BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A lawsuit initiated by two North Dakota nonprofits against the white nationalist group Patriot Front has reached a settlement, though specific details regarding the agreement remain undisclosed. A recent court docket entry confirmed the settlement following a conference held in Fargo, with attorneys for both parties refraining from providing further commentary.
In 2023, the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition and the Immigrant Development Center, represented by the center’s executive director, filed a lawsuit against Patriot Front, along with two of its leaders and ten anonymous individuals. The plaintiffs alleged violations of the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, among other claims, while seeking unspecified damages and additional relief to be determined at trial.
The complaint outlined incidents where members of Patriot Front reportedly vandalized various businesses and public properties over the years. Notably, it was claimed that the group spray-painted its symbols on the International Market Plaza, an indoor marketplace tailored for immigrant business owners located in Fargo. Additionally, the complaint accused perpetrators of defacing a mural that featured Black women adorned in hijabs, further emphasizing the alleged hate-fueled actions of the group.
Last year, a federal judge dismissed several claims against two Patriot Front leaders, identified as Thomas Rousseau and Trevor Valescu, which adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the hate group.
In the realm of such litigation, the Ku Klux Klan Act has seen a resurgence, with various lawsuits referencing it in recent years. Among other cases, this includes a notable lawsuit from multiple Democratic U.S. representatives against former President Donald Trump concerning his alleged role in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Furthermore, just last month, a federal judge awarded a Black man $2.7 million in a lawsuit that also invoked the Ku Klux Klan Act against Patriot Front, Rousseau, and unnamed individuals. This plaintiff accused members of the group of conducting a coordinated and violent racially motivated attack against him in Boston in 2022.
Patriot Front is classified as a white nationalist hate group, having broken away from Vanguard America, which was involved in the notorious “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. Rachel Carroll Rivas, interim director at the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project, noted that Patriot Front utilizes theatrical marches and public demonstrations along with spreading racist propaganda.
The North Dakota lawsuit may have significant implications for the group's recruitment efforts, as it holds them accountable for their actions. Carroll Rivas expressed optimism regarding the potential decrease in participation. She stated, “If we have less people involved, that is a win.”
This case stands as part of a broader landscape where civil rights violations by extremist groups are being challenged in court, highlighting the legal system's role in combating hate and protecting marginalized communities throughout the United States.
