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New lawmaker’s tattoo has ties to far-right anti-government movement

New lawmaker’s tattoo has ties to far-right anti-government movement

Rep. Marshall Burt (L-Green River) starts work during the in-person portion of the 2021 legislative session in Cheyenne. (Mike Vanata/WyoFile)

March 4, 2021 by Nick Reynolds 13 Comments

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CHEYENNE — The Three Percenters movement has gained representation in the Wyoming Legislature — at least symbolically.

A photograph resurfaced this week of freshman Rep. Marshall Burt (L-Green River) that shows a tattoo on his left forearm — the Roman numeral “III” surrounded by 13 stars, above the year 1776. The symbol is commonly associated with a far-right, anti-government movement and the popularization of militia groups. 

In a written statement this week, Burt said he is not involved in any militia groups, and got the tattoo because he enjoyed the symbolism of what it stood for.

“I got the tattoo because the American Revolution symbolism appealed to me, and to me it represents my solid commitment to the Second and Tenth Amendment,” Burt wrote. “I have never been a member of a militia group, and I think we have much bigger issues to address, like reducing wasteful spending and getting patients and veterans access to treatments, rather than to dwell on something as minor as a tattoo.”

The tatoo’s symbol — which closely resembles a Betsy Ross flag — is associated with a loosely organized anti-government movement known as the Three Percenters, which has been growing in influence within American conservative politics. The name comes from the debunked claim that only 3% of colonists fought against the British during the Revolutionary War but “achieved liberty for everybody,” according to a policy brief by the Anti-Defamation League. A number of militia groups and anti-government activists have adopted the symbol. 

The photograph of Burt — in which he is sitting at a table with a smiling young supporter — initially appeared online last year. National Libertarian Party chairman Joe Bishop Henchman first posted it on his public Facebook page shortly after Burt’s victory over incumbent Democratic Rep. Stan Blake in November.

Burt’s “Three Percenter” tattoo, seen here on his left forearm. The Roman numeral “III” references the debunked claim that only 3% of the American colonists rose up in arms against the British. The 13 stars represent the original 13 colonies. Beneath is the numeral “1776” — the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. (Screengrab/Facebook)

After a reporter contacted Burt about the tattoo on Nov. 5, the image was removed from the post, which featured other images of the newly elected lawmaker engaging with Henchman and a handful of supporters.

The Libertarian Party did not respond to an email or phone message requesting comment. 

Who are the Three Percenters?

The Three Percenters ideology has gained increasing prominence in American politics over the last decade, with a growing number of Republican officials recently making headlines for their ties to the movement.

Newly elected U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) have both attracted attention for their associations with militia groups tied to the Three Percenters. Illinois state lawmaker Chris Miller, was found to be sporting a “III%” decal on a truck driven by his U.S. Representative spouse around the Jan. 6 riots at the United States Capitol. Members of a Three Percenter militia group also provided security at the 2017 “Unite The Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

This week authorities listed the Three Percenters among the groups they feared were plotting another attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Unlike militia groups like the Oath Keepers, however, researchers say the Three Percenters are often loosely defined, and many who prescribe to the ideology may not actually be active participants of any centralized group. 

“Nobody has a firm idea of what the [Three Percenter] movement is,” according to J.J. MacNabb, a fellow with the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. 

“If you are, for example, a Three Percenter in Idaho, you’re part of a militia. You show up, you train, you organize, you actually have membership,” MacNabb said. “But if you’re just kind of a Three Percenter, or if you got a tattoo or wear the T-shirt, or have a patch on your hat or whatever, you very well might not belong to any local group, and you’re not part of them. You’re part of the movement. And because it’s loosey goosey, there’s no real definition of what it means to be a Three Percenter.”

Some Three Percenter supporters may not even know what the symbology actually stands for, MacNabb said. 

