Militias not laying down arms under Trump

Some worry lawmakers could block his agenda

JACKSON, Ga. — In the woods south of Atlanta, John and Yvette Demaria are with about a dozen camouflage-wearing, heavily armed Americans as they navigate the sprawling piece of property where they train, one weekend a month, to ward off enemies — foreign or domestic.

The Demarias are with the Georgia Security Force militia, whose members are relieved that Donald Trump won the presidency but believe it would be a mistake to lay down their arms just because he is in the White House.

“I got very angry because the system has been so abused over and over and over again, making rights out of thin air for people who don’t deserve to get anything,” said John Demaria.

While it is impossible to track all the groups that often are no more than a handful of men gathering in woods, experts say militia activity tends to fall off under Republican presidents and ramp up under Democrats. But just as last year’s election upended conventional models, those who watch militias say life in the Trump era may not follow the same patterns.

If anything, it could be a powder keg, if those feelings of having a kindred spirit in Trump erupt into a sense of betrayal if he fails to deliver on his promises.

The leader of the Georgia Security Force, Chris Hill, remains deeply skeptical of Congress and worries the lawmakers will undermine Trump’s agenda.

“Even if President Trump is able to do the things that he wants to do, he’s still got Congress to contend with. Congress is the same old dog-andpony show,” said Hill.

Following a dramatic spike after the 2008 election of President Barack Obama, there are now an estimated 165 militias in the U.S., according to Ryan Lenz, a senior investigative reporter with the Southern Poverty Law Center.