The NFAC said the person was not part of their group. NFAC, a Black militia group based in Atlanta, marched in Lafayette in response to threats made by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook regarding protests in Lafayette … NFAC leaves Churchill Downs and marches back to G.G. The column included people wearing body armor and other tactical gear. However, only a few news outlets and independent journalists appeared to have reported on the situation, even while the escalation of racial tensions have led to riots across the nation over the past year. Johnson said he didn't want the NFAC getting blamed if there were any clashes. Members of the NFAC paramilitary group hold a demonstration in Parc San Souci in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, on Saturday. Moore Park on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. ", When the NFAC marched in Louisville, they were met by an armed, largely White extremist group called the. They knew White armed groups usually gathered at that location, Johnson said, and the NFAC was responding to "that threat. Multiple shots fired at NFAC at downtown Lafayette protest. Subscribe Today! In what was intended as a private communication, I extended a diplomatic gesture to Mr. Johnson and offered to meet with him in person. Their end goal is to break away from the US as their own black-only nation. Guests in Lafayette hotels got some of the first glimpses of the NFAC militia Friday. Johnson was arrested at his Ohio home in December on the federal charges. REUTERS/Go Nakamura The group advocates for black liberation and separatism.It has been described by news outlets as a “Black militia”. In the video below from our news partners at KATC, you'll see tensions are high as profanity is being hurled as local police officers are there to maintain order and protestors are stating their grievances about the current racial issues happening in our country. Years before Johnson led the NFAC and called on his social media followers to stand up for the Black community, he served in the military and some knew him as a hip hop DJ and producer. "Black boots, black pants, black button-down shirt, black mask, shotgun, semi-automatic or rifle," Johnson said in a social media video announcing the group's plans to "descend" on Louisville for a July 25 rally. Local officials granted NFAC a permit to hold their event on October 3. LAFAYETTE, LA – A black militia group calling itself The Not Fucking Around Coalition, or NFAC, is gaining a reputation for accidental discharges, as it chalks up another incident surrounding one of its protests.. Earlier this month, the NFAC headed to southern Louisiana after seeing a Facebook post from US Rep. Clay Higgins, who represents the 3rd District. This occurred as the #NFAC militia was forming a few blocks away, not inside the NFAC formation. No life threatening injuries reported. A federal complaint said Johnson pointed an AR-style rifle with the flashlight on, which “blinded” several officers on a roof in downtown Louisville. Authorities in Louisville and Lafayette told CNN no major incidents were reported during NFAC's events in their cities. A spokesperson for his campaign, Earlier this month, Higgins said in a statement to. A spokeswoman for Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement that city officials have worked hard to communicate with all groups, including NFAC, and have seen largely peaceful protests. The group was protesting threats directed at them by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook, and the police shooting of Trayford Pellerin. re: NFAC Teaching Proper Gun Handling Today in Lafayette (aka Chocolate City) Posted by WizardSleeve on 10/3/20 at 6:07 pm to stelly1025 The collective IQ in that crowd averages about 75. A few weeks before, the NFAC had, When asked about that incident by CNN, Johnson said the NFAC was exercising free speech rights. The former sheriff’s deputy posted a photo of NFAC … Lafayette, La. Carrying weapons and dressed in black, the NFAC, also known as the "Not F****ing Around Coalition, is in town to show support for its view of justice in the Breonna The march was held to seek justice for Trayford Pellerin, a black man who was shot and killed by Lafayette police in August. NFAC, an Atlanta-based Black militia group, rallied in downtown Lafayette after threats from U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook. As the NFAC was just beginning to march, two shots rang out at the Parc Sans Souci. Started in 2017, the group has marched in Stone Mountain, Georgia, calling for the removal of the nation's largest confederate monument; Brunswick, Georgia, for. "It was beautiful to have a group showing America and White groups that we are not backing down," Colemon, a hairstylist from Knoxville, told CNN. NFAC, a Black militia group based in Atlanta, marched in Lafayette in response to threats made by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook regarding protests in Lafayette … NFAC already stands apart from other groups across the country, Thomas Mockaitis, a professor of history at. 26-year-old Terrance Jones of Lafayette is facing one charge of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm at a Parade or Demonstration and one charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, according to LPSO. The leader of a pro-gun group that has staged armed protests has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly pointing a rifle at law enforcement while in Kentucky for a demonstration. John F. Johnson, who goes by “Grandmaster Jay,” was indicted Wednesday on a charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement and another charge for brandishing a firearm, The Courier Journal reported. The Not Fucking Around Coalition (NFAC) is a black nationalist paramilitary militia movement organization in