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Profile: BJ Soper

People’s Rights Oregon State Assistant

Part of the IREHR/MHRN special report, Ammon’s Army.

PROFILE

BJ Soper

People’s Rights Oregon Area 1-4,6-7 Assistant

Location: Redmond, Oregon

 

BJ Soper is the People’s Rights assistant for most of the state of Oregon. Officially, he is listed as the People’s Rights area assistant for Oregon Areas 1-4 and 6-7. 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.

In addition to his work with People’s Rights, Soper runs the Central Oregon Constitutional Guard, a far-right group known for paramilitary training in “basic infantry skills.”[1] Soper has also been cited in press accounts as a coordinator of the Central Oregon Oath Keepers.[2] Soper has appeared in Three Percenter garb and in a sweatshirt of the State of Jefferson, a far-right secessionist movement that wants to secede parts of southern Oregon and northern California to form a new state.[3]

Soper has engaged in many far-right armed mobilizations. He was a founder of the Pacific Patriot Network (PPN), a far-right paramilitary network under the direction of Oath Keepers that mobilized in 2015 in support of two miners out of compliance with the terms of an unpatented claim at the White Hope Mine near Lincoln, Montana.[4] Members of the PPN included Soper’s group, the Central Oregon Constitutional Guard, Oath Keepers National, Oath Keepers of Josephine County, Oregon III%, Idaho III%, and other local militias.[5]

Soper also served as a “standing guard” during the 2015 Sugar Pine Mine armed standoff in southern Oregon.[6]

During the 2016 armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Soper’s Pacific Patriot Network had a complicated relationship with Ammon Bundy and the armed occupiers. PPN initially asserted that the takeover was “premeditated and carried out by a small group of persons who chose to carry out this takeover” and that PPN “in no way condone nor support these actions.” The group would quickly clarify that “we do agree with the statement that is trying to be made.”[7] PPN later called for a direct intervention in the situation to create a “safety perimeter of protection for the occupiers.”[8] During the standoff, PPN promoted a video by KrisAnne Hall titled “What’s Really Going on in Oregon.”[9]

Soper was also quick to get involved in confrontations over attempts to deter the spread of COVID-19. By April, he was vocally opposing government policies to stem the spread of the coronavirus.[10] At a rally in May, in Hermiston, Oregon, Soper spoke at the “Hermiston Freedom Rally” alongside Joey Gibson of Patriot Prayer, HollyJo Beers of the Oregon III%, and Chris Brumbles of the Oath Keepers.[11] Soper also sponsored a petition opposing COVID-19-related restrictions.[12] Soper has expressed that he believes that an apparent discussion by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) about extending social distancing into 2021 is “a political coup meant to destroy this country…I have not worn a mask yet and I refuse to do so at any point. I’ve not social distanced myself at any point since this nonsense has started.”[13] Responding to a Washington Times article discussing possible penalties for not wearing a mask, Soper wrote, “They put one person in jail in Pullman and the war starts there.”[14]

Soper is also a conspiracy theorist who has given voice to the Agenda 21 conspiracy theory, the idea that the United Nations is pushing for a “One World Government,” and that the federal government promotes abortion overseas and mandatory vaccines as part of this conspiracy.[15]  And, he has used Facebook to promote material from “constitutionalist” KrisAnne Hall and the John Birch Society’s New American magazine, among other far-right sources.[16]

 

Notable Facebook Likes: Matt Shea, Schaeffer Cox, Klamath County for State of Jefferson, Well Regulated Militia, Pacific Legal Foundation, Fully Informed Jury Association, The New American Magazine, Redoubt News, Tenth Amendment Center, American Lands Council, Krisanne Hall, JD, Tea Party Patriots, Douglas County for the State of Jefferson, NumbersUSA, Judicial Watch, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Breitbart, Bundy Ranch, The Unorganized Militia, Militia Connection, FreedomWorks, Jay Sekulow, Gun Owners of America, Militia News, Our time is now, United Patriots Militia of America, Convention of the States, and Strong America III%.[17]

 

Notable Facebook Group Memberships: APIII- Oregon Private Group, APIII-American Patriot the III%, Old School, III% United Patriots, III% United Patriots of Oregon, Oregon III%, Oregon III% Zone 5, Oregon III%, Zone 4, Three Percenters – Oregon, Reopen Oregon, Open Oregon, Save Oregon, Oregon Uniting for Liberty, Defend Hermiston & Eastern Oregon, U.S. Militia Northern Command – America’s Militia, The Heirs of Patrick Henry Northwest.

