Memorial Day weekend for residents of Kansas was a proud display of fascism after the alt-right group, Patriot Front, held a disturbing parade.
Viral footage captured the display, which took place at 16th and Main, showing hundreds of White males dressed in matching uniforms holding Confederate flags. The cohort donned brown khakis paired with dark blue shirts and combat boots. Each member donned a brown cap with the Confederate symbol, covering their faces with white masks and sunglasses so their identity remains unknown. A marching band could be heard in the background.
Feeling triggered, one Patriot Front member told the recorder, “We’re doing it for your benefit,” to which the cameraman replied, “For my benefit? Because I’m a White male?” While threatening him to leave the premises, the group of men hauled themselves into the back of the truck and zoomed off.
In the clip, the white supremacist group was loading their flags into the back of a U-Haul truck when the cameraman approached a member. He asked why they covered their faces if they were proud of their opinion. “Anybody want to share their names? Anyone want to share their face, or are you too embarrassed?” he jestingly questioned.
Soon enough, another group of Patriot Front members arrived on the scene. This time, however, one member was willing to identify himself. Removing his mask, he identified himself as Thomas Ryan Rousseau. A quick Google search identifies him as the founder of the alt-right group. Rousseau is currently facing a felony charge in Virginia for burning an object to intimidate, per Rolling Stone.
The alarming footage has since made rounds on the Internet, drawing opinions from users. Thankfully, it is mostly remarks of condemnation for the Patriot Front group, while many lament the regression of the country into the era of the Ku Klux Klan.
“Modern KKK uniform,” one netizen slammed. “These dudes are hilariously embarrassing. They want to be big, tough American guys. Meanwhile, they desecrate the flag on a memorial, and had literally no idea what to say when you confronted them, lmao. They are even bigger wusses than I thought,” another comment read.
One user slammed the group as “pretend soldier boys too afraid to sign up for the actual military,” while Redditor @headhurt21 labeled them “incels on parade.”
Notably, in the video, a police officer is seen escorting the group. Many wondered why he allowed people to be transported in the U-Haul, knowing it is illegal. As a result, several users have filed a report with U-Haul to investigate the incident.
