USA: Neo-Nazi leader recently arrested upon returning from Mexico
Robert Rundo, the leader of a group of radical adherents to the ideology of white supremacy called the “Rise Above Movement” (RAM), was arrested on 21 October at Los Angeles International airport and charged with inciting unrest. Charges have also been brought against three other alleged RAM members, two of whom, Robert Boman (25) and Tyler Laube (22), were detained on 24 October.
The Associated Press reported yesterday that the fourth alleged RAM member had finally been arrested on charges of inciting violence at California protests and at last year’s deadly riot in Charlottesville, Virginia. The FBI said in a Tweet on Sunday, 28 October that 38-year-old Aaron Eason had surrendered himself to authorities.
Eason was scheduled to appear in court yesterday. The others were each denied bail in Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday, 24 October.
These latest arrests come just weeks after the indictments of four other California members of RAM for allegedly inciting the Charlottesville riot. In August 2017, Boman, Eason, Laube and Rundo were allegedly among the several hundred adherents of white supremacy who first protested at the University of Virginia against the planned removal of a statue to Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
When a group of anti-racists blocked their march, some white supremacists began to attack the counter-protesters and one neo-Nazi drove an automobile into the crowd. A woman was killed and upwards of 20 people were injured by the violence.
The event sparked nationwide condemnation of racism and US President Donald Trump was criticized after blaming “both sides” for what happened. According to The New York Times, Rundo, who is 28, had just traveled to Mexico but was “sent back” to the USA and detained on 21 October at LAX.
According to the charges against the four, they acted “with the aim of inciting, organizing and promoting unrest and contributing to it.” At another white supremacist event in California in March, Rundo allegedly assaulted two counter-protesters.
Laube allegedly punched a journalist in the face on that occasion as well. Rundo and two of his accomplices also traveled to Europe this year, where they celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday.
