religion or lack of it. But there are always multiple post with attacks on Christians. Just like dynamite is dangerous in the wrong hands so is an education or a gun or a car
jcj
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 11:53 a.m.
Gribble I guess its all perspective. I have no fear of these nut case militia guys coming to my house and killing me or stealing from me. But the "educated" already have their hand in my pocket and are killing me with their scams and "I know better than you arrogance. If anyone doesn't believe that it is the educated that have put us in the boat we are in now maybe they need a few more years in school! The almighty educated politicians no matter who have done more harm to this country than a few nut cases playing war. Both of them warrant watching is my point! I have no problem with critical thinking it is the arrogance in thinking that THEY have the only answers! Make you think? Good God, the horror! Spoken as if the speaker had spent years getting educated. Huh Too many years of drama classes maybe. Isn't it ironic that it is usually the atheist that have the "holier than thou attitude?
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 11:51 a.m.
I agree that if we're going to call this alleged militant terrorist group a "militia" then we're going to have to call every militant terrorist group a militia. Funny, but I don't usually hear of anyone calling Al Qaeda or Hamas "militias", just terrorists. Also, in the more lawless areas of the world there are often local non-aggressive militias that exist for defense purposes. They don't normally get called terrorists. If they become aggressive then they get called insurgents, militants, or terrorists and people then stop calling them militias.
Alan Benard
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 11:19 a.m.
The spin begins, as Mighican Volunteer Militia gets CNN to be its mouthpiece. Because the militia movement is really just a bunch of concerned citizens, right?http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/30/michigan.militia.arrests/?hpt=SbinMembers of a militia charged with plotting to kill police were not Christian or a militia, a man acquainted with the group said Tuesday. "This is a group that I would classify as neither a militia or a Christian group," said Michael Lackomar, a member of the Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia. "They're really a fringe group outside of anything we do. "They're more of a private army or a terrorist organization or really just a criminal organization."I smell fish.
Alan Benard
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 10:55 a.m.
^^^ Et voila.
jcj
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 10:51 a.m.
@Alan Benard While I have made it abundantly clear on other post that I totally disagree with the methods most militia groups advocate. I asked the question in all honesty because you only have to look at any courtroom and see that both sides of the argument have their "EXPERT" witnesses. Let me reiterate I in know way support these nut cases whether they be the militia mentioned or the nut cases that a lot of the "educated" supported on campuses across the country in the 70's!! But since you brought it up. "But of course, in the Know-Nothing Populist amusement park known as Ignorant Michgan, we doubt the educated and revere trailer-part maniacs who stock guns and plan to kill for Jesus, allegedly" I have just enough education to know that it is not the uneducated that have run this country into the ground!! It is the educated fools that think they know better than the " Know-Nothing Populist" that have tried to get rich off the poor while sucking their parents bank accounts dry by staying in school trying to "find themselves" until they are 44 years old! This is where the real danger lies, in arrogant educated philosophers that contribute nothing to society.
Alan Benard
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.
http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0329/hutaree-militia-video/ RawStory.com: "CNN report suggests Antichrist-fearing militia group hosted Tea Party"
bedrog
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.
@thurbers ( and the authors)... even if 'cults' are the equivalent of social thermometers that indicate somethings wrong or "has been taken away", they are never a solution to the problem...any more than eating a thermometer would be to a sick person.... i agree with those here who'd worry less about definitions and simply recognize the terrorist potential of the group as a danger. and there are plenty of 'cults' with huge multi million memberships or bigger....they are known as 'fundamentalist religions'...anti factual, bigoted toward non believers and promising hellfire or worse to their own members if they recant.....sound familiar???
leaguebus
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 9:56 a.m.
Sorry, these people were too busy saving us from the Devil to clean up their yard. Come on!!!!!
Val Losse
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 9:52 a.m.
Anybody can use the Bible to justify anything they want to do when it comes to unlawful activity. Just take a verse that suits your desire and go with it. Never mind that Jesus admonished Peter for drawing his sword and cutting of the ear of one of the arresting temple guards. Jesus put the ear back. Jesus said that one who uses the sword will die by the sword. Jesus went to his death without attempting violence which surely he would have won being God in the flesh. Humans carry out their own egos believing they are doing God's work by violence. History records that.
Griffen
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 9:36 a.m.
I think the term 'cult' is too defined. These folks are terrorists, pure and simple. And I hope they get a ticket for all the garbage and littering; so out of touch! I can tell you if my place looked like this, my neighbors would throw me out.
Alan Benard
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 9:34 a.m.
I would agree this group looks and acts like a cult. But what credentials do you have to have to be considered a "militia exert"? Or any other type of expert. What criteria does a2.com use?http://www.emich.edu/provostsearch/But of course, in the Know-Nothing Populist amusement park known as Ignorant Michgan, we doubt the educated and revere trailer-part maniacs who stock guns and plan to kill for Jesus, allegedly. Were I an international company with plenty of jobs to fill, I wouldn't open a hot-dog stand in this benighted state.
jcj
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 9:10 a.m.
I would agree this group looks and acts like a cult. But what credentials do you have to have to be considered a "militia exert"? Or any other type of expert. What criteria does a2.com use?
cheshirecat
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 8:58 a.m.
"It was supposed to be a Christian group. Christ-like, right, so why would you think that's something wrong with that, right?" I must have missed that part in Mark Chapter 34 verses 1-45 where Jesus says to take up arms and bomb a policeman's funeral.
uawisok
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
I beleive "Thurber" is on to something with this statement, "Does that describe millions of the nation's white, rural working class losing out economicallyatement." Lenawee county has almost all of it manufacturing and allot of these were tier 2 and tier 3 auto suppliers who were non union and folks working there were just making ends meet. This does not excuse the behavior but it certainly doesn't help when folks lose their jobs and are told the plants moving to Mexico...which is where those suppliers moved too. Thanks again NAFTA and both political parties who sold out the American working class, gheez and you wonder why folks go off the deep end??
Top Cat
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 8:46 a.m.
There seems to be a lot of articles and a lot of statements made on AA.com based on a small amount of information, some allegations and 8 people being charged and not convicted. Must be a slow news day.
Smiley
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.
Well stated 'Anonymous Due to Bigotry'
ACertainMan
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 8:25 a.m.
. The Strange Case of Kristopher Sickles and the Hutaree Militia.
mermaid72
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 8:21 a.m.
Maybe he should have taken a break from all that "believin" and spent some time cleaning his yard. What a dump. You ever see Michigan Mark's (Michigan Militia) yard outside of Dexter? It makes the above photo look like a Martha Stewart photo shoot. Maybe besides being militia, they are all hoarders!
Audrey
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 8:19 a.m.
I'm not sure a debate about whether to call this group a cult or a militia is really a good use of AnnArbor.com's time, especially since the group has not (yet?) been found guilty. Also, David (and Lee), could you please provide a source for the following statement: "The overall militia movement has exploded across the country recently, driven in large numbers by the election of Obama as president."?
glimmertwin
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 7:39 a.m.
Maybe he should have taken a break from all that "believin" and spent some time cleaning his yard. What a dump.
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 7:14 a.m.
At least this article attempts to draw a distinction between the normal militia groups out there and this crazy militant cult that calls itself a militia. Trying to equate this particular cult group with all militia groups is like trying to equate all legal gun owners with criminals who illegally possess guns and/or commit crimes using guns.
thurber
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 6:55 a.m.
Cult followers tend to be those who have had something taken away from them by some authority, either the government, or a bank, or someone. Does that describe millions of the nation's white, rural working class losing out economically?