ST. GEORGE — Disinformation has sadly become a part of American political discourse, but one environmental organization is calling out a group of anti-government extremists for spinning false narratives.
The Center for Western Priorities published a report in April tracking several “fake news” stories about the 30×30 Initiative tied to President Joe Biden’s America the Beautiful campaign.
Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the center, said a group named American Stewards of Liberty (ASL) has made it its mission to undercut the plan to protect 30% of public lands by 2030.
“It’s a very coordinated campaign,” Weiss observed. “And it’s one that we really see one group, American Stewards of Liberty, acting as a bridge between the extremists and more mainstream anti-conservation politicians.”
Weiss pointed out one of the group’s stated goals is the “delisting” of endangered species. ASL is holding a “Stop 30×30 Summit” this weekend to further plan its campaign to convince local governments to reject proposals to protect private lands. ASL did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
Weiss noted his organization has been monitoring ASL since its formation about a year ago, and has tracked public lands extremism since the 2016 takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
He said ASL often uses scare tactics on local officials to achieve its goals.
“American Stewards of Liberty brought them a crazy story about the risk of a protected species, the American burying beetle,” Weiss recounted. “And said, ‘Oh no, if this beetle shows up, then other farms might have to protect it as well. And we couldn’t have that in our county.'”
Weiss emphasized the group is well-funded but runs its disinformation campaign in the shadows.
“It truly is about sunlight,” Weiss asserted. “Making sure folks know the extent of this coordinated effort, making sure that folks know when American Stewards of Liberty shows up in your county. Here is the disinformation book that they’re going to bring, that they’re going to try to sell county commissioners.”
According to the report, ASL has ties to prominent right-wing politicians and causes, including Congress members Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, and Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Arizona, Utah state Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, and the American Petroleum Institute.
Written by MARK RICHARDSON, producer for Utah News Connection.
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