During MSNBC’s 11:00 a.m. ET hour on Monday, viewers were treated to the Democratic Party’s cable channel actually promoting a far-left extremist militia group committed to seceding from the United States. While the all-black militant group showed little difference from similar fringe organizations across the country, reporters attempted to frame the radicals as simply concerned citizens “demanding justice” and “defending black Americans.”
Through a series of teases throughout his late-morning show, anchor Craig Melvin eagerly told his audience to stay tuned for exclusive hyping of the NFAC – Not F-ing Around Coalition (yes, that’s really the group’s name):
We’ll have a rare inside look at an all-black armed militia and its stated goal is to defend black people by any means necessary....And the story that you won’t see anywhere else on this Monday, an all-black militia group that’s going to demonstrations across the country. We’ll have an inside look at the group, its goals, and why experts say it is very different from the far-right militia groups that are on the rise....Coming up, in a few moments, an inside look at an all-black militia that says it’s focused on demanding justice for police killings, defending black Americans, and countering far-right groups....It’s led by a former musician and it’s called the NFAC. That’s short for Not F-ing Around.
Introducing the later report, Melvin eagerly declared that correspondent Morgan Radford “got a rare look inside this movement as it tries to expand.” She parroted the militia’s talking points that the it’s existence was “ultimately about protection” and “that especially during the Trump administration they felt like the government and law enforcement simply did not do enough to protect black people in this country.”
It was “fascinating” to Radford that “this is a movement that is growing...they say they now have chapters in nearly every single state and they also have some chapters internationally.”
As the taped segment began, footage played of members of the latest chapter of the extremist organization getting firearms training, with the reporter narrating: “The sounds of war, right here at home. This is the NFAC. An all-black militia with a mission to defend the black community by any means necessary.”
Radford repeated the notion that the group was “demanding justice for police killings and countering what they believe is the threat of right-wing militias.” She then introduced the founder of the militia: “It’s a movement started in 2017 by this man, former musician and army veteran John ‘Grand Master Jay’ Johnson.”
Johnson explained the group’s unhinged origin as part of the leftist anti-Trump resistance: “The NFAC stands for the Not F-ing Around Coalition....The NFAC was born out of the last four years under the Trump administration, the deterioration of racial relations in this country. It means that we are preparing yourselves to defend yourselves.”
Radford noted the deranged goal of the group: “While the group’s style echoes the Black Panther Party of the 1960s, their goals are distinct, focusing on defense with the ultimate goal of a black-ethno state.” Johnson chimed in with more ranting: “What makes us so different is that our goal is our own government, our own country, a place where we can determine our own future.”
The reporter wondered: “Is violence an option to reach your goals?” Johnson justified the possibility of taking violent action: “The United States was built on violence being an option. Violence should be the last option.”
In an attempt to reassure viewers, Radford announced: “Extremism experts say the group is distinct from far-right militias.” Thomas Mockaitis desperately tried to make the NFAC seem non-threatening: “They have not risen to the level of concern of, say, the 3-Percenters, the Oath Keepers. They’ve not engaged in violence. In fact, in most of their demonstrations they have, in fact, coordinated their activities with police.”
Even so, Radford pressed Johnson: “When you talk about January 6th and we saw those rioters storm the Capitol, what do you say to critics who say you’re no different from them? They’re extremists, you’re extremists.” He angrily pushed back:
Show me where we have done those things. They’ve killed people. They disrespected the government to the point where they have invaded its sacred halls. Show me where we’ve done those things because we have done none of them.
Of course, he and his followers want to secede from the United States altogether, so not exactly a position respectful of the federal government either.
Talking to a woman who used a “code name” to conceal her identity, Radford asked the NFAC member: “What are you all training for?” The woman replied: “We’re training for self-defense.” Radford proclaimed: “A response to show they won’t be scared or unprotected any longer.”
Only at the very end of the segment, as she was talking live to Melvin, did Radford mention that Johnson himself was under criminal indictment:
Craig, it’s important to note that the NFAC does not have any history of any violent crimes, but it’s also important to know that Grand Master Jay, the leader of that group is facing federal indictment charges. Authorities allege that he pointed a rifle towards police officers during that demonstration last September in support of Breonna Taylor. He pleaded not guilty and that case is still ongoing, Craig.
That raises the obvious question, why did MSNBC think it was necessary to elevate such an extremist group in the first place? Perhaps the left-wing cable channel has gotten so used to being an apologist network for radical activists like Black Lives Matter and Antifa that it doesn’t even think of such concerns anymore.
