Trial Delayed for Leader of Black Nationalist Militia

Grandmaster Jay left, leader of NFAC, leads a march in Louisville, Ky., on July 25, 2020. Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

LOUISVILLE, Ky.–A federal judge has delayed the trial of John Johnson, the black nationalist militia leader accused of pointing his firearm at a group of law enforcement officers during a September 2020 racial justice protest in Louisville, Kentucky.

Johnson’s trial was set to begin on April 27, and a cameraman from a local television news station was awaiting the defendant’s arrival that morning outside Gene Snyder U.S. Courthouse. But inside, reporters were told by the clerk that the trial had been delayed until May 23.

According to the court docket, the decision was made via telephonic conference on April 25 but wasn’t posted until two days later.

A spokesperson for Johnson’s militia, Not [Expletive] Around Coalition (NFAC), told The Epoch Times that the decision was made by District Judge Benjamin Beaton because of a “personal issue.”

“Why this does not violate the Speedy Trial Act is beyond us,” said NFAC Global spokeswoman Debbie James.

A receptionist for Beaton declined to comment, and prosecutors didn’t respond by press time to emailed questions from The Epoch Times. Staffers at the court clerk’s office said they would try to find out why the trial was delayed, but they didn’t have an answer before press time.

Johnson, who captured headlines with his all-black militia during the racial justice protests of 2020, was arrested in December of that year for allegedly pointing his firearm at a group of FBI agents, Secret Service members, and Louisville Metro Police Department officers.

“A short time after initiating surveillance, [the officers] were blinded by a light, which they shortly thereafter determined was a flashlight mounted to the rifle aimed at them by Johnson,” the government’s complaint against Johnson says.

Video footage purportedly captures Johnson pointing his rifle in the air while law enforcement officers were standing on a nearby rooftop, but what’s in dispute is Johnson’s intent behind his actions, according to court filings.

To prove Johnson intended to assault or intimidate the officers on the rooftop, prosecutors plan to introduce inflammatory statements he made about the Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of George Floyd.

“The government’s position in admitting this evidence is that Mr. Johnson’s ‘historical animosity’ and ’vehement hatred' directed towards police in general, over time, shows his motive and intent to assault, or at least intimidate the police on this occasion,” Johnson’s attorney, Don Maier, said in an April 1 filing.

In turn, the defense plans to introduce Johnson’s own recorded words and statements.

“The government contends that it is this so-called historical animosity toward police which permeates Mr. Johnson’s thought process, provides motive, and shows intent,” Maier said in his filing. “The defense intends to submit evidence which suggests there is no such historical animosity.”

The NFAC has been largely silent since Johnson’s arrest. In February, an NFAC spokesperson told The Epoch Times, “We can clarify for you that the NFAC has been in a stand-down posture, as ordered by its commander [Johnson] after he was arrested in 2020.

“As we are a law-abiding organization, we thought it the proper thing to do, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings,” James said. “We didn’t anticipate it would last for 14 months.”

Johnson, also widely known by his DJ name, Grand Master Jay, elaborated about his organization in a December 2021 appearance on AllHipHopTV. According to Johnson, NFAC has been quiet because its members see his arrest as political persecution, and they fear the same.

“There’s a reason you don’t see us: Because, as far as we’re concerned, we’re still under attack,” Johnson said in the interview.

Johnson said his organization is still active behind the scenes.