Dr Curtis Ryan, a widely published scholar and globally respected professor of political science and terrorism at Appalachian State University, offered the following today. I encourage you to take time to read...

"Accelerationists, the Boogaloo, and other random thoughts:

I've been trying to avoid posting about politics, but as demos and riots (two different things) are going on in multiple cities after the murder of George Floyd, there are several things you should pay attention to. Among them: accelerationists, Hawaiian shirts, the Boogaloo, and Pepe the Frog. Sounds goofy, I know. But please get what these are, and do it fast, because they will be deadly. That's not a joke. So this is just a quick post and then I'm out. I'm exhausted by this. But also deeply alarmed.

So ... the short and off the cuff version:

I've been teaching about terrorism for many years now, and there is a connection between that topic and these events. Specifically this word: accelerationists. Accelerationists are white supremacists who are trying to start a second civil war that will solidify a white fascist state in the U.S. Obviously, with an explicit racist in the White House, fascists and white supremacist groups have felt that their moment is now throughout the Trump presidency, but they are also afraid that their preferred leader may be ousted in November. Hence all the urgency to create chaos and foment violence in Minneapolis, Atlanta, and other cities. Each of the major cities rocked by riots has claimed that people from outside are doing much of the property damage, commiting acts of arson, and -- somewhat bafflyingly -- targeting minority-owned businesses. But protesters, the overwhelming majority of whom have been peaceful until attacked by militarized police, have noted that these are usually single masked white men (you may have seen several on film, like the one people were calling 'umbrella man').

They were also well represented in the mainly white right wing MAGA rallies against COVID lockdowns, even storming state houses with AR-15's and successfully shutting down the Michigan state legistature. Not that all those protesters fit that description, but that is not the point. The point is that in the latter instance, they could get away with pretty much anything, using their white privilege as a shield. In the former instances, of protests against the murder of citizens of color, accelerationists and other white supremacists and far right groups are using protesters as their shield, while they foment chaos, destruction, and violence. Trump et al are already trying to shriek about antifa and leftists in general. But the online chatter on white supremacists site and other venues is at an overload point: they think it's here. The big one they've been waiting and prepping for. And they encourage members to go and sow mayhem.

Many actually call this the Boogaloo. I know, this sounds like a joke, but sadly it's not. Long story here. Too long for this post. Like most far right extremist terms, it began as a meme and an inside joke (4chan, 8chan, Stromfront, and other far fight forums were always awash in memes and inside jokes -- from the white power symbol [originally a joke, now real] to pepe the frog [originally a cartoon, now used as a Nazi symbol]. So even such benign or bizarre combos like Hawaiian shirts or skull masks are now appropriated as Boogaloo and Nazi symbols respectively. If you've never heard of the Boogaloo, or accelerationists, or missed the deep connections of white supremacist groups to this White House, well now you know. And please pay close attention, because there is also an 'active measures' cyber campaign, and yes, it's from Russia, that seeks to amplify these voices and tensions, from COVID conspiracy theories to protests of police brutality and killings. That's well underway too, so unfortunately much of what is out there on Twitter and the internet in general is nonsense. But the broader threat is real, and it is currently attempting to hijack legimate protest and legimate anger at oppression, and turn it into civil stife within the US, while attempting to blame the victims themselves. So all I can say really is please pay very close attention and treat what you see critically, as we confront yet another horror of 2020. Honestly, if volcanoes suddenly erupted all over North Carolina at this point, I'd think, 'yeah, well, 2020 ...'. Be well and be safe out there."