Branch Davidian Standoff

The Branch Davidian standoff, in the late winter and spring of 1993 in Waco, Texas, was a violent confrontation between federal law enforcmeent agencies (the ATF and FBI) and members of the Branch Davidian religious sect. The standoff started after an ATF raid on the Davidian compound caused a violent shootout that resulted in the deaths of four ATF agents. A 51-day standoff followed this initial encounter, after which the FBI used force to end the standoff. Approximately 80 Davidians, including a number of children, perished on that final day, either by fire or their own hand. The event galvanized the extreme right in the United States and helped spark the formation of the anti-government militia movement. The Branch Davidian standoff, or simply "Waco," has since been used by extremists to support the argument that the government is willing to kill those who oppose it.

This database provides an overview of many of the terms and individuals used by or associated with movements and groups that subscribe to and/or promote extremist or hateful ideologies.

Skousenism

Skousenism is a term used to describe the political philosophy of ultraconservative political theorist W. Cleon Skousen (1913-2006). Skousen advocated a philosophy centered on advocacy for extremely limited federal government, anti-Communism, conspiracy theories and Mormon theology. Skousenites... Read more

Key Concepts / Definitions Anti-government

Moorish Movement

An Afro-centric offshoot of the sovereign citizen movement that emerged in the mid-1990s primarily as a result of people merging sovereign beliefs with beliefs from a longstanding religious sect, the Moorish Science Temple. Moorish sovereign citizens often... Read more

Groups / Movements Anti-government

Romana Didulo

Romana Didulo is a Canadian QAnon figure who falsely claims to be the "Queen of Canada." She has frequently called for violent action online, especially against individuals involved in administrating Covid-19 vaccines to children. Didulo has frequently... Read more

People Right-wing

David Straight

David Straight is a prominent sovereign citizen guru and QAnon adherent who teaches sovereignty with a QAnon bent, urging his followers to become "American State Nationals" before Trump is reinstated as president. He works closely with Bobby... Read more