Black militia leader speaks on protecting Black people at the polls and beyond

John Jay Fitzgerald Johnson, leader of the Not F--king Around Coalition, is ready to defend the Black community, if needed

John Jay Fitzgerald Johnson is taking a strong stance against voter intimidation of the Black community.

Leader of the Black militia group The Not F–king Around Coalition, Johnson shared his thoughts on white supremacists possibly threatening or attacking Black voters at the polls on Election Day. The activist, who is also known by his nickname Grandmaster Jay, said that his group is prepared to defend Black voters, if needed.

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“I think that everybody needs to climb down out of their emotional tree, and remember that it is against federal law to show up at a voting place with weapons and intimidate anybody,” he told theGrio‘s Natasha Alford while speaking on the Run and Tell This podcast. “If the United States government doesn’t want to enforce that law against people that doesn’t look like us, they’re not going to enforce it against us. We have no intentions of starting a confrontation or firefight over this vote.”

He continued, “You really don’t know how disenfranchised we are about this entire election process. We’re not standing by ready to fight somebody over [Democratic nominee Joe] Biden or your right to elect what’s-his-face again–he who shall remain nameless [President Donald Trump]. That’s not going to happen. That’s never been our mission. If the Proud Boys or anybody else chooses to go to the polls and intimidate people when it’s against federal law, and the US government doesn’t do anything, that’s their business. But if they kill one of us, it has nothing to do with polling. I said before, you attack us and then we will respond.”

Black Militia Group Holds March In Louisville
Members of a protestor group affiliated with NFAC, most carrying firearms, gather to march on July 25, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Johnson’s words come as millions of Americans head to the polls to make their voices heard on Tuesday. In the weeks leading up to the election, over 100.8 million people voted early, either in-person or via absentee ballot or dropbox voting.

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In preparation for the election, Trump energized his base with direct calls-to-action, including telling the white supremacist organization the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” during the first presidential debate in late September. The president also refused to condemn white supremacy at the time, although he later backtracked on his stance.

Johnson is aware of the threats aimed at Black voters and he wants the community to know that NFAC has their back.

“We’re not carrying those guns for show,” he explained on the podcast. “You best believe I’m prepared to die so that you and your children can have a future.”

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