 


NOTES

[1] Central Oregon Constitutional Guard. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/339577069534464/. Accessed September 17, 2020; Sullivan, Kevin. “Primed to Fight the Government.” Washington Post. May 21, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2016/05/21/armed-with-guns-and-constitutions-the-patriot-movement-sees-america-under-threat/.

[2] Wiles, Tay and Jonathan Thompson. “Who’s who inside and on the outskirts of the Malheur occupation.” High Country News. January 11, 2016. https://www.hcn.org/articles/whos-who-at-the-oregon-standoff-malhuer-bundy/print_view.

[3] Soper, BJ. Facebook. April 12, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/bj.soper.5/videos/2888539697880903/; Soper, BJ. Facebook. February 4, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/bj.soper.5/videos/2743682629033278/.

[4] Wiles, Tay and Jonathan Thompson. “Who’s who inside and on the outskirts of the Malheur occupation.” High Country News. January 11, 2016. https://www.hcn.org/articles/whos-who-at-the-oregon-standoff-malhuer-bundy/print_view; Pacific Patriot Network. “Press Release.” Pacific Patriot Network website. August 4, 2015. http://www.pacificpatriotsnetwork.com/press_release_2015-08-04.php.

[5] Pacific Patriot Network. “Partners.” Pacific Patriot Network Website. Undated. http://pacificpatriotsnetwork.com/partners.php

[6] Sullivan, Kevin. “Primed to Fight the Government.” Washington Post. May 21, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2016/05/21/armed-with-guns-and-constitutions-the-patriot-movement-sees-america-under-threat/.

[7] Pacific Patriot Network. “Press Release.” Pacific Patriot Network website. January 3, 2016. http://www.pacificpatriotsnetwork.com/press_release_2016-01-03.php; Pacific Patriot Network. “Press Release.” Pacific Patriot Network website.  January 4, 2016. http://www.pacificpatriotsnetwork.com/press_release_2016-01-04.php.

[8] Pacific Patriot Network. “Press Release.” Pacific Patriot Network website. January 7, 2016. http://www.pacificpatriotsnetwork.com/press_release_2016-01-07.php.

[9] “Videos.” Pacific Patriot Network website. Accessed October 1, 2020. http://www.pacificpatriotsnetwork.com/videos.php.

[10] Andrews, Garrett. “Hundreds disregard Oregon stay-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.

[11] Rambo, K. “Rally opposing coronavirus restrictions draws activists, militia leaders to Eastern Oregon.” The Bulletin. May 30, 2020. https://www.bendbulletin.com/coronavirus/rally-opposing-coronavirus-restrictions-draws-activists-militia-leaders-to-eastern-oregon/article_2d1d99ea-8d38-59ba-b559-2e803f28bb5e.html.

[12] Soper, BJ. “Cease and desist Oregon OSHA and OLCC.” Ipetitions. https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cease-and-desist-oregon-osha-and-olcc?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign&loc=thank-you-page&fbclid=IwAR20sBnAOJVcdA4ajDgHD5Slv0TXAZZ55Tjoy92vadfKgwllffdo57izD94.

[13] Soper, BJ. Facebook. August 20, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/bj.soper.5/posts/3221003464634523.

[14] Soper, BJ. Facebook. August 22, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/bj.soper.5/posts/3226632740738262.

[15] Sullivan, Kevin. Washington Post. May 21, 2016. Primed to Fight the Government. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2016/05/21/armed-with-guns-and-constitutions-the-patriot-movement-sees-america-under-threat/.

[16] Soper, BJ. Facebook. March 30, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/bj.soper.5/posts/2860892317312308; Soper, BJ. Facebook. March 8, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/bj.soper.5/posts/2813180065416867.

[17] Soper, BJ. Facebook. Likes. https://www.facebook.com/bj.soper.5/likes . Accessed September 4, 2020.

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.