State Profile
Ammon’s Army: Inside the Far-Right People’s Rights Network
Overview
Oregon People’s Rights has one state leader, BJ Soper, who oversees 6 areas and 15 additional area leaders for 5 of its 8 areas. The group has 2047 members. In addition, a Facebook group for Area 1 has 79 members, Area 3 has 42 members and Area 5 has 1163 members.[1]
People’s Rights leaders BJ Soper and Hollyjo Beers, both far right paramilitary activists, played a role in a May rally against COVID-19 restrictions in Hermiston at which Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson was also slated to appear.[2] Soper had begun taking part in such events in least April in Redmond.[3]
On October 6 Oregon Area 1 assistant Sonja Persey announced that she was shifting the group’s Facebook page over to a WIMKIN social network site. Persey cited Facebook “censorship” for the move and invited existing members to join at that platform.[4]
8
Areas
2047
Members
1,248
Facebook Members
State Leader
BJ Soper
Militia Activist
BJ Soper is the People’s Rights assistant for most of the state of Oregon. Like many in the burgeoning People’s Rights network, Soper has a history of far-right paramilitary organizing, including armed mobilizations and organizing around the 2016 Malheur takeover.
Area Leaders
Below are the People’s Right’s Oregon area leaders. Click on any of the photos below for more detailed individual profile information, including the leader’s location, other far-right groups to which they belong, and notable Facebook likes.
Notable Group Memberships: Marion County Uniting for Liberty, Oregon Uniting for Liberty, Reopen Oregon Now, Jackson County Uniting for Liberty, Reopen Washington State Churches, Save Oregon, Open Oregon, Lane County Uniting for Liberty, Reopen Wisconsin! Recall Governor Tony Evers and Gordon Hintz, Linn County Uniting for Liberty.
Location: Stayton, Oregon.
Location: Condon, Oregon.
Notable Group Memberships: Jefferson County Uniting for Liberty, Patriots and 2nd amendment supporters of Oregon.
Location: Umatilla County.
Notable Facebook Likes: 3%ers
Notable Group Memberships: Defend Hermiston & Eastern Oregon, Oregon Uniting for Liberty, Save Oregon, Patriots and 2nd amendment supporters of Oregon. Patriot Prayer Group.
Location: Hermiston, Oregon
Notable Group Memberships: Reopen Oregon, Defend Hermiston & Eastern Oregon, Reopen Washington State Churches, Reopen Washington Action Network.
Location: Bend, Oregon.
Notable Group Memberships: Oregon Uniting for Liberty, Save Oregon, Open Oregon, Bare Face Is Legal.
Location: Redmond, Oregon.
Location: Madras, Oregon.
Notable Facebook Likes: Qanon.
Notable Group Memberships: Reopen Oregon.
State Area Map
The map below depicts the People’s Rights state areas. Scrolling over an area on the map will show the number of People’s Rights members in that area.
NOTES
[1] People’s Rights Oregon 5. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/3049903611902687/; People’s Rights Zone 3. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1186167871747548/; People’s Rights Oregon 1. Faceook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2916717061784415/. All accessed October 7, 2020.
[2] Rambo, K. Rally opposing coronavirus restrictions draws activists, militia leaders to eastern Oregon. The Oregonian. May 30, 2020. https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/05/rally-opposing-coronavirus-restrictions-draws-activists-militia-leaders-to-eastern-oregon.html.
[3] Andrews, Garrett. Hundreds disregard Oregon state-at-home COVID-19 order, gather to protest in Redmond. KGW8. April 21, 2020. https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/hundreds-disregard-oregon-stay-at-home-covid-19-order-gather-to-protest-in-redmond/283-26b792f0-20f3-4d56-a5f0-581c57058888
[4] Persey, Sonja. Facebook. October 6, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2916717061784415/permalink/3146531268802992/
Ammon's Army
Inside the Far-Right People's Rights Network
A Special Report of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights and the Montana Human Rights Network
Copyright © 2020. Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights.