Augustus Sol Invictus (born Austin Mitchell Gillespie; July 31, 1984)[1] is an American far-right political activist, attorney, blogger, white nationalist, and convicted felon.
[6] In April 2017, the Libertarian Party of Florida, following mediation, issued a retraction of the 2015 press release, stating that "it exceeded the mandate of the executive committee", and declaring that "Mr. Invictus has always been a member in good standing, is a past chair of the Libertarian Party of Orange County, a sponsor of the 2016 and 2017 LPF State Conventions, as well as a dedicated volunteer on the Legislative Review Committee.
"[7] In July 2017, Invictus changed his party affiliation to Republican, announcing his candidacy for the 2018 United States Senate election in Florida.
[8][9] Invictus was a headline speaker at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017, that ended with three deaths, and was ultimately tried and convicted for his actions that weekend.
Invictus is the publisher of The Revolutionary Conservative, a publication which calls for a violent uprising[11] and states that its aim is to restore the American republic and defend Western civilization.
[14] He has proposed the repeal of several amendments to the US Constitution, stipulating that only white male citizens should be allowed to vote or own real property.
Invictus is currently the publisher of The Revolutionary Conservative, a far-right publication with the stated aim of "restoring the American republic and defending Western Civilization".
[17] Invictus was a headlined speaker at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017, where a white supremacist drove his vehicle into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer.
[22][23][24] He said he had sacrificed the goat and drunk its blood as part of a ritual to give thanks for surviving a pilgrimage in spring 2013, but denied it was "sadistic".
[29] In May 2016, Invictus began the "Possibility of Revolution" tour in Florida, speaking in Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Tampa, Fort Myers, and Miami in one continuous circuit.
"[36][37] Invictus has proposed repealing the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Nineteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States,[16] insisting that only white male citizens should have the right to vote or own real property.
[26][34] Invictus has been accused of crimes including domestic violence, stalking, and threats of bodily harm verbally and with a firearm, which have been reported to law enforcement in Florida at least ten times.
The victim stated to police that she hesitated as a result of feeling intimidated by Invictus's connections to white-supremacist organizations and legal expertise in addition to her allegations of serial acts of violence.
[44] Upon his arrest in Melbourne, Invictus was then extradited to Rock Hill, South Carolina, where the alleged crimes, this time against another woman, who is his estranged wife, occurred.
For example, his wife alleged he had abused her for 6 years via assaults including punching her in the stomach to avoid visible bruises, and locking her in the bedroom for days.
[45] On February 14, 2020, Judge Hall in Rock Hill, South Carolina, ordered that Invictus be held in jail without bond.
[47] On March 31, 2020,[48] the court determined that Invictus could be freed on bail after his public defender cited the risk posed to inmates by the coronavirus pandemic.