Preamble
On July 2nd 2022, roughly 100 members of Patriot Front held a flash rally and marched along the Freedom Trail in Boston MA. During the march, several members assaulted local performer Charles Murrell III. This assault led to legal firm Foley Hoag filing a federal civil rights lawsuit, naming Thomas Rousseau and 99 “John Does” as defendants, in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts. [1]
Contents
- Event dossier preamble
- Members present
- Known timeline of events
- Member activity & gallery
- Supporting media
- External citations
- Changelog
Members present
Members known
- Thomas Rousseau of Haslet TX, founder of Patriot Front
- Graham Jones Whitson, a/k/a “Mason TX,” of Haslet TX, lead video editor for Patriot Front [1]
- Kieran P. Morris, a/k/a “Patrick NY/TX,” of Haslet TX [1]
- Robert Benjamin Whitted of Conroe TX [1]
- Riley Johnson, a/k/a “Tyler SD,” of South Dakota [1]
- Dalton Woodward, a/k/a “Jesse AR,” of Chester AR, last-known Interview Coordinator for Patriot Front [1]
- Brian D. Harwood, a/k/a “Henry MA,” of Spencer MA, known acting Network 7 Quartermaster [1]
- Colton M. Brown, a/k/a “John WA,” of Ravensdale WA [1]
- Garret J. Garland, a/k/a “Randolph IL,” of Freeburg IL [1]
- Keith M. Ray, a/k/a “Patrick PA,” of Williamsport PA [1]
Members suspected
- Alex Beilman, a/k/a “Tyler CT,” of Meriden CT, known acting Network 7 Scribe
- Mark Hayden, a/k/a “Bill MA,” of Spencer MA
- Jake Hayden, a/k/a “Victor MA,” of Whitman MA [1]
- David A. Spellman-Oldenquist, a/k/a “Marshall MA,” of Worcester MA, former Network 7 Director [1] [in progress]
- Tyler S. Primevara, a/k/a “Joe MA,” of Framingham MA [1] [in progress]
- Salvatore A. Munafo, a/k/a “Phillip MA,” of West Bridgewater MA [1]
- Wyatt Trahan, a/k/a “Josh NH,” of Madbury NH [1] [in progress]
- Paul Gancarz, a/k/a “Samuel VA,” of Virginia Beach VA, known acting Network 9 Director [1]
Known timeline of events
Lead-up
Rousseau spent time in Boston planning the March route, accompanied by a small group of Patriot Front members. Members also held a camping trip, likely a day or so beforehand, at an unknown forest lodge somewhere.
The event
Members staged their vehicles near the Oak Grove Orange Line station, just over the Malden town line into Melrose. From there, they took the T to Haymarket Station in downtown Boston. They were met by a UHaul, driven by member Colton Brown, which carried their shields, flags, and other equipment. From there, they marched roughly along the Freedom Trial, passing by the Old State House, and through Boston Common and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, before stopping at the the Boston Public Library. While at the BPL, Rousseau spoke.
As the march approached the Back Bay Orange Line station, several members encountered Charles Murrell III, a black Boston-local performance artist and musician. Murrell, carrying a basket in one arm and holding his phone in the other hand, recorded the procession until he was assaulted by several members using their metal shields. Surrounded on several sides by members bearing shields and wildly outnumbered, Murrell defended himself, and a scrum broke out. The assault was eventually broken up by law enforcement, including two officers later identified as BPD Detective Andrew Creed and FBI Agent Steven Kimball.
After the march, several members returned to at Oak Grove. Waiting for them were Melrose PD and a number of folks armed with cameras, including documentarian-activists & performance artists Rod Webber & Lauren Pespisa. Another Malden local recorded the procession of members crossing the Oak Grove parking lot to the vehicle staging area, including a moment where a member of Patriot Front slapped the phone out of said local’s hand.
Webber & Pespisa alleged that Chris Hood was the driver of the vehicle that transported Thomas Rousseau away from Oak Grove. [Speculative: There were photographs floating around of Hood and Rousseau walking through Faneuil Hall together in early 2021, supposedly having made up. Rousseau also mentioned in the full video package of the march that there would be people watching the vehicular staging area in Oak Grove. If Hood was in fact allowed back in Rousseau’s good graces for some time before and after the Boston march, it’s not beyond reason that he and some NSC-131 members were just asked to sit on the cars in Oak Grove and keep an eye on them.]
