[14][15] Thomas Mockaitis, professor of history at DePaul University stated: "In one sense it (NFAC) echoes the Black Panthers but they are more heavily armed and more disciplined...

[10] The first reported appearance of NFAC members was a May 12, 2020, protest near Brunswick, Georgia, over the February murder of Ahmaud Arbery,[9] though they were identified by local media as "Black Panthers".

[11] On the Fourth of July, 2020, local media reported that about 100 to 200 mostly armed NFAC members marched through Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, Georgia, calling for the removal of the Confederate monument.

[20] Johnson stated of the site, which is important to the Ku Klux Klan: "Our initial goal was to have a formation of our militia in Stone Mountain to send a message that as long as you're abolishing all these statues across the country, what about this one?

"[17] On July 25, a local news outlet stated that "more than 300" members were gathered in Louisville, Kentucky to protest the lack of action against the officers responsible for the March killing of Breonna Taylor.

[21][22] The NFAC posted a video of the event on its official YouTube page, reporting the number of militia members registered and present as 3,500.

[23] On July 20, preceding the event, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Louisville Metro Council President David James had a phone conversation with Johnson, which the AG's office described as "productive".

This demonstration was sparked after United States Representative Clay Higgins made threats against protesters who showed up armed regarding the shooting of Trayford Pellerin at the hands of police.

A week prior, she went viral online shortly after a video was released of her criticizing the local city commissioners for "choosing profits over people" as well as her push for the Police Chief Rick Smith to resign.

[30] On December 3, Johnson was arrested by the FBI for allegedly aiming his rifle at police officers during protests about Breonna Taylor's killing.

[35] On June 23, 2021, former NFAC member Othal "Ozone" Wallace shot and killed Daytona Beach Police Department Officer Jason Raynor whilst he was conducting a "proactive patrol".