the United States. The September 1 post on Higgins' campaign page, which has since been removed. More recently, Johnson unsuccessfully campaigned for the 2016 presidential election as an Independent, according to the Federal Election Commission. Meet the head of the armed Black group demanding justice, Trump asks supporters to send money to his PAC instead of GOP, New video shows suspect in Capitol pipe bomb investigation, Royal family responds to Harry and Meghan interview, Avlon: GOP deploys culture war distractions against Covid-19 relief, Senate sends Covid-19 relief bill back to the House for final vote, CDC releases new guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals, Sen. Graham: Trump can make GOP stronger or 'destroy it', Meghan: I didn't want to be alive anymore, Prince Harry says the Queen was not allowed to meet him last year, New video: Man told officers 'I can't breathe' before his death, New York state senate majority leader calls on Cuomo to resign, Biden spokesperson: President doesn't want to end the filibuster, MS gov. HUNDREDS of armed militia members have taken to the streets to protest the fatal shooting of a black man by a cop. Low 39F. The NFAC's arrival quickly became a concern among city officials. Live feed will be posted later today. In the video below from our news partners at KATC, you'll see tensions are high as profanity is being hurled as local police officers are there to maintain order and protestors are stating their grievances about the current racial issues happening in our country. By Kelly Murray, Angela Barajas and Ryan Young, CNN. According to Lafayette Consolidated Government, the NFAC plans to hold its march at Parc Sans Souci Saturday at 4 p.m. LCG explains that the proper permits have been given for the march. Rifles, body armour and black uniforms are part of the equipment of an armed paramilitary formation made up of African Americans, which marched during the protest in the American city of Lafayette in Louisiana. ". Moore Park on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. Johnson has said on multiple occasions that the NFAC is a peaceful group with no record of violent incidents. According to Ford Fischer "The group was protesting threats directed at them by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook, and People are already reporting sightings of them armed, but the militia’s and law enforcement’s message is … (KLFY) — Members from one of the largest militias in America are heading to downtown Lafayette Saturday, October 3. Members of a Black militia group called the NFAC hold an armed rally at Parc Sans Souci in Lafayette, Louisiana, October 3. The “Not F***ing Around Coalition” (NFAC) marched in Lafayette… The column included people wearing body armor and other tactical gear. The indictment said Johnson must surrender all his firearms and ammunition to federal authorities. According to Ford Fischer “The group was protesting threats directed at them by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook, and the police shooting of Trayford Pellerin.” WATCH: BIG THREAD: Today hundreds of members of… Members raised their weapons at Parc Sans Souci in Lafayette, Louisiana, on October 3. The most well-known was the Black Panther Party established in 1966 after the shooting of Matthew Johnson, a Black teenager killed by police. "They want the same thing that we want: a safe community," Harvin said. According to Lafayette Consolidated Government, the NFAC plans to hold its march at Parc Sans Souci Saturday at … The all-Black group, Johnson said, intends to protect, self-police and educate Black communities on firearms and their constitutional rights. The alleged incident occurred the day before the Kentucky Derby, when hundreds of protesters peacefully marched to demand justice in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police. The Official Members Only Portal For The N.F.A.C. I was respectful and kind, humble, and unassuming. NFAC's members clad in black have raised their fists and shouted "Black power" in at least three cities without major incidents but days of tensions have preceded their rallies. NFAC, a Black militia group based in Atlanta, marched in Lafayette in response to threats made by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook regarding protests in Lafayette following the death of Trayford Pellerin, a 31-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by Lafayette police responding to a reported disturbance involving a man with a knife at a north Lafayette gas station on Aug. 21. Instead, what we found out (and which should shock exactly no one in their right mind), is that among the turnouts for NFAC… The activist, Gerry Monroe, warned Lafayette officials in an Aug. 30 video that the NFAC was on its way to Lafayette, in response to the Aug. 21 police killing of Trayford Pellerin. The group converged there to protest the killing of. Johnson could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the first charge. The Official Members Only Portal For The N.F.A.C. "She knew those guns were there to protect her not to hurt her," Colemon said. Johnson is also facing five counts of endangerment in state court in connection with the same actions alleged in the federal case. They're our guests and yet we've rolled out the red carpet for them," Carlos Harvin, chief of minority affairs for Lafayette Consolidated Government, said about the group. NFAC, the masked, armed black militia that recently marched through a park in Georgia, deems violence and killing an acceptable response to oppression. On July 25, Johnson said if Cameron didn't complete the investigation into Taylor's death in … John Fitzgerald Johnson or Grandmaster Jay has studied the work Malcolm X and other African-American leaders. The NFAC is in Downtown Lafayette as people of different races are gathered