For months, Talking Points Memo has been digging into the group known as the Society for American Civic Renewal. The SACR (referred to as “sacker” by members) is a collection of highly placed conservatives dedicated to limiting the power of minorities in America. Diligent digging from TPM revealed a treasure trove of internal documents, and appears to have finally pushed them out into the open.
Here are five important facts to know about the SACR.
They Want Some Kind of Civil War
The overall goal of SACR seems to be a fundamental change in the American system following some kind of civil war. SACR board member and Chicago attorney Charles Haywood has endorsed the idea of a “national divorce” on author Michael Anton’s podcast. Ryan P. Williams, president of the Claremont Institute and a SACR board member, has also repeatedly advocated for a regime change after what he calls the current “cold civil war.” However they word it, it’s clear SACR envisions a world where the current American system collapses and is replaced by one they run.
They Are Racist, Misogynistic Christian Nationalists…
What would that system look like? Well, their membership is exclusively male and only open to Christian, heterosexual, and “un-hyphenated” Americans. SACR attempted to recruit Scott Yenor to a Boise, Idaho lodge. Yenor is famous for stating the law and medical professions should stop recruiting women. The vision of society in the SACR documents obtained by TPN emphasize a male-dominated world where Christian men rule their families and society.
Who Also Hate LGBT People
Unsurprisingly, SACR is no friend to the LGBT community. The group points to the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down unconstitutional laws against same-sex marriage as an important moment in the degradation of America. The Idaho chapter has openly campaigned on rolling back marriage equality.
The Group is Made up of Elites
The image of a ragtag militia group does not fit for SACR. These are extremely well-off and influential people. In addition to Williams and Haywood, the group includes Andrew Beck, a powerful brand consultant. In general, the men involved are all wealthy and run in high society circles. While it’s not quite the same level of industrialists and power brokers that launched the Business Plot that tried to overthrow Franklin Roosevelt, it’s a far cry from camo-clad secessionists.
It Has Texas Connections
Haywood runs a non-profit called the Howdy Doody Good Times Foundation that helps fund the Claremont Institute. It also helped found a chapter in Dallas. Nate Fischer, a Harvard-educated Texas venture capitalist, outed himself on Twitter ahead of the TPM story. While the Lone Star State does not appear to be the center of SACR activities, they have definitely put footholds here. Considering how popular secession has gotten in Texas, it makes sense that well-heeled people looking for a “national divorce” would seek to expand here.
