In the last year a civil rights watchdog group says the number of militia and patriot groups operating in the United States has increased more than 200-percent, and Georgia is no exception.
The Southern Poverty Law Center names 15 militia and patriot groups in Georgia, but the numbers could be higher. The center’s Mark Potok says the most dramatic rise has been in patriot groups.
“What they’re really about is seeing the government as an enemy-as a kind of conspirator against the freedoms of American people.”
And he worries they could become violent. Ron Danforth is a Georgia delegate with the patriot group, “We the People.”
“There’s a lot of people out here and a lot of organizations that are very upset and I don’t think it’s going to go away. It’s probably going to get worse.”
But Danforth says his group does not advocate violence. Their members plan to travel to Washington, D.C. later this month to hand deliver a list of grievances to lawmakers.

Tags: Georgia, Jekyll Island, We the People, Ron Danforth, Southern Poverty Law Center, Mark Potok, Patriot movement, Militia movement