Weird Little Guys CZM Rewind: An Accidental Nazi Rally
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Nov 13, 2025 Dive into the chaotic summer of 2017, where rallies sparked by anti-Muslim sentiment attracted notorious white supremacists. Discover the disingenuous grassroots tactics of Act for America and how extremist groups manipulated these events for their gain. Hear about the tragic Portland train attack and the extremist responses that followed. Explore the motivations behind key speakers and the broader implications of a rising far-right movement. Reflect on the lessons of radicalization and the dangers of normalizing hate.
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Crowdsourcing Left A Vacuum
- Act for America lacked genuine grassroots organizers and instead crowd-sourced event leadership via social media.
- That open call allowed organized extremists to fill organizer roles and seize influence.
Portland Train Murders Spark Outrage
- On May 26, 2017, neo-Nazi Jeremy Christian fatally stabbed two men on a Portland train who intervened to protect Muslim teens.
- The murders escalated national attention and pressured Act for America to cancel Portland's march.
Nazi Organizer Took An ACT Slot
- Billy Roper, an openly known neo-Nazi, volunteered to organize a Batesville Act for America rally and publicly advertised it on Stormfront.
- Act for America removed the listing only after the Southern Poverty Law Center published the connection.
