In private messages, Veterans on Patrol threatens officials undertaking relief efforts in North Carolina
On October 30, 2024, an Arizona-based border militia group, known for its belief in wild anti-government conspiracy theories, shared a series of alarming posts in their private group chat on the unregulated messenger platform Telegram. Writing “ACT OF WAR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE US DO?,” Veterans on Patrol (VOP) stated that they are willing to “initiate a righteous response against this murderous military, just as we did against the Cartels in Mexico.”
The “military” they are referring to is the U.S. Armed Forces, and the “murders” they laid at their feet are, what they claim, hundreds of people who died as a result of the federal government “steering Weather Weapon Helene into Appalachia country” in early October. In other words, VOP is alleging that the deaths that came in the wake of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina were caused by the military directing the weather in the region.
A message from the VOP private chat on October 30, 2024
VOP is a conspiracy-mongering anti-government militia based out of Pima County, Arizona. They were formed in 2015 and are led by Michael “Lewis Arthur” Meyer. Meyer is not a veteran and has been arrested multiple times. The group has primarily been occupied with issues at the U.S.-Mexico border, where they claim they have worked to prevent human traffickers and Mexican cartels from crossing.
The group has been heavily criticized for its promotion of vigilantism and harassment against migrants and humanitarian groups attempting to save lives. Given his fascination with paramilitary culture, Meyer refers to VOP’s efforts as “missions” or “operations.” VOP has ties to other far-right groups including the white supremacist Proud Boys, Three Percenter militias, and “One Percenter” motorcycle gangs, who proudly consider themselves outlaws.
Earlier in the month, on October 3, VOP posted that they would be engaging in a disaster response mission called “Operation Steer It Back,” not only to bring aid to local citizens in North Carolina, but also to “remove FEMA from North Carolina.” Echoing similar sentiments heard from other far-right groups, VOP claimed that FEMA “has billions in untapped resources designated for the 6+ million more Migrants, terrorists, and criminals being brought up RIGHT NOW.”
Under the assumption that the military had the capability to control the weather, VOP went further by blaming the military for the hurricane damage and the deaths of hundreds of people. After nearly a week of “operations,” Meyer and his group were reported to have been asked to leave their site near Lake Lure in Western North Carolina by members of the community after Meyer began threatening local residents and blocking people from picking up donations.
Since then, this armed militia has stated in their Telegram chats their intention to sabotage military vehicles, attack critical infrastructure, and arrest military officials in North Carolina and Tennessee in what they call, “Operation Leaning Tower,” testifying to the potential for conspiracy theories to lead to threats of violence. Echoing the group’s belief that their actions are sanctioned by God, and thus, above state and federal laws, Meyer posted, “It is NOT illegal to destroy Military Infrastructure used to murder American civilians. Until they make that illegal, it is open season on ALL US Military equipment NOT being used to rebuild communities devastated by Weather Weapon Helene.”
VOP has a deep hatred for federal government agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), FEMA, and others, alleging these agencies’ complicity in trafficking children across the border (A core belief among QAnon conspiracists is that the “deep state,” democrats and others are involved in secret child trafficking operations). Their belief in this plot is expressed through a religious lens where “satanic forces” are responsible for the drug trafficking and sex crimes against children that Meyer is obsessed with. This worldview has also led them to target migrants, Native Americans, and other religious denominations with falsehoods, including the Church of Latter-Day Saints, which Meyer has described as a “Mafia,” and Jews, who he once claimed were secretly responsible for the country’s woes.
This latest threat by VOP against the military and other federal agencies took place after a deluge of conspiracy theories and other misinformation concerning FEMA and the government’s hurricane response spread across social media in October. This provided far-right groups, such as the white supremacist Patriot Front and also VOP with the motivation to travel to disaster-affected areas in North Carolina in mid-October in order to supposedly help victims of the hurricane. Their presence complicated the efforts of actual disaster relief groups when these extremist and often armed groups driven by conspiracy theories placed a target on the backs of workers and volunteers from relief organizations.
The situation with VOP became more dangerous around October 30, when the group posted a message signaling their willingness to take on the military directly. They followed up their initial post with a poll where members were asked what the group’s response should be. They were given these options: 1) Target military equipment and destroy the DEWs (directed energy weapons) easily accessible by the public; 2) Destroy power and water lines that feed military bases; 3) Locate all Top Brass bold enough to walk in public and detain them for murder.
The poll resulted in all three choices losing out to the fourth option “All 3 Above.”
A message from the VOP private chat on October 30, 2024
While the group claims that they “do not promote violence against everyone,” messages in their private group chat indicate that they intend to “target (the military’s) weapons pointed at us and cripple their ability to function.” One post reads, “Simple acts of pouring sugar into fuel tanks of military equipment, backup power systems, and personal vehicles of military personnel can wreak havoc on those who murdered all these people out there… Flipping military equipment and bull whipping traitors off posts is a good way to exercise righteous anger against those playing god with the weather.”
A supporter recommends using “Caro Syrup” in engine oil to “burn up the engine.”
Some members in VOP’s chat attempted to convince Meyer not to carry out his actions, while others egged Meyer on: “The Weather Weapons will be deployed against you and your loved ones next if something drastic isn’t done to shut these Live Exercises down. We are being ATTACKED.” Another member recommended “using Caro syrup in the engine oil” as a way to “burn up the engine.” Another member responded, “thanks, adding that to our arsenal.”
A message from the VOP private chat on October 30, 2024.
In one instance, when a member asked whether they were back in Arizona, another member claimed that they were still “in North Carolina by military equipment” and that they had “already done their water stations sabotage” on “very expensive equipment.” Another post from October 30 shows Meyer taping signs on a bulldozer reading “act of war,” “Weather Weapon Helene, Military Treason!,” and another with information about VOP. In other posts, the group shared images of a nearby phone tower with the inscription “‘cell towers are the next target.”
VOP’s actions are another reminder of how conspiracy theories can radicalize individuals and bring them to consider committing violent acts or destruction of property. Even if VOP does not end up following through with their various threats, the group’s actions have dragged hurricane relief workers, FEMA officials, and the military into the crosshairs of militias and conspiracists, and are enough, at the very least, to disrupt aid going to communities struggling from a major natural disaster at a time when it is desperately needed.
