A fringe militia group known as Veterans on Patrol (VOP) has recently emerged in the spotlight due to its troubling activities and rhetoric.
The group, which gained notoriety for its vigilante patrols at the US-Mexico border, now targets the US military with baseless conspiracy theories.
VOP claims that Hurricane Helene was caused by a government “weather manipulation weapon” to advance secret agendas, including lithium mining and smart city development.
The organization’s founder, Michael “Lewis Arthur” Meyer, has amplified these conspiracies on Telegram, accusing the US military of orchestrating an “act of war” against its citizens.
The Global Project on Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) has flagged VOP as a growing threat.
Co-founder Heidi Beirich expressed concern over the group’s conspiracy-fueled threats to destroy government equipment and infrastructure.
This follows their history of vandalizing desert water stations intended for migrants in Arizona and spreading misinformation about human trafficking.
Dangerous conspiracies fuel militia actions as threats against the US military grow.VOP’s public Telegram messages reveal calls to target military equipment, power lines, and government facilities.
A poll in their channel, with over 70% support from respondents, proposed extreme actions to confront alleged government crimes.
These actions target what they claim are “directed energy weapons” used for weather control.
The group’s anti-government posture is intensified by claims that the military is poisoning the air and that the Covid-19 vaccine is a bioweapon.
Despite being formed as a veterans’ advocacy group, VOP is led by Meyer, who has admitted he is not a veteran. Under Meyer, the group shifted focus from aiding homeless veterans to propagating anti-immigrant and anti-government ideologies.
Their unchecked rise highlights the dangers of conspiracy theories.
As the US grapples with growing extremism, groups like VOP demonstrate how disinformation can lead to escalating threats and potential violence.
Law enforcement and advocacy organizations continue to monitor their activities, urging vigilance to prevent these ideologies from fueling broader unrest.