NFAC
*The Not F---king Around Coalition (NFAC) conducted its first protest on this date in 2020. NFAC is a black nationalist militia group in the United States. The group advocates for black liberation and separatism. News outlets have described it as a “Black militia”.
John Fitzgerald Johnson, also known as Grand Master Jay and John Jay Fitzgerald Johnson, claims the group's leadership and has stated that it is composed of "ex-military shooters." Johnson served in the Virginia National Guard and the Army from 1989 to 2006. He also was an independent candidate for U.S. president in 2016 and has stated: "We are a Black militia. We aren't protesters, we aren't demonstrators. We don't come to sing; we don't come to chant. That's not what we do."
Furthermore, in the same interview, Johnson expressed Black Nationalist views, putting forth the view that the United States should either hand the state of Texas over to African Americans so that they may form an independent country or allow African Americans to depart the United States to another country that would provide land upon which to form an independent nation.
In 2019, Johnson told the Atlanta Black Star that the organization was formed to prevent another Greensboro Massacre. Thomas Mockaitis, professor of history at DePaul University, stated: "In one sense, it (NFAC) echoes the Black Panthers, but they are more heavily armed and more disciplined... So far, they've coordinated with police and avoided engaging with violence." The first reported appearance of NFAC members was a May 12, 2020, protest near Brunswick, Georgia, over the February killing of Ahmaud Arbery. The NFAC provided armed security for the sister of Rayshard Brooks at her request. NFAC escorted her to a rally in downtown Atlanta in late June.
On the Fourth of July 2020, local media reported that about 100 to 200 mostly armed NFAC members marched through Stone Mountain Park, Georgia, calling for the removal of the Confederate monument. The NFAC posted videos of the event and reported the number as 1,500. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association, which operates the park, stated that the protesters were peaceful and orderly. Johnson stated of the site that the formation was a response to a threat by the KKK to start shooting black people at 8 pm on the Fourth of July 2020. Johnson thus stated at the formation, "I want the heart of the Ku Klux Klan to hear me no matter where the f___ you are. I'm in your house. Where you at? You made a threat. We don't threaten."
On July 25, a local news outlet stated that "more than 300" members were gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, to protest the lack of action against the officers responsible for the March killing of Breonna Taylor. The NFAC posted a video of the event, reporting the number of militia members registered and present as 3,500. On July 20, preceding the event, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Louisville Metro Council President David James had a phone conversation with Johnson, which the AG's office described as "productive". In response to the announced NFAC presence, about 50 armed men counter-protested.
Louisville police in riot gear helped to maintain space between the groups. Three NFAC members were wounded during a negligent weapon discharge. The NFAC said that the discharge occurred when a person who was not yet admitted into the formation collapsed from heat exhaustion and fired her weapon into the ground. The weapon was an older shotgun that Johnson said would not have been approved for the formation. The shotgun projectiles hit the ground, then ricocheted and hit three people. Johnson reported that two were checked by medics and cleared to continue participating in the formation. On October 3, 2020, over 400 members of the NFAC, along with over 200 other armed protesters, marched in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Johnson and other speakers gave speeches at the Parc San Souci, urging members to continue protesting. Afterward, the group marched and left.
On November 2, 2020, Kansas City-based activist Keiajah Brooks announced via Twitter that she was under protection from the NFAC after multiple alleged instances of harassment committed by officers from the Kansas City Police Department. A week prior, she went viral online shortly after a video was released of her criticizing the local city commissioners for “choosing profits over people” and her push for Police Chief Rick Smith to resign. On December 3, 2020, Johnson was arrested by the FBI for allegedly aiming his rifle at police officers during protests about Breonna Taylor's killing. He was later federally indicted and awaits trial.
On June 23, 2021, former NFAC member Othal "Ozone" Wallace shot and critically wounded Daytona Beach Police Department Officer Jason Raynor in the head whilst he was conducting a "proactive patrol". He then attempted to disable the bodycam worn by the Officer. Three days later, Wallace was arrested after police at an alleged NFAC-affiliated property in DeKalb County, Georgia. According to Daytona Beach Police Chief, four other people were at the said property, along with multiple firearms, flashbangs, body armor, and ammunition. The NFAC stated Othal Wallace was terminated from the organization. They also said they were not affiliated with the property, as reported, claiming that another ex-NFAC member owned it. NFAC denies any connection to the Black Panther Party or Black Lives Matter.
