Randy Weaver and his family moved to a remote cabin in Northern Idaho when their extreme views on race and religion became an issue with friends and family back in Iowa.
They wanted to live off the grid, isolated from society but after Weaver failed to appear in court on charges of selling illegal sawed-off shotguns, law enforcement began a surveillance operation on their property.
In August 1992 the operation exploded into a deadly firefight and ignited an 11 day siege that became a rallying call for the radical right.
On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the events at Ruby Ridge and explains how they sparked the birth of the modern militia movement that still exists to this day.
Guest:
Lane Crothers, Professor at Illinois State and author of Rage on the Right
Twitter: @LaneCrothersISU
Contact:
Instagram: @that90spodcast
Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca
Newsletter: www.historyofthe90s.substack.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices