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began. Weaver, a white separatist, was wanted by
APRIL 19 federal marshals for failing to appear in court on a
weapons charge. The stakeout ended tragically with
Terrorists have been known to time their attacks to the deaths of Weaver’s son, Sammy; wife, Vicki; and
coincide with a specific anniversary of a particular federal officer, William Degan. And on April 19,
historical event or the birthday of someone special to 1995, the Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the
them. Sometimes the date can even be the anniversary Lord (CSA) member and white supremacist Richard
of a past terrorist or terrorist-related event. One example Wayne Snell was executed for 1983 murder of
is October 16, the annual “Worldwide Action Against Texarkana pawnshop owner.
McDonald’s,” started in 1984 to coincide with However, the most famous April 19 event was the
United Nations’ World Food Day; activists target the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal
McDonald’s as a protest against animal cruelty, exploi- Building in Oklahoma City in which 168 individuals
tation of workers, the global domination of corpora- lost their lives. Many believe that Timothy McVeigh,
tions. However, by far the most infamous of these executed for carrying out the bombing, selected April
terror anniversaries is April 19. 19 to take revenge against the U.S. federal govern-
April 19, 1993, ended the 51-day siege at David ment for its role in the Waco and Ruby Ridge trage-
Koresh’s Branch Davidian compound near Waco, dies, as well as the upcoming execution of Snell.
Texas, where Koresh and 75 followers, including Terrorists commemorate anniversaries with further
21 children, perished in a fire. Known as the Mount attacks primarily as a way of wringing every possible
Carmel Center, the compound was occupied by drop of publicity out of their actions. Scheduling
members of an apocalyptic religious cult led by Koresh. an operation on the anniversary of a past one almost
Rumored to be stockpiled inside was an arsenal of certainly guarantees press coverage, even if the
explosives and weapons. After the day that Waco new operation is a rather insignificant one. Counter-
burned, April 19 became known as the “Date of Doom” terrorism experts have learned to keep an eye on the
or “Militia Day.” The militia movement, made up of calendar when trying to anticipate terrorists’ next
armed paramilitary groups, exploded on the scene in moves. April 19 will continue to be a hot-button date,
the mid-1990s believing that the American public and experts now fear that September 11 will become
needed protection against a tyrannical federal govern- another popular date for future attacks.
ment controlled by international interests.
The significance of April 19 dates back even See also COVENANT, THE SWORD, AND THE ARM OF THE LORD;
further, however. April 19 (1775) marks the battle TIMOTHY MCVEIGH; OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING; RICHARD
of Lexington, which ushered in the American WAYNE SNELL; WHITE SUPREMACY
Revolution; April 19 (1943) was the day Nazis turned
flame-throwers on apartment buildings and gunned Further Reading
down Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto. Adding to the pre-
Dees, Morris, with James Corcoran. Gathering Storm:
sumed significance of the 19th is that Adolf Hitler’s America’s Militia Threat. New York: HarperCollins, 1996.
birthday is the following day. Hamm, Mark S. Apocalypse in Oklahoma: Waco and Ruby
These events are celebrated anniversaries within Ridge Revenged. Boston: Northeastern University Press,
extremist camps within the United States. They have 1997.
come to symbolize the beginning of a pure Aryan soci- Southern Poverty Law Center. “False Patriots: The Threat
ety within North America and an attempt to exterminate of Antigovernment Extremists. Montgomery, AL:
the Jews, who are viewed as something less than human Southern Poverty Law Center, 1996.
by neo Nazis and Aryan extremists of all stripes.
On April 19, 1985, local, state, and federal officers
surrounded the compound of the paramilitary terrorist ARA. See ARYAN REPUBLICAN ARMY.
organization the Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of
The Lord. The resulting stand off lasted four days and
was resolved peacefully. Arab Revolutionary Brigade. See ABU
April 19, 1992, was also the date surveillance of NIDAL ORGANIZATION.
the Randy Weaver family atop Ruby Ridge, Idaho,