Extremists including white supremacists and borderline livestreamers have descended on Los Angeles in in the midst of forest fires there to gain followers, increase engagement on social media, solicit donations and, experts say, recruit new members, while in some cases working as LARP emergency workers.
Last weekend, Ryan Sánchez and three other members of his Nationalist Network group set up shop at the entrance to the Santa Monica Pier. Sánchez, who was caught on video giving the Nazi salute during last year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), and his team drove overnight from Arizona, where they live.
Sánchez, who was a member of the now defunct white supremacist fight club known as Rise above the movementhe is an ally of white supremacist Nick Fuentes and is sometimes known by the nickname “Culture War Criminal”.
Sánchez, who did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment, claimed on his social media accounts that his group “received much more support than expected” and said all donations were made to the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, a building that is said to provide shelter to veterans as well as charities dealing with military and veterans issues. (She did not respond to a request to confirm that Sánchez’s group was making donations.)
While Sánchez and his colleagues claim they are in LA to do good, experts who monitor the activities of far-right groups tell WIRED that what they are actually engaging in is “disaster tourism” to advance their own social good agenda.
“Based on a lot of their past activity, this is probably being used as a recruiting effort, which is something that has been happening a lot more over the past year when right-wing groups are doing disaster tourism,” said Freddy Cruz, program manager for monitoring and training at the Western States Center. . “We saw it with Hurricane Helena, and now we’re seeing it again. These groups basically just travel to disaster areas to create propaganda, solicit donations, and in some cases actually steal donations from people on the ground.”
On Monday, Sánchez said that while his group no longer collects goods for charity, it is still interested in meeting potential new recruits.
“Tomorrow we will no longer accept donations, but if you are still interested in volunteering, please contact us,” Sánchez wrote on Telegram and X on Sunday morning.
The donation link posted by Sánchez on his Telegram channel links directly to his personal Cash App account, and it’s unclear where the money donated went, although Sánchez himself suggested it was used to fund his group’s travel and accommodation.
“The crisis in Los Angeles continues, with strong winds expected in the coming days. Thanks to your support, the Nationalist Network will be there for our fellow Americans,” Sánchez wrote on his Telegram and X accounts on Monday, before asking for further donations “if you want to help our activists be fed and in the fight.”