‘Likely to grow even worse.’ Ohio ranks No. 2 for most extremist anti-government groups – By Madeline Mitchell (Cincinnati Enquirer) / Feb 8 2021
Ohio has 31 active anti-government groups – the second-highest number of extremist anti-government groups in the country, according to a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The study identified more than 560 extreme antigovernment groups that were active nationwide in 2020, nearly 170 of which were militias.
Seventeen of Ohio’s 31 antigovernment groups were considered militias in 2020. The Southern Poverty Law Center did not include the Ohio State Regular Militia in its list, though the FBI says that militia group is a “dues-paying subset” of the Oath Keepers.
Jessica Marie Watkins, 38, who considers herself the commanding officer of the Ohio State Regular Militia, says the militia is “a group that is sworn to defend the Constitution. We are NOT anti-government. We do not allow any intolerance or extremism. We Back the Blue!”
