SCORES KILLED, HUNDREDS INJURED AS PARA-MILITARY EXTREMISTS RIOT

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SCORES KILLED, HUNDREDS INJURED AS PARA-MILITARY EXTREMISTS RIOT

BOSTON – Police and National Guard units seeking to confiscate a
cache of recently banned assault weapons were ambushed Sunday be
elements of a para-military right wing extremist faction.

Military and law enforcement sources estimate that 72 were killed and
more than 200 injured before government forces were compelled to
withdraw. Speaking after the clash, Massachusetts Governor Thomas
Gage declared that the extremist militia faction has citizens who
have links to the radical right wing tax protest movement. Gage
blamed the militia for recent incidents of vandalism directed against
internal revenue offices.

The governor who described the group's organizers as "terrorists",
issued an executive order authorizing the summary arrest of any
individual who has interfered with the governments efforts to secure
law and order. The law enforcement team augmented by elements of the
National Guard, were sent to raid a militia arsenal after widespread
refusal of right wing extremists to turn over recently outlawed
assault weapons. This decision followed a meeting in early July
between government and law enforcement which authorized the
confiscation of the illegal arms, known as the weapons of choice
among criminals and militias.

One government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed
out "that none of these people would have been killed had right wing
extremist obeyed the law and turned over the weapons voluntarily".

Police and government forces initially succeeded in confiscating a
large supply of outlawed weapons and ammunition. However, troops
attempting to seize arms and ammunition in Lexington met with
resistance from heavily armed militia extremist who had been tipped
off regarding the government's plans.

During a tense stand-off in Lexington's town park, National Guard
Colonel Francis Smith, commander of the government operation, ordered
the armed group to surrender and return to their homes. The impasse
was broken by a single shot, which was reportedly fired by one of the
right wing extremist. Eight civilians were killed in the ensuing
exchange.

Ironically, the local citizens blamed the government forces rather
than the extremists for the civilian deaths. Before order could be
restored, heavily armed militia groups from surrounding areas had
descended upon the police and guard units. Colonel Smith finding his
forces over matched by militia mobs, ordered a retreat.

Governor Gage has called upon citizens to support the state/national
joint task force in its effort to restore law and order. The governor
has also demanded the surrender of those responsible for planning and
leading the attack against the government. Samuel Adams, Paul Revere,
and John Hancock, who have been identified as ":ringleaders" of the
extremist militia faction remain at large.

( The American Revolution begins, as reported by Associated Press)
(Compiled by Charles Norton and New American Magazine.)