CNN video on militias ...

[Angel Eyes]

... on a militia, actually:  the Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/04/19/lavandera.militia.misunderstood.cnn?hpt=C2

Overall a mostly evenhanded article.  I noticed they couldn't resist getting footage of the firearms (ooh, scary, people with guns).

[Declaration Day]

That's my good friend and fellow Team Leader, Jeff, being interviewed through most of the video. 

Stop the video at 15 seconds.  I'm the guy in the middle. 

[Perd Hapley]

The weird-lookin' one? 

[Declaration Day]

The weird-lookin' one? 

Always.   

[Perd Hapley]

I figured you would make some remark about my Tron suit. 

[Jamisjockey]

You should have seen the reports on the eeewww scary guns right marches today in the DC area....

[S. Williamson]

Something I've been meaning to ask--is the seemingly-constant wearing of camo necessary?

[Declaration Day]

During our trainings, when we are mostly in the woods, yes.  It's an instrumental part of our training.

For the Militia Field Day picnic featured in the video, some of us wore it to distinguish ourselves from the non-militia guests, so they would know who to approach with any questions.  I wore BDU pants and a gray militia t-shirt that day.

[Declaration Day]

My favorite photos from the event.  Link to the complete photo gallery at the bottom.















http://s657.photobucket.com/albums/uu300/SMVM/Militia%20Field%20Day%202010/

[CNYCacher]

That's my good friend and fellow Team Leader, Jeff, being interviewed through most of the video. 

Stop the video at 15 seconds.  I'm the guy in the middle. 

And far right @ 17 seconds?

[Declaration Day]

Yes, good eye.  I don't like that the video is skewed to make everybody look like they're 4 feet tall and 300 pounds! 

[Jamisjockey]

Is that a black guy in the last pic?  How on earth did that happen?

[Declaration Day]

A black man and a guy from India. 

How did it happen?  Years of PR work finally paying off.  Oh and the fact that we're not racists.  That helps a bit too.

[freakazoid]

I saw that segment and was pretty surprised that they actually interviewed someone to not make use look like a bunch of crazy people.

[Declaration Day]

I saw that segment and was pretty surprised that they actually interviewed someone to not make use look like a bunch of crazy people.

Freakazoid, we've been busy with a lot of interviews since the Hutaree arrests.  We stood up to the initial negative reports and have had relative success getting the truth across to the media ever since.