for today's planned protest march to Parc Sans Souci. "The White militia movement is older, larger, probably more heavily armed, certainly more pervasive, it has many more people and it has been violent.". For Judson L. Jeffries, a professor of African American and African Studies at Ohio State University, the NFAC's priority so far has been stopping police brutality and it would be interesting to see how the group's behavior and ideology evolves going forward. There's no moral equivalency when comparing NFAC to White armed groups, Mockaitis said. re: NFAC Teaching Proper Gun Handling Today in Lafayette (aka Chocolate City) Posted by WizardSleeve on 10/3/20 at 6:07 pm to stelly1025 The collective IQ in that crowd averages about 75. Unlike many of those groups, Johnson says his group emerged as a response to enduring racial inequality and police brutality. A black separatist paramilitary group known as the "Not F$%*ing Around Coalition" #NFAC marched with weapons clutched in their hands through the streets of Lafayette, Louisiana, Saturday. He was a private when he left the military, according to the Army. The NFAC held at least two rallies in Louisville to demand justice for Breonna Taylor. NFAC protest in Lafayette over the police shooting of Trayford Pellerin ends peacefully. (KLFY) — Members of the Not F***** Around Coalition have arrived in Lafayette ahead of Saturday’s formation at Parc Sans Souci. The 31-year-old and her daughter went to NFAC’s October 3 rally in Lafayette. Saturday hundreds of members of the all-Black NFAC ("Not F*cking Around Coalition") marched through Lafayette, Louisiana. NFAC militia members armed with semi-automatic weapons stage a procession in Lafayette, Louisiana, on Saturday The group gathered at Parc … And for some people like Kristen "K.C." The march was held to seek justice for Trayford Pellerin, a black man who was shot and killed by Lafayette … By Nicole Chavez, Ryan Young and Angela Barajas, CNN. NFAC members kneel in the street during a September march in Louisville, Kentucky. Johnson declined to discuss his life outside NFAC, but records show he served in the Virginia National Guard and the Army from 1989 to 2006. "I can't help but wonder if we are nearing that point because there's only so much punishment you can clip on a group of people before they respond likewise.". At the time, the city had seen more than a month of protests centered on the death of Breonna Taylor and some had turned violent. Saturday hundreds of members of the all-Black NFAC (“Not F*cking Around Coalition”) marched through Lafayette, Louisiana. The protest ended peacefully despite the arrest of a person who police say accidentally fired a weapon at the event. A Facebook spokesperson told CNN the post was removed because it violated the platform's policies against inciting violence. The group did not run toward the gunshots or break formation. "They're our visitors. And while Mockaitis said NFAC has made some questionable comments, including challenging White armed groups during a Georgia rally, he does not believe the NFAC has an overtly racist ideology. No such luck today—and while we take no pleasure in bloodshed, we can make exceptions for an organization that just advocated for shooting police officers. Several hundred black-clad NFAC members, many of them carrying assault rifles, paraded through Lafayette on Saturday. fall back!". encourages residents to wear masks despite dropping mandate, Town previously overrun by ISIS prepares to host Pope Francis, 'Help is on the way': Biden speaks after Senate passes relief plan, Trump plans to campaign against Sen. Murkowski in 2022, "Violent Extremists: Understanding the Domestic and International Terrorist Threat,", "On the Fault Line: Race, Class, and the American Patriot Movement. Colemon and her 9-year-old daughter, the group is seen as a symbol of empowerment rather than fear. BIG THREAD: Today hundreds of members of the all-Black “Not Fucking Around Coalition” marched through #Lafayette, Louisiana. A clear sky. John Fitzgerald Johnson, also known as Grandmaster Jay, leads NFAC members on a march to Parc San Souci in downtown Lafayette, La., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. It denies any connection to the Black Panther Party or Black Lives Matter. Large Black armed-groups aren't something often seen in the US. Updated 8:32 PM ET, Sun October 4, 2020 . The all-Black, Atlanta-based group has grown in size out of frustration during a summer of protests against questionable policing and the deaths of countless Black people at the hands of police, said their founder John Fitzgerald Johnson. LAFAYETTE, La. The activist, Gerry Monroe, warned Lafayette officials in an Aug. 30 video that the NFAC was on its way to Lafayette, in response to the Aug. 21 police killing of Trayford Pellerin. Guests in Lafayette hotels got some of the first glimpses of the NFAC militia Friday. The group could follow Martin Luther King Jr's train of thought, he says, showing "a great deal of patience and love for those who were oppressing him" or align more with Malcolm X who favored self-defense against White violence. "We are not against anyone," said Johnson, who is also known as Grand Master Jay. I have obtained exclusive footage from a witness (a non-NFAC-aligned militiaman) to today’s two shots fired in #Lafayette, Louisiana. The 31-year-old and her daughter went to NFAC's October 3 rally in Lafayette. Instead, they kneeled on the ground amid the confusion, and then walked away after their leader shouted, "fall back! Several militia experts also described the group as a counterpoint to some of the largely White armed groups in the United States, especially those that have been associated with White supremacist and neo-Confederate ideologies. So far, they've coordinated with police and avoided engaging with violence," he