A US racist and neo-fascist hate group that has become a public fixture in recent years has descended on central Texas in a stunt it claims is part of the “disaster relief” efforts under way after the devastating flash floods hit the region last week.
Patriot Front, founded following the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where its leader, Thomas Rousseau, a Texan, was later charged for his participation, has claimed on its Telegram app channel that it has shown up in the areas near Camp Mystic, where 27 young campers lost their lives.
“Patriot Front is here in central Texas,” Rousseau declares in a video statement, amid the backdrop of what sounds like buzzing chainsaws and a flood ravaged community, “responding to the flooding, which has destroyed communities and taken the lives of scores of Americans”.
Rousseau goes on to claim that his so-called “activists” are distributing supplies to survivors, but clarifies that his group is prioritizing their “people” and “European peoples” in those operations.
So that’s why the response has been fucking incompetent.
Well it’s because FEMA, the national guard, and the army core of engineers would descend on the area like ants, and they would tell people “don’t help, you’ll get in the way, donate supplies over there if you like and go home - we need the local hotel rooms”
But when you cut disaster relief… There’s literally just parents out there searching for their children, they’re not turning anyone away
They also hate when people donate “supplies” which is usually 30+ year old torn up camping equipment, and old clothes that should have been thrown out.
Just donate money and get out of the way.
If you really want to be a help, donate time before disasters happen so you’re trained up for when they do. Starting to gather supplies and training during a disaster is far far too late.
Well, not anymore. Now we don’t have coordinated rescues… Even in Texas, the Fed took 3 days to provide support, because it all has to be signed by Christi Nome and apparently she was busy
So… Maybe do show up? Who knows at this point. But ideally, with an RV or camping equipment, because where are the victims and professionals going to stay
Corps.
Untrained, inexperienced and under-equipped people can be more of a liability than asset in some of these situations. No need to create a new logistical nightmare on top of the existing disaster. It’s good that people want to help, it’s better when their efforts are actually helpful.