Radio Host Urges Militia Formation, Attacks Conservationists
Montana Human Rights Network News
November 2001

John Stokes, owner of Kalispell's KGEZ radio and host of "The Edge," has been busy since the terrorist attacks of September 11. He has attempted to place the responsibility for the acts on liberals, especially conservationists whom he calls "Green Nazis." Using the fallout from the attacks, Stokes has advocated the formation of a militia for Montana's defense. This idea is consistent with the radical right-wing anti-government movement, commonly referred to as the "patriot" movement. It isn't surprising that Stokes would jump to this conclusion. The "patriot" community has found a home on "The Edge."

Federally-Licensed Militia Radio?

Along with frequent anti-government conspiracy theories, "The Edge" features interviews with local and national "patriots." Stokes interviewed Jack McLamb, author of Operation Vampire Killer 2000. Vampire Killer is a recruiting manual for "patriots" attempting to lure law enforcement officers and military personnel into the movement. Larry Chezem, a "patriot" who plans to run for Flathead County Sheriff in 2002, admitted to "Edge" listeners that he is a member of the Militia of Montana and agrees with much of the common-law ideology behind groups like the Montana Freemen. Stokes also hosted Michael Heit, founder of the Constitution Party of Montana, a group combining fundamentalist Christianity with the militia movement.

JJ Johnson, once the leader of the Ohio Unorganized Militia, has also been a guest. Along with John Trochmann, founder of the Militia of Montana, Johnson testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee on the militia movement in 1995. Johnson once said that "patriots" can't afford to kill elected officials, because ammunition and rope are too expensive. Johnson currently publishes an Internet publication called The Sierra Times, which analyzes current events through a "patriot" lens. Stokes frequently reads Sierra Times articles over the air. On one show, Stokes proudly discussed how he and Johnson had crafted an alert urging truckers to carry guns, even though, "We know you can't carry guns. It's against the law." Stokes justified violating the law by stressing the need for self-protection.

Another right-wing publication discussed on the air as a credible news source is the anti-Semitic American Free Press. The Free Press is the new incarnation of The Spotlight, which was the brainchild of Willis Carto, a Holocaust denier. A caller to "The Edge" began talking about The Spotlight, and Stokes said he knew it was back in circulation as the Free Press. Later, he wished the Free Press luck in staying in operation. Stokes has also read Free Press articles over the air.

Stokes has used the World Trade Center attacks to revisit the Oklahoma City Bombing. Stokes says that Tim McVeigh was connected to Islamic extremists who let McVeigh take the fall. Before being executed, McVeigh declared he acted alone. Stokes frequently criticizes the media for linking McVeigh to the militia movement. In fact, Stokes said that McVeigh might have been an extreme conservationist indoctrinated by the Sierra Club or the Wilderness Association.

"The Edge" has been used as a vehicle to send coded messages among listeners. On September 11, a caller said, if communications went down, people were to go to their pre-assigned points and secure the areas. He said he was addressing "active members" who knew what he was talking about. The caller stressed that under no cicumstances were the members to relinquish their guns.

Stokes and his callers have consistently discussed anti-government topics ranging from the gold fringe on flags and different types of citizenship to problems with the current monetary system. Considering his history of "patriot" pandering, it really isn't surprising that Stokes is advocating a militia. It's interesting to note that, during a discussion on forming a militia, a caller told Stokes and listeners that such an organization already existed. The caller said it was located in Noxon, a very small town and home of the Militia of Montana.

Getting Rid of the Greens

Stokes continually attacks conservationists whom he calls domestic terrorists. He has said he would like to put up a billboard featuring Adolph Hitler surrounded by children with a caption reading, "Think Green. Sieg Heil. I did." He has also mentioned the idea of placing conservationists and other liberals in internment camps. He says the current anthrax attacks are the work of conservationists and claims that the foundations funding conservationism are also financing the Taliban.

As if Stokes' rhetoric wasn't bad enough, "Edge" callers have taken attacking conservationists to a personal level. One caller advocated shooting conservationists, while another talked of throwing them off bridges. Another wanted to collect names, addresses and phone numbers of local conservationists ÷ people the caller felt had committed "treason" ÷ and post them on the Internet. The caller said people could do "with that information what they want." On another show, Stokes warned that there might be "Vigilantes" who might take "the law into their own hands" when it came to conservationists. He quickly added he hoped that wouldn't happen.

Stokes summarized his hatred of conservationists by saying: "When I say the environmentalists are the worst thing to happen to America, they are. They've been destroying America from within. These bastard groups, these environmentalists, are trying to end every resource industry in America, make us dependent. They are all tied to this ultra-left thing that's going on across the world that hates America."

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