Task Force Butler Institute

11/11/2024

This Veterans Day, in the wake of Donald Trump's re-election, Task Force Butler is doubling down on our commitment to fighting fascism and authoritarianism.

We’re joining forces with Common Defense to defend democratic values and counter the rising tide of extremism threatening communities nationwide. Generals Mattis, Milley, and Kelly have openly called out Trump’s “fascist” behavior, warning that it endangers the fabric of our democracy. As veterans who swore an oath to protect the Constitution, we take this threat seriously and are ready to peacefully mobilize against it.

Together, Common Defense and Task Force Butler are building a united front against extremism. Defending democracy is our duty, and we’re committed to equipping veterans with the tools and platform needed to protect the country they once served.

🔗 Sign up to join us in the fight against hate: https://commondefense.us/join-the-fight-against-hate

10/24/2024

BREAKING: A new investigation by Task Force Butler reveals that a Chinese company has purchased thousands of ads selling political merchandise and promising to donate the proceeds to the Trump Campaign, Harris Campaign, and Act Blue. Some of the ads are selling merchandise that calls for the assassinations of Biden, Harris, and Walz.

The company is selling Kamala Harris and Donald Trump merch, and falsely promising to donate proceeds from the sales to the campaigns and other political causes.

09/17/2024

"It is a N**i organization," Kristofer Goldsmith, an Iraq War veteran and founder of the Task Force Butler Institute, which investigates extremist groups and their illegal activities, told Military.com on Friday.

"That's not something that they hide," he said. "They fly the sw****ka when they march through these towns and do these flash mob publicity events, and their goal is to ultimately destroy American democracy."

Goldsmith said that the group looked to spread its ideology by "helping to amplify disinformation to the point that Donald Trump is repeating it in front of 67 million people watching live."

Armed and hidden behind masks, aside from its leaders, Blood Tribe marched under sw****ka flags in Springfield weeks prior to the debate in an effort to instigate anti-immigrant sentiment in the small city.

09/09/2024

We will not be intimidated.

Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, anti-semitic cases involving physical assault, harrasment and vandalism have spiked 360% in the U.S., according to the Anti-Defamation Leagu…

08/20/2024

A member of the white nationalist hate group Patriot Front who appears to operate a social media account that disclosed personal information about perceived political enemies – including journalists, left-leaning activists, politicians and community members – is an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army, a Hatewatch investigation has revealed.

Kai Liam Nix, 20, of West End, North Carolina, also known as Patrick NC inside Patriot Front, is stationed at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, with the 82nd Airborne Division. His enlistment and active-duty status were confirmed by an Army public affairs officer.

A member of the white nationalist hate group Patriot Front who appears to operate a social media account that disclosed personal information about perceived political enemies – including journalists, left-leaning activists, politicians and community members – is an active-duty soldier in the U.S...

08/19/2024

From The New Yorker: The threat from domestic terrorism is rising, but, with Republicans decrying the “deep state,” the F.B.I. is cautious about investigating far-right groups. Vigilantes are leaping into the fray.

The disclosures produced by undercover vigilantes have furnished evidence for civil lawsuits that have crippled several white-nationalist groups. Experts say that their information has also led to the discharge of dozens of active-duty military personnel.

The threat from domestic terrorism is rising, but, with Republicans decrying the “deep state,” the F.B.I. is cautious about investigating far-right groups. Vigilantes are leaping into the fray.

12/23/2023

A broad spectrum of white supremacists — ranging from the neo-N**is of the Daily Stormer and Patriot Front, to anti-diversity propagandist Chris Rufo, to “it’s okay to have N**is over for dinner” politicians Elise Stefanik and Donald Trump — have had one major propaganda success after another since October 7. But in that same time Task Force Butler Institute has managed to impose real costs on neo-N**is, with two more lawsuits against NSC-131.

A military veteran is tracking extremist groups in the U.S. as tensions persist over the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Kristofer Goldsmith of the Task Force Butler Institute says he teaches others to spot extremism amid his sometimes dangerous work.

