A rare armed standoff between a self-described militia group and Massachusetts police highlighted tensions over extremist groups and open-carry claims on public highways.
Key Facts
- Date
- July 3, 2021
- Location
- Interstate 95, Wakefield, Massachusetts
- Total arrests
- 11 (10 adults, 1 child)
- Duration
- Several hours
- Militia group alleged
- Rise of the Moors
- Claimed travel route
- Rhode Island to Maine for training
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A Massachusetts State Police officer responded to vehicles stopped on Interstate 95 in Wakefield and discovered several individuals carrying long guns and sidearms while wearing body armor. The group, some alleged to be members of a militia called Rise of the Moors, claimed they were traveling from Rhode Island to Maine for firearms training on private land.
The confrontation escalated into a multi-hour standoff between the armed group and state and local police on Interstate 95. Authorities surrounded the individuals, who refused to comply initially, creating a prolonged tense situation on a major highway in Massachusetts.
The standoff ended with eleven arrests, including ten adults and one child. The incident drew national attention to the Rise of the Moors group and prompted broader discussions about militia activity, extremist organizations, and the legal boundaries of open carry and body armor use in the United States.