Were you aware that the Columbia riots 2 weekends ago were arranged?

That far left and far right anarchists engineered rock and water bottle throwing, trashing and looting stores and restaurants and burning Columbia police cars.

That they aim to foment a new civil war, destroy government and law enforcement and eventually take over the country.

They are a loose coalition of right wing extremists, white supremacist, neo-Nazis and a group calling itself the Boogaloo Bois,

A pair of possible Boogaloo members were arrested last week in the Saturday, May 30, violence in downtown Columbia.

• Former Richland County medic Kevin Ackley, 22, was reportedly arrested in Lexington although we have been unable to confirm he lives here. He is accused of throwing a water bottle at police, an incident officers say helped escalate violence.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said the public helped identify him as an instigator of the violence.

• Joshua Barnard, 24, has been charged with breaking into a motor vehicle, looting, larceny, aggravated breach of peace and instigating a riot during the same protest.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said he also was wearing a Hawaiian shirt, a Boogaloo Bois trademark.

Officers said they seized Barnard’s Hawaiian shirt, 2 long guns and 2 pistols.

Police have arrested 5 others suspected of instigating violence during protests against the killing of unarmed George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Such schemes are nothing new, yet this latest violence may have been triggered by recent events including:

• Government covid-19 lockdowns and job losses.

• Political threats to seize private owners’ arms.

• George Floyd’s death.

This Chronicle special report is based on digital research into these groups, their methods and motives.

We have asked the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the Lexington Police Department and the State Law Enforcement Division for any additional information they can share.

INSIDE:

• Inside violent hate groups and their aims, Page A3

• Violent groups oppose police raids, Page A3

• Columbia rioter charged, Page A8