What is Insurgence USA? Far-left group allegedly encouraged 'seas of Trump supporters' to storm the Capitol
A Utah activist, who is now facing criminal charges in connection with a protest he organized in June 2020, has now claimed that he attended the pro-Donald Trump rally that turned into a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, in order to see “the truth” about the protests for himself and the organization he represents.
“For me, it’s important from the group and the people around me to see that side of things, to see the truth,” John Sullivan, who is the founder of Insurgence USA said on Wednesday. “I don’t care, like what side you’re on, you should just see it raw," he said.
Reportedly, Sullivan also said he also intended to “support the Black community” with his presence, but also feels it was “important to understand” those who were protesting in support of Trump. But the video he posted to his social media sites disclaims his assertion that he and another woman were “only filming” the actions and not participating as he can be heard in the video encouraging people to join them as they push their way through police barricades.
26-year-old Sullivan is facing two criminal charges stemming from a protest he organized in Provo last June. According to documents, Sullivan recorded several hours of the protest and is seen in the recordings “kicking vehicles and threatening drivers” and directing protesters to block intersections.
In the viral video, he can be heard saying, “We’re all part of this (expletive) history” as they enter the rotunda around 15 minutes in, and he says to his companion, “2021! (expletive) This is insanity. I am shook. What is this? What is this painting, you know? King (expletive) bro (expletive)!” He can be heard exchanging social media information with another man, and then he and the filmmaker talk about what they’re witnessing. “Is this not going to be the best film you’ve ever made in your life?” he says. “Dude, I was trying to tell you. I couldn’t say much.”
After supposedly making his way inside the U.S. Capitol building, while the riot was going on, Sullivan said he witnessed the shooting death of protester Ashli Babbitt, and the Twitter account for Insurgence USA retweeted a video from someone with Sullivan that shows the shooting and the aftermath. “I have video of it,” he said, describing in detail seeing the flash of the gun, the bullet strike Babbitt, and Babbitt’s reaction as she died there on the floor. “I am hesitant to post it. … It’s something I have to take in. I hope that people get a grasp of that situation. Whoever shot her, maybe should be held accountable. I guess that’s up to the law to decide.”
Trump Rally #trump #dc #protest https://t.co/HzEzUSmWtd
— Insurgence USA (@insurgenceusa) January 6, 2021
He also claimed that Babbitt was the first one to try and get inside what he believes was the House chamber. “There was a glass wall, and she, the woman, was the first person to actually try to get inside,” Sullivan said. “All you see is hands come out the doorways with their guns. … You don’t see their face, nothing. And I literally yell at everybody else, ‘There’s a gun! There’s a gun! Don’t go in there!’ And a shot goes off. And she gets shot as soon as she goes through.”
“I was probably the only person that supported BLM (Black Lives Matter),” he said. “I could say, from my knowledge … there were just seas of Trump supporters, Proud Boys. If people are saying I’m Antifa, as far as a terrorist organization, I’m not,” he said. “Am I anti-fascist? We all are anti-fascist. And that’s what we should all strive for being. I have my own organization, Insurgence USA, and that’s what it is for. That’s really what it is.”
What is Insurgence USA?
According to the official website, "Insurgence USA was started in 2020 in response to the Gorge Floyd tragedy. The lack of care for human life was unacceptable so we set out to end police brutality. We then set out to empower and uplifting black and indigenous voices. We want to build local powers to enable the community to intervene in violence enacted by the state and government vigilantes. Our mission is the unification of our nation because a people united will never be divided."