said. N.F.A.C. Johnson said the group is made up of "US citizens exercising our constitutional rights and the color of our skin shouldn't make any difference.". Below is commentary from Congressman Higgins on the NFAC’s planned actions in Lafayette: “Media reports that I’ve issued an apology are false. © 2023 by NFAC. Several hundred black-clad NFAC members, many of them carrying assault rifles, paraded through Lafayette on Saturday. An African-American militia from a group called NFAC gathered in that city to demonstrate against police viol Though the NFAC has clearly drawn several hundred people to their rallies, the membership size just like much of Johnson's life remains unknown. One man arrested for accidental discharge of a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office reports that one person has been arrested in connection with the accidental discharge of a weapon at the rally. Their presence has caused a stir in the cities they've visited and the group has drawn some criticism after people accidentally fired a weapon during two of their rallies, including the one in Lafayette. LAFAYETTE, LA – A black militia group calling itself The Not Fucking Around Coalition, or NFAC, is gaining a reputation for accidental discharges, as it chalks up another incident surrounding one of its protests.. On July 25, Johnson said if Cameron didn't complete the investigation into Taylor's death in … CNN's attempts to contact Higgins' campaign have not been successful. Along with protesters rallying in multiple US cities, largely White groups have also showed up and asserted their Second Amendment right to bear arms. An email sent to Johnson’s attorney, a public defender, was not immediately answered Thursday afternoon. © 2023 by NFAC. When two loud bangs rang out on the streets of Lafayette, Louisiana, no one knew where the gunshots came from as protesters gathered to demand justice for another Black man killed by police. Among the crowd was a group of armed Black men and women who call themselves the "Not F**king Around Coalition" or NFAC. NFAC leaves Churchill Downs and marches back to G.G. "Nobody says anything when other demographics pick up weapons, decide to arm themselves and confront the government over anything from wearing a mask to being cooped up in the house, but when certain demographics arm themselves all of a sudden people tend to act as if the Constitution doesn't matter," Johnson said. "We're not 'effing' around anymore with the continued abuses within our community and the lack of respect for our men, women and children," Johnson told CNN. The NFAC is in Downtown Lafayette as people of different races are gathered for today's planned protest march to Parc Sans Souci. Today. The group has since mostly disappeared. There isn't one way to police armed groups because every state and city has its own rules but authorities tend to take a "very cautious, almost kid glove approach" with them, said Carolyn Gallaher, a professor and senior associate dean in the School of International Service at American University. Leader Grand Master Jay and NFAC in Lafayette, LA - YouTube Johnson won't disclose the membership numbers but said his group grew "exponentially" after the Louisville march and after they dropped the age limit from 21 to 18 years old. The NFAC march in Lafayette was also reportedly in response to a threat made by after House Rep. Clay Higgins group on Facebook. The NFAC's demonstration will take place at Parc San Souci in downtown Lafayette at 4 p.m. Saturday. The armed group Not F Around Coalition (NFAC… "Balancing protesters' First Amendment rights with our duty -- and our practical ability -- to protect public safety requires flexibility and communication," said Jean Porter, the mayor's deputy director of communications. "I hope we don't get to the point where we witness shootout, open warfare between police departments and these (armed) groups," Jeffries said. NOW PLAYING: Other LCG, local law enforcement discuss preparations for upcoming NFAC protest in Lafayette KATC Lafayette, LA (Scott Clause/The Daily Advertiser via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The cursing and incoherent yelling is just embarrassing. The cursing and incoherent yelling is just embarrassing. Her daughter anticipated being nervous around so many guns, the mother said, but went home feeling even more proud to be Black. (CNN)When two loud bangs rang out on the streets of Lafayette, Louisiana, no one knew where the gunshots came from as protesters gathered to demand justice for another Black man killed by police. Ahead of NFAC's arrival in Lafayette, leader John Jay Fitzgerald Johnson, who goes by the name Grandmaster Jay, posted a video on YouTube September 29 of … David James, president of the Louisville Metro Council said officials simply didn't want people marching on city streets with guns. They are walking a fine line between preventing a gun battle on the streets and not appearing like they are sanctioning armed groups, said Gallaher, author of. N.F.A.C. The possibility of having an armed Black group clashing with an armed White group was also a factor. NFAC, a Black militia group based in Atlanta, marched in Lafayette in response to threats made by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook regarding protests in Lafayette following the death of Trayford Pellerin, a 31-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by Lafayette police responding to a reported disturbance involving a man with a knife at a north Lafayette gas station on Aug. 21. Johnson’s group, known as the NFAC, has an all-Black membership and often demonstrates against white supremacy and police violence. The group returned to Louisville on September 5 -- the day of the Kentucky Derby — and marched to Churchill Downs but they dispersed earlier than planned when another group showed up.