According to plates recorded by Webber and others, Jake Hayden may have been present. Also identified were members Colton Brown, Paul Gancarz, and Kieran Morris, as well as vehicles belonging to Benjamin Whitted, Riley Johnson, and Dalton Woodward. [♥]
Later that day, northbound on I-93 near Montvale Ave in Stoneham MA, the U-Haul carrying Patriot Front’s shields and equipment was stopped by MA state police, and ticketed for improper plates. In the truck were members Colton Brown, Garret J. Garland, and Keith M. Ray (a previously unidentified member). Brown was the recipient of the driving citation, and the U-Haul was towed. Harwood would later be revealed as the local member who rented the truck. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Aftermath
During July 2022, Chris Hood and NSC-131 protested a Drag Queen Story Hour being held at the Loring-Greenough House. While departing the venue, Hood had a violent altercation with counter-protestors; bodycam footage indicates Hood was attempting to place one of the counter-protestors in a chokehold. Hood and the counter-protesters were arrested, and brought to BPD Precinct E-5. [1] [2] [3] [♣] While following Hood, Rod Webber and Lauren Pespisa encountered NSC-131 NH regional lead Leo Cullinan at E-5. Webber seems to have gotten Cullinan, in the process of bailing Hood out, to confirm that Hood was present at the Patriot Front march. [4]
During August 2023, Boston-based law firm Foley Hoag LLP filed a civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Charles Murrell III against Patriot Front. Their suit alleges that Rousseau intentionally ordered members to assault Murrell with their shields, and that at least one member used an anti-black racial slur against Murrell before the assault began. The suit claims that Rousseau and Patriot Front violated Murrell’s civil rights both federal and state on the basis of his race, and “prays” on Murrell’s behalf for damages compensatory, statutory, and punitive, as well as attorney costs. [1]
During December 2023, Murrell requested that the court find Patriot Front in default. [1] This motion was granted during April 2024. [2] Rousseau was served, among other methods, through certified mail sent to a home in Decatur TX. The mail was returned as “undeliverable.” [3] Antifascist researcher Molly Conger noted that Rousseau had promised a court in Virginia, related to charges stemming from his participation in Unite the Right, that he would be receiving mail to the Decatur TX address. Moreover, Conger also noted that Rousseau likely missed the mail delivery due to speaking and conducting another Patriot Front march in Charleston WV. [4]
Scheduling for the damages portion of Murrell’s suit against Patriot Front is pending.
Member activity & gallery
This section summarizes individual member activities during the march. Summaries will contain significant editorialization, and are statements of opinion save where public records verify a member’s presence.
Members known to be present
Thomas Rousseau |
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| Goes without saying, other than being the whiniest man to hold a megaphone. [∗] |  |
Graham J. Whitson, a/k/a “Mason TX” |
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| Lead camera and media editor for Patriot Front. So frequently behind a lens, so few times in front of one. [∗] |  |
Brian D. Harwood, a/k/a “Henry MA” |
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| Known organizer of Patriot Front Network 7, the New-England-local chapter. Rented the UHaul under his name, but did not drive it during the march. [1] Included video still is likely Harwood, having some amount of difficulty during Patriot Front’s ascent of the stairwell across from Faneuil Hall. Harwood can also likely be spotted opening the gate into the Boston Public Gardens for the march like he will get yelled at if he doesn’t get it right, and patrolling rows of members during the stop at the Boston Public Library, making sure members look like they’re visibly putting enough effort into standing still. [∗] |  |
Kieran P. Morris, a/k/a “Patrick TX” |
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| Known former organizer of Patriot Front Network 10, the chapter encompassing the New York City and Philadelphia metropolitan areas and New Jersey state. Included video still is absolutely Morris, looking on the verge of slurping down his own mask, while the march stopped at the Boston Public Library. [∗] Rod Webber also encountered Morris while Patriot Front departed from Oak Grove, after the march had concluded. [1] Morris, sporting the same uniform he wore when he was arrested with members in C’oeur d’Alene ID the previous month, looks like a damn mess during this march, sporting pants with holes in places you generally do not want holes. |  |
