Man Arrested For Threat To Shoot ‘Alt-Right’ Members After Charlottesville

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BOSTON – An Indiana man was arrested today in connection with posting a threat to shoot white attendees at the Boston Free Speech Rally held at the Boston Common in August 2017.

Eric M. Radulovic, 32, was indicted on one count of transmitting in interstate and foreign commerce a threat to injure the person of another.

According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 13, 2017, the day after violent events in Charlottesville, Va., that occurred immediately following the “Unite the Right” rally, a “Politically Incorrect” discussion board on 4chan.org promoted a Boston Free Speech Rally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, on the Boston Common. The initial post invited “[l]ibertarians, conservatives, traditionalists, classical liberals, Trump supporters or anyone else who enjoys their right to free speech,” to attend, “network and befriend others who share your views, come for good food, and come to stand up against ANTIFA terrorism.” ANTIFA is short for “anti-fascists,” a movement of people who generally oppose the white supremacist and “Alt-Right” movements, sometimes by protesting events or engaging in property damage or violence.

In addition, the initial post warned people not to bring “any illegal weapons” or to “behave in a manner that makes you look bad.” It also warned people not to “[c]ome planning to instigate violence,” and that “[a]ny fights must be strictly defensive.” After the Boston Rally was announced on 4chan.org, participants in the discussion board discussed whether the Boston rally would face similar political movements and violence seen at the Charlottesville rally. The first posted response warned, “Be prepared everyone. this can get bad.” Later posts included predictions of violence, attempts to persuade against violence, and discussions of possible violence.

Radulovic, an Indiana resident who lives outside Indianapolis, was allegedly aware of and upset about the death following the Charlottesville Rally. As a result, on Aug. 13, 2017, Radulovic, allegedly posed as a member of the “Alt-Right” or white supremacist movement, anonymously posting a message on the 4chan.org discussion board regarding the Boston Rally in which he said he would shoot whites at the rally as a means to obtain sympathy for the “Alt-right” movement: “I’m going to bring a Remington 700 and start shooting Alt-right guys. We need sympathy after that landwhale got all the liberals teary eyed, so someone is going to have to make it look like the left is becoming more violent and radicalized. It’s a false flag for sure, but I’ll be aiming for the more tanned/dark haired muddied jeans in the crowd so real whites won’t have to worry.” The indictment alleges further that Radulovic posted this for the purpose of issuing a threat and knowing that it would be interpreted as a threat.

The charge of transmitting in interstate and foreign commerce a threat to injure the person of another provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

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