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In interviews with people who have had tattoos similar to Burt’s, MacNabb has learned that people have many different interpretations for the symbol, she said. One believed it was pro-military. Another believed it represented support for the Second Amendment. Last year, a draft pick by the New England Patriots, Justin Rohrwasser, made headlines after he was spotted with a Three Percenter tattoo, which he said he believed was a pro-military, patriotic symbol. In fact, the symbol has  gained favor among members of the military, and members of some chapters have had close ties to the military. 

Burt himself is a Marine Corps veteran. 

Many definitions

According to the Anti-Defamation League, while the media often refer to the Three Percenters as a movement or a group, they actually constitute a segment of the broader anti-government militia movement and, as a concept, can be seen as a way to “simplify, popularize and spread the ideology and beliefs of the militia movement.” 

There is an unofficial Three Percenters’ website, for example, with a merchandise store and a blog detailing the movement’s beliefs. That blog also challenges various ways the movement has been depicted in the popular press, particularly following civil unrest throughout the summer and the violent riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Shortly after Burt was elected to represent House District 39, Joe Bishop Henchman — the national chair of the Libertarian Party, which supported Burt’s campaign — posted a series of images on his Facebook page depicting him spending time with Burt. In one of those images, Burt’s Three Percent tattoo is visible. (Screengrab/Facebook)

However, the site — which belongs to a group that purports to be the “original” Three Percenters — explicitly states on its (now-defunct) landing page that there “are lots of three-percenter groups” and that there was no specific organization responsible for the storming of the Capitol. 

“As we’ve said many times before, we do not allow members into our organization who are racists, white supremacists, violent, anti-government, extremists, terrorists, etc.,” the group wrote in a Feb. 19 blog post. “We have a vetting standard in place to weed out these types that would seem to hurt our organization. We are law-abiding good people who love America and want to give back to our communities. We ask the news agencies to conduct accurate reporting instead of lumping all Three Percenter groups into one. We’re not all the same. In fact, we’re radically different from one another. Do better reporting.”

After a reporter reached out to Burt via text message on Nov. 5 asking for comment, the tattoo image was removed from Henchman’s post. Burt hasn’t responded to the reporter’s questions, and the national Libertarian Party has not returned phone calls or emails requesting comment. (Screengrab, Facebook)

The symbol has been connected to anti-government violence in recent years. One of the men charged in the 2018 bombing of a Minnesota mosque was found to have run a Three Percenter group, and several people prescribing to the ideology were among those who stormed the United States Capitol. 

Rohrwasser later said he regretted getting the tattoo after learning what it symbolized, and planned to have it removed, according to the Providence Journal. The United States Military has issued warnings that some of its symbols — including a combat medic trauma course symbol closely resembling the Three Percenters symbol — were being co-opted by white supremacist and anti-government groups who were attracted to the “patriotic symbology,” the Army Times reports.

“A lot of these guys who get this tattoo don’t know what it actually means,” MacNabb said. “And the fact [that Burt] ran for office is a good thing. In its purest form, a Three Percenter would never run for office. They’d try to gather up enough people to take on the government from the outside.”


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Filed Under: Featured, Featured Top Story, Legislature, Politics

Nick Reynolds

About Nick Reynolds

Nick Reynolds is the politics and policy reporter for WyoFile. A native of central New York, he has covered politics in Wyoming since 2018, when he arrived to cover that year’s governor’s race. Reynolds has won numerous journalism awards for his political, environmental and investigative work in Wyoming and in New York. He lives in Casper.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mike J McLaughlin says

    March 8, 2021 at 7:38 pm

    Who cares? And so what? Where is freedom of choice? His body, his choice? These far left radicals are unreal……

    • City: Sheridan
    • State of Residence: Wyoming
    Reply
  2. Mike Krall says

    March 8, 2021 at 11:40 am

    A view… Wikipedia on 3-Percenters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Percenters

    • City: Lander
    • State of Residence: Wyoming
    Reply
  3. Paul Rock says

    March 8, 2021 at 9:36 am

    I’m confused. In order to show his “solid commitment” to Amendments 2 and 10, Rep. Burt gets the number 3 indelibly inked on his forearm.

