Massachusetts Moorish National Incident

While the July 3rd standoff between Moorish Nationals and Massachusetts law enforcement ended peacefully, the repercussions of the event may not be fully realized. The incident does serve to refocus the spotlight on sovereign activity in the USA.

Initial reports of the incident appeared to make it out that these individuals were blocking the road on purpose. However, further reports described how two vehicles of individuals were pulled over on the road after running out of gas at 2am just outside of Wakefield, MA. The individuals were armed with long guns, and a standoff between them and law enforcement ensued after they refused to comply with law enforcement’s instructions.

11 people were arrested: Jamhal Tavon Sanders Latimer (also known as Jamhal Talib Abdullah Bey), 29, of Providence; Robert Rodriguez, 21, of the Bronx; Wilfredo Hernandez (also known as Will Musa), 23, of the Bronx; Alban El Curraugh, 27, of the Bronx; Aaron Lamont Johnson (also known as Tarrif Sharif Bey), 29, of Detroit; Quinn Cumberlander, 40, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Lamar Dow, 34, of the Bronx; Conrad Pierre, 29, of Baldwin, New York; a male teenager, 17; and two men who refused to self-identify.

Moorish Nationals are part of the sovereign citizen movement and were an offshoot that started in the 1990s. Interestingly, the sovereign citizen movement was originally thought of as being a white-only movement until the Moorish National movement began. Now, there seems to be just as many people who are part of the Moors than others sovereign flavors.

So, what are the implications:

  1. Visibility. This incident sheds light into Moorish Nationals (specifically) and sovereign citizens (generally). It also reinforces the us-vs.-them mentality when it comes to sovereigns not recognizing the rules.
  2. Bravado. It is possible that the brashness of such a group may cause other similar groups to be more obstinate to law enforcement or government regulation.
  3. Understanding. This incident may show the marriage between traditional sovereign activity and militia activity. The group was on their way to train, were heavily armed, and appeared to operated like a militia.

Only time will tell what this incident means for the sovereign movmement.