12/12/2023

This piece in The Boston Globe perfectly encapsulates what Task Force Butler is out to do: to show Americans that they “don’t have to sit on the sidelines and idly witness in shock” as neo-N**i organizations like NSC-131 commit bias-motivated crimes to promote white supremacy.

We can take actions to ensure our governments protect the most vulnerable. Watch us.

The suit underscores that citizens don’t have to sit on the sidelines and idly witness in shock what NSC-131 has been accused of doing to promote its white supremacist ideology.

11/30/2023

Republicans in states’ Attorneys General offices, state legislatures, and in congress are waging war against people who are fighting to protecting Americans from hostile foreign manipulation and abuse. And this years-long campaign is exhausting resources — time, money, and energy — from the individuals and organizations (mostly nonprofits) who have dedicated themselves to keeping the US safe.

The federal government has stopped warning Meta about foreign influence campaigns amid a legal campaign against the Biden administration’s communication with tech firms.

11/28/2023

PLAY YOUR PART & MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON !

Task Force Butler exists to counter the rising fascist tide in the United States by empowering veterans and those who share their passion to stand against hate.

We are a diverse group of veteran and civilian volunteers going on offense for democracy, and we do this by imposing legal, social, and economic costs on authoritarian actors and their enablers.

Your support makes it possible to disrupt their hate-filled agendas and choke off their recruiting pipelines.

Collective action is vital, and it's up to all of us to combat hate.

Donate to play your part today!

https://taskforcebutler.app.neoncrm.com/forms/givingtuesday2023

11/23/2023

Hi everyone, I'm Kris Goldsmith, founder and CEO of Task Force Butler.

In this season of gratitude, I'm filled with immense appreciation for our community.

Task Force Butler is a diverse group of folks who are unified in our mission to empower veterans – who want to stand against hate and stand up to the rising tide of fascism.

We are a coalition of veterans & volunteers going on offense for democracy. We do this by imposing legal, social, and economic costs on authoritarian actors and their enablers.

Your support makes it possible for us to disrupt their hate-filled agendas and choke off their recruiting pipeline.

How has your support made a difference?

RIGHT NOW our research is being put to use in three federal lawsuits against fascist street gangs like Patriot Front. It is very possible that these civil suits will shut down Patriot Front for good, financially crippling its leadership for the rest of their lives.

We’ve also helped to convict at least 9 violent white supremacists this year – and even more have been charged thanks to research performed by our volunteers and veterans.

These consequences will stop these hate mongers from being able to continue recruiting and radicalizing vulnerable youth. These consequences will also take away the resources they use to terrorize minority communities around the country.

Task Force Butler is all about using legal means to take bad guys off the field.

Our media and education program is cutting through the noise and raising awareness with the broader community. In 2023, our YouTube and podcast alerts garnered over three and a half million views in just one month. That’s critical information – gathered by our researchers and veterans about domestic extremists – brought straight to you and millions of others.

Our latest education project is called - WHAT IS FASCISM?
In just a few minutes at taskforcebutler.org/whatisfascism, you can get smarter about what fascism REALLY is.

Collective action is vital. We know that Task Force Butler is not the sole solution to eradicating hate in America.

It's up to all of us.

That’s why we released our Community Response and Street Teams Guides this year. These free resources – available at taskforcebutler.org – provide regular folks with a suite of practical, easily applied tools to help keep their communities safe – and drive violent actors back into the dark corners where they belong.

We’re taking these resources and training straight to rural counties and urban centers around the country.

In just the last few months we’ve traveled to Nebraska, Maine, California, and Washington, DC. We’re out raising awareness, and supporting local organizing efforts. We’re also training students, journalists, faith-based and community groups, and others who want to be part of the solution.

We’re doing this in person and on-line, creating media and other tools you can access from anywhere, at any time. Task Force Butler is walking the walk when we say we’re going on offense for our democracy.

11/18/2023

This week we had the honor of being hosted by the Harris Center for Judaic Studies at U Nebraska, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Omaha, and the Institute for Holocaust Education to speak about the work that the veterans of Task Force Butler are doing to keep communities around the country safe. See the full talk here:

November 15, 2023Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Omaha presents a conversation about Task Force Butler: Veterans Fighting Fascism - Kristofer Go...