    As an alleged Libertarian and according to the Libertarian Party platform, Rep. Burt is pro-abortion, pro-legalizing prostitution, pro-legalizing marijuana and other drugs, pro-LGTBQ, as well as against Social Security, and against government subsidies of the oil/gas and coal industries.

    I eagerly await seeing Rep. Burt stand up for these principles in the Wyoming Legislature.

    • City: Pinedale
    • State of Residence: Wyoming
    Reply
  4. Ricky Taylor says

    March 6, 2021 at 1:16 pm

    If he does not know nor understand the significance of the symbol, he has no business to be in the state legislature at all.

    • City: Pocatello
    • State of Residence: Idaho
    Reply
  5. Sally Sarvey says

    March 5, 2021 at 9:37 pm

    The French arrived and turned the tide 100%

    • City: Casper
    • State of Residence: Wyoming
    Reply
  6. Damon jensen says

    March 5, 2021 at 6:50 pm

    Wyofile is better than this; a tattoo can mean anything and it is a personal choice. Moreover tattoos are permanent and historical. People can change and grow.
    “First they came for the libertarians and I did not speak out because I was not a libertarian.
    Then they came for those with tattoos and I did not speak out because I did not have a tattoo.
    Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”
    Pastor Martin Niomoller recognized the need for tolerance and let us learn and judge a man by the strength of his character and actions, and not by a tattoo.

    • City: Afton
    • State of Residence: Wyoming
    Reply
  7. Bruce Runion says

    March 5, 2021 at 3:43 pm

    Listen just shows you how uneducated these 3% are. if they thought only 3% fought for our freedom in the Revolutionary War they need to go back to school before anyone let them pass any laws for every American that they have hate for..
    In truth the Population at the time in America at the time of the Revolutionary war was divided up pretty equally about 30% to form the United States 30% where loyal to England and 30% just would go with who ever was winning.. Honestly its a wonder Washington was able to drag out the war for so long. But we all know that, just look at low long North Vietnam held out against the French then the Japanese and the United States

    • City: Saint Robert
    • State of Residence: Missouri
    Reply
  8. Leland Sanders says

    March 5, 2021 at 2:55 pm

    I believe it’s not about the tattoo, it’s about what it stands for. It reminds me of the jerks carrying confederate flags into the Capitol on January 6. When they get caught and the squeeze is on they insist it doesn’t mean anything. Symbolism of that type means something, doesn’t matter whether you are a veteran or not, which I am. I can assure you that type of symbolism doesn’t mean patriotism. He may or may not actually be actively in a militia, but it sounds and looks like he’s a short step away.

    • City: Sheridan
    • State of Residence: Wyoming
    Reply
  9. linds sue Nelson says

    March 5, 2021 at 12:06 pm

    “Will you walk into my parlour?” said a spider to a fly. And thus the legislature is compromised.

    • City: (Rawlins) Bellingham
    • State of Residence: Washington
    Reply
  10. Harvey Reading says

    March 5, 2021 at 11:24 am

    C’mon now, the guy is just a typical rethuglican…

    • City: Shoshoni
    • State of Residence: Wyoming
    Reply
    • Dayton Lewis says

      March 5, 2021 at 12:55 pm

      Guess you missed the part where he’s a Libertarian. Quite a few of my friends that are veterans have the same tattoo.

      • City: Glenrock
      • State of Residence: Wyoming
      Reply
      • Harvey Reading says

        March 5, 2021 at 4:48 pm

        Libertarians (so-called) are just ultra-right rethuglicans in disguise. They claim to value freedom above all, and they do…freedom for themselves, to do whatever they want, at the expense of the freedom of others, particularly those not wealthy enough to block their evil ways. In other words, just ultra rethuglicans.

        • City: Shoshoni
        • State of Residence: Wyoming
        Reply
  11. Arthur Saint Jacques says

    March 4, 2021 at 8:15 pm

    So we’re writing about unapproved tattoos now?

    • City: Kemmerer
    • State of Residence: Wyoming
    Reply

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