A white supremacist group known as the Patriot Front staged a surprise march through downtown Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday, May 24, 2025, prompting immediate condemnation from local and national civil rights organizations. The event, which involved approximately 100 masked individuals parading near the Liberty Memorial, was met with strong statements from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Kansas), city officials, and community leaders, who denounced the group’s racist message and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. No arrests were made during the march, and police confirmed that the participants were not residents.
The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) reported that the group, whose members concealed their identities with masks, marched on sidewalks for about an hour before dispersing and boarding U-Haul trucks. “There is zero indication that the department was involved in any kind of escort while the group was marching,” a KCPD spokesperson said, adding that the group had not advertised its plans in advance. Mayor Quinton Lucas stated on social media, emphasizing that while the First Amendment protects the right to protest, “our diversity, our welcoming community, and our respect for the rights of all reject whatever hate and cowardice come our way”.
CAIR-Kansas Condemns Rally, Calls for Unity
CAIR-Kansas swiftly condemned the Patriot Front’s actions, describing the march as an attempt to promote white supremacy and calling on all community leaders and elected officials to reject racism and bigotry. “We condemn this attempt to promote white supremacy and urge all community leaders and elected officials to reject racism similarly and all other forms of bigotry,” said CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy. Elbayoumy emphasized that CAIR-Kansas and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, has repeatedly condemned activities by the Patriot Front and similar hate groups nationwide. Its mission includes protecting civil liberties, enhancing understanding of Islam, promoting justice, and empowering American Muslims.
Patriot Front, A Growing Threat
The Patriot Front is recognized as a white nationalist hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It has a reputation for staging flash-mob-style demonstrations in cities across the United States. The group’s founder, Thomas Rousseau, led the Kansas City march, the only participant whose face was not concealed. The Patriot Front originated as a splinter group from the neo-Nazi outfit Vanguard America following the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a white supremacist killed counterprotester Heather Heyer.
Patriot Front’s tactics are designed to intimidate and recruit: they arrive unannounced, capture propaganda footage, and depart before local communities can mobilize a response. Their messaging is rooted in the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, which falsely claims that people of color and immigrants are intentionally replacing white Americans. The group has celebrated acts of white supremacist violence, including the 2019 El Paso mass shooting that targeted Latinos.
Community and Official Reactions
Community members and activists in Kansas City quickly organized to counter the Patriot Front’s message. Local filmmaker and community organizer Bret Hamilton reported that residents gathered to shout at the marchers, telling them they were unwelcome. “A community response had already developed when they got close to downtown,” Hamilton said in an interview with the Kansas City Defender.
The Missouri NAACP described the march as “a calculated show of force meant to intimidate” and criticized the lack of official action as “passivity [that] speaks volumes”. Mayor Quinton Lucas’s statement on social media highlighted the city’s values but did not specifically name the Patriot Front, a decision that has drawn scrutiny from some activists.
Rising Hate Crime Trends
The Kansas City march comes amid a broader national trend of rising hate crimes and extremist activity. According to the Crime and Justice Research Alliance, hate crimes in major U.S. cities declined by about 2.7% in 2024, but incidents targeting Jewish and Muslim communities surged. Anti-Muslim hate crimes rose by 18% in major cities, while anti-Jewish incidents increased by 12%.
In Kansas City, police reported 54 hate crimes in 2024, up from 50 the previous year. These figures reflect a persistent challenge for law enforcement and community leaders, who are working to address both overt acts of violence and the spread of extremist ideologies online. Advocacy groups note that hate incidents are often underreported, and many communities remain vulnerable to intimidation and violence.
The Role of Social Media and Online Extremism
Experts warn that the decline in reported hate crimes may be misleading, as social media platforms have become key venues for spreading extremist rhetoric and organizing real-world actions. Brian Levin, a Crime and Justice Research Alliance researcher, noted that “many individuals were articulating their prejudices through alternative means, such as gatherings or online platforms, releasing their frustrations”. This shift has made it more difficult for law enforcement to track and prevent hate-motivated violence.
Patriot Front, for example, relies heavily on encrypted messaging apps and social media to recruit new members and plan demonstrations. Their propaganda videos, often filmed during marches, are shared widely to amplify their message and attract followers.
The Impact on Vulnerable Communities
The presence of white supremacist groups like the Patriot Front has a chilling effect on communities of color, religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. “This is a calculated show of force meant to intimidate,” said a representative from the Missouri NAACP7. The group’s activities create fear and anxiety, particularly among those who have experienced discrimination or violence in the past.
Civil rights veteran Rev. Kevin Peterson has described the Patriot Front as “children of the KKK,” noting their ideological ties to historic white supremacist movements. The group’s violent history and explicit embrace of racist conspiracy theories make their presence in any community a cause for concern.
Law Enforcement Response and Challenges
Law enforcement agencies face significant challenges in responding to groups like the Patriot Front, whose members often travel from out of town and do not announce their plans in advance. The Kansas City Police Department emphasized that it was unaware of the group’s intentions before the march and did not provide special assistance or escort.
Despite the lack of arrests, police monitored the event and ensured public safety. The department’s approach reflects the delicate balance between protecting First Amendment rights and maintaining public order. However, some community members and activists have called for a more proactive response to prevent future incidents and hold participants accountable.
Community Resilience and Advocacy
In the wake of the Patriot Front’s march, local organizations are redoubling their efforts to promote unity and counter hate. CAIR-Kansas and other civil rights groups are urging community members to stand together against bigotry and support those who are targeted by hate. “We stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry,” said Moussa Elbayoumy.
Community leaders are also calling for increased vigilance and reporting of hate incidents, as well as greater support for victims of discrimination and violence17. The Kansas City Defender reported that local organizers are prepared to confront future demonstrations by white supremacist groups, emphasizing that “if Patriot Front decides to return, they can expect a show of force that will make their khaki uniforms scatter”.
“We condemn this attempt to promote white supremacy and urge all community leaders and elected officials to similarly reject racism and all other forms of bigotry.”
— Moussa Elbayoumy, CAIR-Kansas Board Chair1
A Community United Against Hate
The Patriot Front’s march in Kansas City has underscored the ongoing threat posed by white supremacist and extremist groups in the United States. While the event itself was brief and resulted in no arrests, it has galvanized the local community and drawn national attention to the need for continued vigilance and action against hate.
CAIR-Kansas, city officials, and community leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the protection of civil rights. The broader context of rising hate crimes and the spread of extremist ideologies online highlights the importance of robust community response and proactive law enforcement strategies.
Looking ahead, Kansas City and communities across the country must remain united in rejecting hate and supporting those who are targeted by bigotry. The events of May 24, 2025, serve as a reminder that the fight against racism and extremism is ongoing, and that collective action is essential to building a more just and inclusive society