The Three Percent
At the birth of the United States’ independence, militias were an institution integral to America’s founding. Today, militia members often cite that only 3% of America’s population – a number contradicted by historians – fought to free the United States from British rule. Since America’s inception, militias across the United States have found thousands of members for a variety of political and personal reasons. But, in the wake of Barack Obama’s inauguration, the steep climb of militia membership as well as an increase in their violent and, often, racist rhetoric has become concerning.
While militias were particularly popular (and sometimes violent) during the Clinton presidency, they waned during the Bush years, only to once again come under the radar of federal law enforcement in the months following Obama’s election. One federal law enforcement official, quoted in a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, summed up the resurgence of militias as thus, “This is the most significant growth we’ve seen in 10 to 12 years. All it’s lacking is a spark. I think it’s only a matter of time before you see threats and violence.”
“The Three Percent” aims to visualize the motivations of modern militias, question the reasons for their recent resurgence, and examine the intersection of history, hate, power, and paranoia that drive militias as they seek to influence American politics in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001, the Presidency of Barack Obama, and the election of President Donald Trump.
At the birth of the United States’ independence, militias were an institution integral to America’s founding. Today, militia members often cite that only 3% of America’s population – a number contradicted by historians – fought to free the United States from British rule. Since America’s inception, militias across the United States have found thousands of members for a variety of political and personal reasons. But, in the wake of Barack Obama’s inauguration, the steep climb of militia membership as well as an increase in their violent and, often, racist rhetoric has become concerning.
While militias were particularly popular (and sometimes violent) during the Clinton presidency, they waned during the Bush years, only to once again come under the radar of federal law enforcement in the months following Obama’s election. One federal law enforcement official, quoted in a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, summed up the resurgence of militias as thus, “This is the most significant growth we’ve seen in 10 to 12 years. All it’s lacking is a spark. I think it’s only a matter of time before you see threats and violence.”
“The Three Percent” aims to visualize the motivations of modern militias, question the reasons for their recent resurgence, and examine the intersection of history, hate, power, and paranoia that drive militias as they seek to influence American politics in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001, the Presidency of Barack Obama, and the election of President Donald Trump.