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As most Americans held barbecues and waited for firework displays on July 4^th, anti-government activists, known as the Shovel Brigade, "liberated" a road under U.S. Forest Service jurisdiction in Elko, Nevada. It was the latest in a string of events known as the Jarbidge Rebellion. The rebellion centers around the one and a half-mile South Canyon Road. The Elko County Commission claims it owns the road which is part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. In 1995, the road was washed out by a flood, and the Forest Service decided rebuilding the road would endanger the bull trout in Jarbidge River. Today's anti-government movement quickly used this anti-federal sentiment and catapulted South Canyon Road into a symbol of government tyranny.

Most Montanans first heard of the Jarbidge Rebellion when Eureka lumber mill owner Jim Hurst organized his "Shovels of Solidarity" in January 2000. Hurst, owner of Owens & Hurst Timber and an active member in the wise use movement, collected and delivered shovels to the anti-government rebels. These shovels were put to work on July 4^th by as right-wing activists from across the country.

As the July 4^th date approached, the U.S. Attorney in Nevada warned the brigade that, by rebuilding the road, it faced possible jail time and fines up to $50,000. On June 29, a federal judge said he would allow the demonstration; however, members of the Shovel Brigade could be prosecuted for any environmental damage done.

Over the last five years, the controversy around the road's closure grew. In November 1999, Gloria Flora resigned her position as the supervisor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest to shine a spotlight on the hostility facing public employees. During a Network-sponsored speaking tour in Montana earlier this year, Flora talked about employees being threatened and intimidated.

Militias began promoting the rebellion, adding a conspiratorial spin. In a message sent out by the Militia of Montana's (MOM), the writer framed the conflict like this: "The Feds, in collaboration with global elitists (the New World Order), are pushing for total control from Washington D.C., imposing their ever-increasing bureaucratic legislation (under the guise of Îenvironmental protection.')" MOM has continued to follow Jarbidge developments, posting media articles and personal requests for support.

As July 4^th approached, patriots across the country tried to enlist support for the brigade. Bill Utterback, a Texas militiaman, asked patriots to attend. He received messages encouraging the brigade to "put down their shovels and pick up their arms and shoot-to-kill as the courageous patriots of our nation had to do in our first revolution." Another message said, "It is time to open that road, [and] kill every agent of an oppressive regime that tries to stop it."

The July 4^th Shovel Brigade consisted of about 500 people, including many right-wing Montana activists. The demonstrators managed to remove a 10,000 pound boulder, dubbed the "Liberty Rock," from the road with ropes and chains while chanting "Freedom!" As we go to press, the federal government is suing the work party for trespassing and trying to get an order barring the shovel brigade from working on the road in the future unless it obtains proper permits.

The brigade's participants included prominent Montana and national right-wing activists. Jim Hurst attended the demonstration, saying the political process no longer works. "We've been to meetings and meetings and meetings," he said. "I for one am pretty much through with meetings." He didn't come to Elko empty handed, bringing a picnic table that was the length of a flatbed truck.

Flathead County Commissioner Bob Watne also attended. Watne is currently trying to win another term on the commission and has used the rebellion as a major part of his campaign. He was part of Hurst's original Shovels of Solidarity caravan that delivered the shovels to Elko in January. In the Sierra Times, a patriot Internet publication, militia activist J.J. Johnson said a Montana county commissioner was promoting the idea of a Western States Alliance encouraging "western counties organizing themselves to take on the Federal Government."

Tom Farrenkopf of Citizens to Preserve the Second Amendment (CPSA) was an enthusiastic participant in the Shovel Brigade. One report credits him with starting the "Freedom" chant as the "Liberty Rock" was moved. CPSA has had MOM founder John Trochmann speak at its meetings. At a January 2000 wise use meeting in Hamilton, Farrenkopf claimed the United Nations was going to carve up the United States along wildlife corridors.

Long-time militia activist J.J. Johnson was also at the rally. Once the leader of the Unorganized Ohio Militia, Johnson now runs the Sierra Times, a right-wing patriot publication on the Internet. In the mid-1990s, Johnson was an important player in the militia movement. Because he is African American, Johnson was frequently used to deflect charges that the movement was racist. Along with John Trochmann, Johnson testified before a congressional subcommittee on the militia movement in 1995. Sierra Times publishes article on a wide range of right-wing issues: gun rights, land-use issues, Confederate flags issues, etc. It has also followed the Jarbidge Rebellion and had many personal accounts by people who were there on July 4^th.

Jeff Head, a militia activist from Idaho, participated as well. He says the relationship between the federal government and Elko exemplifies the "nature of growing tyranny" as the government "raises its ugly head whenever it thinks it sees an opportunity." Head's account says he and Farrenkopf went shooting together the morning before the rally. Farrenkopf helped Head organize the "50 Million Round March" in June 2000. Patriots were encouraged to write their congressman and "include either one of their used targets with their letters, or two spent cartridges." Head claimed this wasn't meant to be threatening, but quickly added, "the 2^nd Amendment was MEANT to be a latent threat to politicians." MOM advertised the event and Farrenkopf's business volunteered to design T-shirts.

The spirit of the Shovel Brigade continues to grow. Montanans for Multiple Use (MFMU), one of Montana's largest wise use groups, is planning another Shovels of Solidarity trip. The new target is London, Ohio. On September 2, SOS will travel to the Darby Farmland rally. The rally will protest the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's acquisition of 50,000 acres of farmland to convert into a wildlife refuge. MFMU plans on lining the property's fence line with SOS shovels in protest. MOM sent out a notice about this event listing U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage (R-ID) and her husband Wayne Hage as speakers. Chenoweth-Hage has brought many patriot issues to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Wayne Hage is currently suing the forest service over grazing rights, and is a wise use icon.

A notice for "SOS in Ohio" listed Montana's Hurst, Clarice Ryan and Bruce Vincent has contacts for more information. Two national wise use organizations, the Paragon Foundation and People for the USA, are sponsoring the event.