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Here is a full transcript of the March 22 report:
11:50 AM SEGMENT
CRAIG MELVIN: They are known as the NFAC, an armed, all-black militia you might have seen at protests in Georgia, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C. Their stated goal – to defend the black community by any means necessary. NBC’s Morgan Radford is in Atlanta. And Morgan, I know you talked to the leader of the NFAC, you got a rare look inside this movement as it tries to expand. What did you find out?
MORGAN RADFORD: Well, Craig, we found out that for them this ultimately about protection. They say that especially during the Trump administration they felt like the government and law enforcement simply did not do enough to protect black people in this country. And so they said they’re taking matters into their own hands. But what’s fascinating is that this is a movement that is growing. According to the NFAC, they say they now have chapters in nearly every single state and they also have some chapters internationally. So we decided to embed with them for a day and see exactly how they do what they do and why many of their members say they joined. Take a listen.
The sounds of war, right here at home. [Footage of NFAC members firing weapons] This is the NFAC. An all-black militia with a mission to defend the black community by any means necessary.
So this is training for one of the new chapters?
SHY [NFAC MEMBER]: Yes.
RADFORD: Appearing by the hundreds at protests from Stone Mountain, Georgia, to Louisville, Kentucky, demanding justice for police killings and countering what they believe is the threat of right-wing militias.
It’s a movement started in 2017 by this man, former musician and army veteran John “Grand Master Jay” Johnson.
Is the movement growing?
JOHN JOHNSON [NFAC FOUNDER]: By leaps and bounds.
RADFORD: We met with him outside of Cincinnati, where he says another new chapter is now in the works.
JOHNSON: The NFAC stands for the Not F-ing Around Coalition.
RADFORD: What’s behind the name?
JOHNSON: The NFAC was born out of the last four years under the Trump administration, the deterioration of racial relations in this country. It means that we are preparing yourselves to defend yourselves.
RADFORD: While the group’s style echoes the Black Panther Party of the 1960s, their goals are distinct, focusing on defense with the ultimate goal of a black-ethno state.
JOHNSON: What makes us so different is that our goal is our own government, our own country, a place where we can determine our own future.
RADFORD: Is violence an option to reach your goals?
JOHNSON: The United States was built on violence being an option. Violence should be the last option.
RADFORD: Extremism experts say the group is distinct from far-right militias.
THOMAS MOCKAITIS [DEPAUL UNIVERSITY]: They have not risen to the level of concern of, say, the 3-Percenters, the Oath Keepers. They’ve not engaged in violence. In fact, in most of their demonstrations they have, in fact, coordinated their activities with police.
RADFORD: When you talk about January 6th and we saw those rioters storm the Capitol, what do you say to critics who say you’re no different from them? They’re extremists, you’re extremists.
JOHNSON: Show me where we have done those things. They’ve killed people. They disrespected the government to the point where they have invaded its sacred halls. Show me where we’ve done those things because we have done none of them.
RADFORD: We were allowed rare access to one of their training sites at a secret location in rural Georgia.
We are now driving to the NFAC training facility.
We spoke to one member who chose to go by the code name “Shy” to protect her anonymity.
This is one is the handgun range?
SHY [NFAC MEMBER]: Correct, yes.
RADFORD: And then what do you guys do next?
SHY: We are going to the area where we practice our primary weapons firing.
RADFORD: Why did you decide to join this movement?
SHY: It’s for the cause. Black people, we need to learn how to defend ourselves. This is definitely one way to do it.
RADFORD: Do you all, I mean, have normal jobs, you work in all different sectors?
SHY: Absolutely. We’re business owners, we’re doctors, lawyers, we’re your everyday person, anywhere from Walmart to the corporate sector.
RADFORD: What are you all training for?
SHY: We’re training for self-defense.
RADFORD: A response to show they won’t be scared or unprotected any longer.
Craig, it’s important to note that the NFAC does not have any history of any violent crimes, but it’s also important to know that Grand Master Jay, the leader of that group is facing federal indictment charges. Authorities allege that he pointed a rifle towards police officers during that demonstration last September in support of Breonna Taylor. He pleaded not guilty and that case is still ongoing, Craig.
MELVIN: Hey, Morgan, what about the FBI? Has the FBI looked into this, this particular group at all?
RADFORD: That’s a great question, Craig. We reached out to the FBI and they said they are not looking into this group specifically. Instead they focus on groups and people who have actually committed crimes, not on specific members with specific ideologies. Craig?
MELVIN: Morgan Radford on the NFAC. Morgan, do keep us posted, a fascinating look.
