Patriot Front

Overview

Patriot Front is a white nationalist organization founded in 2017 by Thomas Rousseau following the deadly "Unite the Right" rally on August 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The group promotes an ultra-nationalist ideology centered on the idea of creating a white ethnostate in the United States, rejecting multiculturalism and diversity. Patriot Front is known for its propaganda campaigns, including distributing flyers, staging marches, and defacing public art, all aimed at spreading its white nationalist message. Their ultimate goal is to reshape American society to align with their vision of racial and cultural homogeneity.

Ideology

Patriot Front is a white nationalist and fascist organization that promotes the idea of a homogenous, white ethnostate in the United States. The group advocates for the preservation of white European culture, viewing multiculturalism, immigration, and diversity as existential threats to its vision of America. Patriot Front also frequently promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, which claims the existence of an organized effort to replace “native” white Americans with non-white immigrants. Ultimately, Patriot Front seeks to dismantle the current political system, which it perceives as corrupt and dominated by globalist interests, replacing it with one aligned with its far-right, ultranationalist ideals.

Notable Members

Thomas Rousseau

Originally from the Dallas, Texas, suburbs, Thomas Rousseau’s participation in the white power movement began with his contributions to his high school’s newspaper, where he frequently advocated for white nationalist ideas. During the height of the alt-right movement from 2014 to 2017, Rousseau joined Vanguard America, leading the group during demonstrations at the Unite the Right rally. In the rally’s aftermath, Vanguard America splintered, and Rousseau announced the formation of Patriot Front, citing irreconcilable differences between the factions of Vanguard America concerning its messaging and future activities. Since 2017, Rousseau has taken significant steps in promoting himself and Patriot Front as the protectors of white America, regularly appearing on far-right podcasts and participating in anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ+ public demonstrations across the country.

Notable Events and Activities

Patriot Front engages in propaganda campaigns, including distributing flyers, hanging banners, and organizing flash marches to promote its white nationalist ideology and recruit members. The group often uses anonymous, masked appearances to project an image of strength and unity while avoiding identification. It also defaces public property with its symbols and slogans, aiming to spread its extremist message and intimidate communities.

In September 2017, Patriot Front made its first public appearance at a Houston, Texas, bookfair alongside members of other local white supremacist groups, where they displayed banners that read “for race and nation” and chanted “blood and soil.”

In June 2022, 31 members of Patriot Front–including Rousseau–were arrested in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on charges of inciting a riot for their planned protest of an LGBTQ+ pride parade. Most of those arrested were convicted of misdemeanor offenses, receiving varying fines and probation.

Symbology and Iconography

In an attempt to distance itself from the explicitly neo-Nazi roots of Vanguard America, Patriot Front’s aesthetics and symbology evoke imagery of traditional Americana, utilizing the Betsy Ross flag and red, white, and blue colors in their logo. Patriot Front uses this advertising strategy to make its white nationalist message more appealing to outsiders and recruit new members.

Fascio

Featured prominently in Patriot Front’s logo is the fascio. The fascio, Italian for “bundles,” harkens back to its use in Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini. Set against a red, white, and blue background, the use of the fascio is intended to combine fascist imagery with American patriotism.