Oath Keepers count members in Mid-South states, report shows

FILE – Stewart Rhodes, founder of the citizen militia group known as the Oath Keepers, center, speaks during a rally outside the White House in Washington, on June 25, 2017. The seditious conspiracy case filed this week against members and associates of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group marked the boldest attempt so far by the government to prosecute those who attacked the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

by: Alex Kienlen

Posted: Sep 7, 2022 / 11:52 AM CDT

Updated: Sep 7, 2022 / 11:52 AM CDT

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A report of a militant anti-government group paints a troubling membership picture for Mid-South states.

A report Wednesday from the Associated Press stated that the Anti-Defamation League had acquired a membership list of the Oath Keepers.

The list of 38,000 names shows, by the ADL’s reporting, that the organization had 890 people in Tennessee, 446 in Arkansas and 312 in Mississippi sign up for memberships with the Oath Keepers. Specific names were not released, only numbers and some professions.

Breaking down the report shows that among the Tennessee members, four are elected officials, 12 were employed in law enforcement, three were military and five were first responders, according to the ADL’s reporting.

Arkansas members include two have elected positions in the state, three members employed in law enforcement, two members of the military and one first responder.

In Mississippi, there were no elected officials, five people in law enforcement, three in the military and one first reponder.

ADL classifies signing up as a person having paid Oath Keepers membership at some point.

The Oath Keepers played a central role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the United States Capitol Building.

Arkansas, according to ADL reporting, has relatively low Oath Keeper membership. Border state Texas has the largest sign-up number, reportedly 3,301 in the state, with 58 in elected positions or roles in the military, law enforcement or as first responders. Missouri shows 810 sign ups on the ADL map, with 13 public service roles, though none in elected office.

Mississippi shows 312 sign ups in the ADL report, with nine in law enforcement, military or first responder positions with no elected officials. Louisiana has a reported 561 sign ups, with seven officials, none of whom are in the military.

According to the ADL, the Oath Keepers, which it characterizes as a militia, have targeted law enforcement, military and first responders in its recruiting.

The ADL does make the point that some members may have disassociated from the group after their initial sign up due to its extremist ideology.