Mark Koernke

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Mark Gregory Koernke (pronounced "Cor-nek-ee" /ˈkɔɹn.ki/) (b. 1957), known as "Mark from Michigan," is a prominent militia activist and shortwave radio broadcaster. As an early proponent of the black helicopters , he was largely responsible for popularizing it[1] in appearances on Tom Valentine's radio show and in public speeches which were widely circulated on videocassette. He was host of his own radio program, "The Intelligence Report"[2] on WWCR until the station indefinitely suspended his broadcasts "to get the gasoline off the fires" after the Oklahoma City bombing.[3] Shortly before his suspension, Koernke had suggested that authorities were setting up Timothy J. McVeigh for assassination.[4]

In April of 2001 he was sentenced to three to seven years in prison for assaulting police, resisting arrest, and fleeing from police in a car chase.[5][6]

On March 15th, 2007, Koernke completed his sentence and was released from prison. He is not under any parole since he served his entire time sentenced in prison. On March 19th, 2007 he was interviewed by Alex Jones.[7] Koernke has resumed hosting "The Intelligence Report" on the "Patriot Broadcasting Network."[8] and WTPRN [9]

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[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mark Koernke
  2. ^ The Voices of Radical Radio
  3. ^ Terror in Oklahoma; Rightist Leader Is Off the Radio. The New York Times. The New York Times Company (1995-04-29). Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
  4. ^ Stout, David (1995-04-30). Terror In Oklahoma: Radio; Some Rightist Shows Pulled, and Debate Erupts. The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
  5. ^ "Agents seize radio equipment, weapons from home of former militia leader", The Associated Press State & Local Wire, Associated Press, 2002-11-07. Retrieved on 2007-03-12. 
  6. ^ "Militia activist sentenced for fleeing police", The Associated Press State & Local Wire, Associated Press, 2001-04-24. Retrieved on 2007-03-12. 
  7. ^ An mp3 audio file of the interview
  8. ^ Website of the Patriot Broadcasting Network
  9. ^ WTPRN programs.
  • Shapiro, Joseph P.; Paul Glastris; Mike Tharp; David Bowermaster; Jim Impoco; Warren Cohen; Peter Cary; Douglas Pasternak; Dorian Friedman; Amy Bernstein; Vic Sussman; Timothy M. Ito; Jerelyn Eddings. "Extremism in America: An epidemic of fear and loathing", U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, 1995-05-08, p. 37. Retrieved on 2007-02-15.  - "The fast-growing fringe claims broader influence with its pamphlets, videotapes, shortwave radio programs and computer bulletin board forums. These spread a vision of federal officials duped and controlled by some faceless threat to democracy be it ZOG (an alleged Zionist occupation government), the United Nations or the Russians. Some militant patriot leaders like "Mark from Michigan," Mark Koernke, whose rancorous radio broadcasts briefly made him a suspect in the Oklahoma blast believe the bomb may have been set off by federal agents in order to create a pretext for shutting down the militias."
  • Stern, Kenneth S. (1997). A Force Upon the Plain, Reprint edition, University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0806129263. 
  • Mark Koernke. Extremism in America. Anti-Defamation League (2005). Retrieved on 2007-02-15.
  • Barkun, Michael (1996). "preface", Religion and the Racist Right: The Origins of the Christian Identity Movement. University of North Carolina Press, x. ISBN 0807846384. 
  • Berlet, Chip; Matthew N. Lyons (2000). Right-Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort. New York: Guilford Publications. ISBN 1572305622. 
  • Ridgeway, James (1995). Blood in the Face: The Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, Nazi Skinheads, and the Rise of a New White Culture. Thunder's Mouth Press. ISBN 978-1560251002. 
  • Tuckett, Kate (2005). Conspiracy Theories. Berkley. ISBN 978-0425205273. 
  • Koernke, Mark (1994). Towards the new world order: America's secret police force. TRAX. ASIN B0006QGO4E. 
  • Patriot Crimes: 'Mark From Michigan' goes to prison. Intelligence Report. Southern Poverty Law Center (2001). Retrieved on 2007-02-15.