The Republic of Texas is a secessionist group in, you guessed it, Texas that is committed to seeing the state secede from the Union. Because its members believe that the federal government no longer serves the interests of the people. As if to confirm that this was in fact the case, the FBI raided a peaceful political meeting of the Republic of Texas, fingerprinted everyone, confiscated cell phones and recording devices, and generally made a show of (unnecessary) force:
Members of the Republic of Texas, a secession movement dedicated to restoring Texas as an independent constitutional republic, had gathered Feb. 14 in a Bryan, Texas, meeting hall along with public onlookers. They were debating issues of currency, international relations and celebrating the birthday of one of their oldest members. The group, which describes itself as “congenial and unimposing,” maintains a small working government, including official currency, congress and courts.
According to MySanAntonio.com: “Minutes into the meeting a man among the onlookers stood and moved to open the hall door, letting in an armed and armored force of the Bryan Police Department, the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, agents of the Texas district attorney, the Texas Rangers and the FBI.
“In the end, at least 20 officers corralled, searched and fingerprinted all 60 meeting attendees, before seizing all cellphones and recording equipment in a Valentine’s Day 2015 raid on the Texas separatist group.”
Why was the FBI involved, you may ask? Apparently two of the members of the Republic of Texas had sent “simulated” court documents to a (real) judge and a banker summoning them to appear before a Republic of Texas tribunal. The judge and banker did not comply, as was their legal right, but then the civil government reacted by issuing a sweeping search warrant and dispatching the FBI and local law enforcement.
Some of this reaction might be due to the “sovereign citizen” scares that the DHS and other federal agencies have been drumming up recently. Apparently, sovereign citizen groups like Republic of Texas are the real terrorists in the US, since they question the legitimacy of the current civil powers. I can think of no better way to establish that legitimacy than sending an overblown federal raid to a peaceful political gathering. Bravo, federal government!