THE MILITIA MOVEMENT IN AMERICA

Andryszewski (The Dust Bowl, 1993, etc.) presents a sobering and clear-eyed history that traces the development of radical militia groups within the US. She reveals that hatred spawns hatred: The 1995 Oklahoma City bombing may have its roots in early white supremacy groups, e.g., the Ku Klux Klan, and there are interesting similarities between the early militia or ``patriot'' movement of the 1970s and today's militias. Politics and increasing media coverage have turned these once secretive cults into savvy, recruitment-minded, gun-toting organizations, bearing such deceiving names as the ``Liberty Lobby''—a neo-Nazi group. Perhaps most intriguing of all, Andryszewski shines the spotlight on the various media ``stars'' of the militia movement, such as William Pierce (whose novel, The Turner Diaries, recounts the fictional bombing of FBI headquarters). Copious notes and a handy index substantiate the text even further. (b&w photos, not seen, further reading) (Nonfiction. 11+)