Gathering Storm: America's Militia Threat

by Morris Dees, James Corcoran

A renowned civil rights lawyer & an award-winning journalist team up to write a controversial, informed & shocking expose of the far right militia network--& to issue a passionate plea against hate, violence & prejudice.
Author's Note
Introduction
Death on Ruby Ridge
The Seditionist
Rocky Mountain rendezvous
Waco & guns
Militia warriors
Recipe for disaster
Winds of rage
The return of Earl Turner
The almost perfect soldier
Children for children
Bonds of trust
Gathering storm
The last best hope
Source Notes
Acknowledgments
Index

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Terrorism, Crime

270 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Co-founder and chief trial counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and former direct mail marketeer for book publishing.

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

For years one of the local hangouts has been the Ennui Cafe on the corner of Sheridan Road and Lunt Avenue in East Rogers Park, Chicago. Back in the seventies it was an antique dress shop. Then, sometime around 1980, it became an Italian Ice place. That didn't last long. After a year or so the place became the Ennui and a couple of years after that it was taken over by two women, Tenley and Cathy, who had started there as servers. They expanded the place; doubling its size; expanding its menu beyond coffee, tea and crumpets; and opened a small restaurant next door. The restaurant was a bad idea. They gave up the business, selling out some few years ago to a Greek family which modernized and cleaned the place, destroying much of its original, attractively musty atmosphere. Then, finally, just a couple of months ago, the landlord raised the rent, the Greeks moved out to Evanston and the cafe now stands empty along with many other businesses in the area.

After the women moved out and the Greeks moved in I tried to help the business by running weekly "symposia" there. These consisted of everything from live music, to poetry, to lectures, to slide shows, to theatre, to discussions, to puppets. I also stocked bookshelves to give what had become a rather sterile place a more homey feel. Others brought in books as well and this title was one of them.

I've read two of Dees' books to date. Both were about far-right hate groups which he has battled in court and in the media. Neither was particularly well-written. I would have preferred a more objective history of the groups he discusses, but his approach has been more journalistic, more like a lengthy article in The Nation or The Progressive. Similarly, I'd prefer more insight into the mentalities he opposes. Still, Dees doesn't promise objectivity or insight. He's a combatant and his books are designed to report on and support his work and the work of the Southern Poverty Law Center which he heads.

Personally, I feel more sympathy for some of the groups and individuals Dees opposes and I think he tends to lump things together which ought be distinguished. It is one thing to advocate race hatred and practice violence, another to attempt to separate oneself from the federal government of the United States because it is so enormously violent. For instance, although I think David Koresh and his Waco followers a bunch of loonies, I have more sympathy for the persons terrorized and murdered there by the government than for Attorney General Reno and her sanctimonious lies about protecting children.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this on the curb outside my old apartment 5 or 6 years ago and finally got around to it this week. The timing couldn’t have been more apt. While it was written shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, so much of this reads like the America of 2021: armed (far) right wing militias with sentiments of government mistrust and racial hatred, fearing for the “loss” of their “constitutional rights”. It reads like the America of 2021 because it is the America of 2021.

The bulk of the book provides a solid overview of groups and names of key figures dating back to the late 70s/early 80s and a running timeline of events that mark the foundations and launch points for “America’s milita threat.” Unfortuntely it falls off a bit (maybe more than a bit) during the overlong ending with apologist tones towards the FBI and ATF handlings of Waco and Ruby Ridge, and it certainly puts too much faith in government, law enforcement and the legal system by entrusting them to be good boys with more sweeping regulations like increased surveillance measures.

While being an overall worthwhile read for history’s sake and the parallels with the present, it is a legacy product at this point. Something that details events to a nearer past would be more essential for today.

[Bill Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Morris writes as if American Militias are a bigger criminal threat than illegal aliens or inner city blacks, which is laughable. The stats don't lie.

His chapter on the OKC Bombing and McVeigh is a joke. Andreas Strassmeir and Carol Howe warned the authorities that a bombing was being planned. The SPLC was gaining intel from Strassmeir, McVeigh's associate.

Journalists JD Cash and Ambrose Evans-Pritchard have written about this extensively.

[Georgia Gietzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmmmm. I’m clearly in the minority here with my review. I give it 5 stars not because it’s a particularly well written book, rather I give it 5 stars because I find the books content very relevant to our political climate in 2020. I’m from Michigan where in opposition to Governor Whitmer “stay at home order” during the coronavirus pandemic, we are the state that had “strapped and armed” white men in our capital protesting. These men I believe offer a great threat to our American democracy. I mean who walks around with enough ammunition and firepower strapped to bodies to “peacefully protest”. This book was written in the 90’s and I found it extremely relevant to the times we are living in and the great political divide between Trump supporters and everyone else. I did not understand before reading this where all the hatred of government comes from. After reading this book and understanding that most (if not all) militia organizations (and they are in just about every state) are steeped in Christian identity, white supremist ideology, and a complete lack of trust and respect for our government institutions, I better understand the Trump supporters. Not all obviously, but the far right fringe. So I hope 5 stars says to you, this book is worth the read to help you, me and others better understand this underground movement for only by bringing it into the light, can we combat the darkness these people cloak themselves in.

[B. J. Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take although somewhat dated.

[Scribe Light · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most eye-opening books of my teenage years, and things I learned from it are still making themselves useful to this day.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like a vanity project. Ditched 3/4 through.

[Lynn Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book. Dees' background speaks for itself, his sources are numerous, and he makes a case for the need to pay attention to this movement and not take it lightly. I recommend this book for everyone who wants to know more about the seriousness of the threat from these groups of white supremacists who have been gaining in strength since the 60's.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scary, and not as out of date as you might think.