Colton M. Brown, a/k/a “John WA” |
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| Driver of the UHaul containing members’ accessories. Accompanied by Garret Garland and Keith Ray. Cited by MA State Police for improper plates. [1] [2] |  |
Garret J. Garland, a/k/a “Randolph IL” |
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| One of Colton Brown’s UHaul passengers, alongside Keith Ray. [1] [2] |  |
Keith M. Ray, a/k/a “Patrick PA” |
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| One of Colton Brown’s UHaul passengers, alongside Garret Garland. [1] [2] |  |
Members suspected to be present
Alexander C. Beilman, a/k/a “Tyler CT” |
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| Known organizer of Patriot Front Network 7, the New-England-local chapter. Included video still is likely Beilman, during Patriot Front’s stop at the Boston Public Library. [∗] A vehicle belonging to Beilman, a Honda Odyssey, was filmed departing Oak Grove by Rod Webber. [1] |  |
Mark Hayden, a/k/a “Bill MA” |
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| Known member of Patriot Front Network 7. Included video still is likely Mark Hayden, during the assault of Charles Murrell III. [∗] Rod Webber also encountered someone likely to be Mark Hayden, helping conceal license plates from Webber’s camera at Oak Grove. [1] |  |
Jake Hayden, a/k/a “Victor MA” |
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| Known member of Patriot Front Network 7. Included video still is likely Jake Hayden, during the assault of Charles Murrell III. [∗] Rod Webber also encountered someone likely to be Jake Hayden at Oak Grove, concealing the plates of a car consistent in make and registration with a vehicle owned by his mother. [1] |  |
Salvatore A. Munafo, a/k/a “Phillip MA” |
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| Known member of Patriot Front Network 7, the New-England-local chapter. Included video still is likely Munafo, posing for Whitson during a photo op, while the march was staging at the northeast side of Haymarket Station in Boston MA. [∗] |  |
Paul M. Gancarz, a/k/a “Samuel NY” |
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| Known organizer of Patriot Front Network 9, the chapter encompassing the Washington DC and Richmond VA metropolitan areas, and Maryland & Delaware states. Included video still is likely Gancarz, while the march awaiting a train to Haymarket from Oak Grove Station. [∗] Rod Webber also encountered Gancarz while Patriot Front departed from Oak Grove, after the march had concluded. [1] |  |
Supporting media
Patriot Front’s propaganda releases
During the march, four hastily-edited and heavily-watermarked “boston_live” videos were released by Patriot Front to Telegram. These videos depict the march proceeding past several notable Boston landmarks and buildings. Patriot Front released several more videos concerning the Boston march during the remainder of 2022.
All of Patriot Front’s official releases include footage of private citizens encountering the march throughout Boston, with no efforts to obfuscate their identities or attain video release rights.
boston_live_1
At 00:27 long, this video depicts Rousseau and other members marching south, behind the 28 State Street building, and toward the Old State House.
boston_live_2
At 00:17 long, this video depicts members marching southwest along Tremont Street, along the Freedom Trail, and across from the Suffolk University Bookstore.
boston_live_3
At 00:16 long, this video depicts members marching southwest along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, across Dartmouth Street. Screeners with shields stand at the northwest crosswalk of the Dartmouth & Commonwealth South intersection, as members cross in the middle of Dartmouth Street toward the William Lloyd Garrison Statue. Instead of continuing along the mall, members turn southeast, cross Commonwealth Avenue South, and continue moving down Dartmouth Street.
boston_live_4
At 00:21 long, this video depicts members standing in front of the Central Branch of the Boston Public Library as Rousseau gives a speech over his megaphone.
Podcastpreview
On July 7th, the “Podcastpreview” video was released to Telegram. At 02:33 long, this video features footage of the assault of Charles Murrell III, taken from the points-of-view of at least two separate cameramen. This video was reposted to Patriot Front’s Telegram channels on August 8th, 2023, the same day Foley Hoag filed Murrell v. Patriot Front; this was regarded as Rousseau and Patriot Front acknowledging the lawsuit.
