On August 10th The Reno Worker (RW) published a Press Release from Mass Liberation Northern Nevada which claimed that the Douglas County Sheriff was working with Local far-right militias were working together on their response to a planned local Black Lives Matter (BLM) rally. In an article published the same day reporters working for the RW noted that “militia members were spotted throughout the grounds providing unofficial security aid to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. Some of those who were present could be identified by patches. Militias that were present included the 3% Militia, the Northern Nevada Militia, as well some members of the Boogaloo Movement.” at the rally in their article “Minden, NV Proves America’s “Sun Down Towns” Are Alive and Well.

On October 22nd RW reported that these same militias had been identified by The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) as likely to work with Law Enforcement. The report notes “While these groups often define their operations in terms of defense of the public and protecting businesses, they are almost always aligned towards a particular political view. From this standpoint, through which they often see police and the US military as allies, their implicit goals overlap with preserving the long-term dominant culture of the US, largely perceived as traditionally pro-white and patriarchal systems of production and governance.”
The email from Ron Elges that was a product of a FOIA request filed by EFF.

An email was recovered by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) from Ron Elges, a member of the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, that claimed that a member of a local militia was working with the Sheriff to provide security to a Trump rally on September 12th. The email claimed the individual was patrolling the “Minden-Tahoe Airport” and had performed a number of arrests. The full email is transcribed below and pictured left.

On September 12, 2020 at approximately 0700, I received a call from [Redacted] stated he was local militia and has been securing the perimeter outside the Minden-Tahoe Airport. He stated they have spotted several individuals camping out and have arrested a few subjects. [Redacted] is in communication with with Douglas SO. [Redacted] received my phone number from the airport office and called in regards to enforcing the parking lot. He wanted to know if he should be denying people access to the parking lot.

When Ron Elges was contacted in an additional FOIA request, he denied that this, or any further emails existed.

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