4 Boston Peaceful And Successful-1
On August 10th, the “4 Boston Peaceful And Successful-1” video was released to Telegram. The sixth installment of a series of nine videos featuring audio from an interview with Rousseau conducted by Joseph Jordan a/k/a “Eric Striker” over his “The People’s Square” Telegram podcast, at 02:07 long, the video itself is simply a blurred version of the Murrell assault footage overlaid by a waveform of the interview audio.
Iday2022_Telegram
On November 23rd, the “Iday2022_Telegram” video was released to Telegram. This is the official long-form propaganda video release. At 17:00 long, this video is the full propaganda material media package. It features the standard array of Patriot Front’s promat video bells & whistles, and includes video of the planning of the march, the camping trip held before the march, travel to the march site from Oak Grove, the march itself, the Murrell assault, the return to Oak Grove, and some news coverage on the march.
[Speculative: I don’t understand some of the creative choices made here. At one point there’s an upward camera tilt on a chimney that seems, in combination with the background music, to be meant as ominous? There’s something to be said about how a lot of reactionary right propagandists are failed artists angry that they couldn’t break into stardom off their paltry talents; might be time to add Graham Whitson to that list.]
Honest Gentile Journalist
On December 1st, the “Honest Gentile Journalist” video was released to Telegram. At 00:38 long, this video depicts members at Back Bay, verbally accosting a videographer for CBS and implying he was part of the “Jewish-controlled media.” The footage recorded by this videographer would later be featured in a WBZ I-Team report on the march,
Other video material
A number of video recordings were made by several civilians, a large amount of which made their way into several local news reports. Bodycamera footage from the arrest of the UHaul truck driven by members was also made public by the Boston Globe.
Rod Webber’s livestream at Oak Grove
Cut into segments for upload onto Twitter, this series of video segments depicts Rod Webber and Lauren Pespisa awaiting Patriot Front disembarking at Oak Grove following the march, and leaving for their vehicular staging area. Webber and Pespisa interact with several members, and capture the license plates of various vehicles belonging to members both local and out-of-state. [1]
Democracy Now! report
This news report, at 21:09 minutes long, features some footage from other civilians present at Oak Grove when Patriot Front disembarked. It also featured commentary from a number of people familiar with the reactionary right, including Phillip Martin, Senior Investigative Reporter for GBH News, and Michael E. Hayden, Senior Investigative Reporter for the Southern Poverty Law Center.
CBS Channel 4 WBZ I-Team report
This news report, at 02:08 minutes long, features footage of members recorded at Back Bay Station, after the march, and includes a brief primer on Patriot Front’s founding in the aftermath of Unite the Right.
MSP bodycam video released by the Boston Globe
This bodycam footage depicts Massachusetts State Police pulling over the UHaul carrying Patriot Front’s accessories after it departed the march. [1]
External citations
∗ – See Patriot Front’s own social media. Where possible, dates have been revised to be correct. More robust sources should be found for these events, as Patriot Front’s accounts of their own activities should be taken with a grain of salt.
† – See the ADL H.E.A.T. Map. Where possible, dates have been revised to be correct. More robust sources should be found for these events, as the Map seems to be under a state of constant revision.
‡ – See the Torch Network Patriot Front Rocketchat leaks:
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µ – See the Unicorn Riot leaks.
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♠ – See various police reports:
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♣ – See various court records:
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- For information on the civil rights case against Patriot Front by Charles Murrell III, see United States Court, District of Massachusetts, docket #1:23-cv-11802 (Murrell v. Patriot Front). [1]
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♦ – See various locally cached copies of previously online content:
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♥ – See various eyewitness accounts:
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- For information on the vehicles present on location, refer to Rod Webber’s videos of the event. While the information on vehicle owners made it to me by multiple trustworthy sources, I’m afraid information on the sources of which specific vehicle belonged to whom was destroyed some time ago.
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Changelog
June 16th, 2024
- Published this document.
March 11th, 2024
- Created and began work on this document.