[1][2] The group gained significant attention after it was revealed that James Alex Fields had marched with them at the Unite the Right rally before being arrested on murder charges.

[6] Irizarry, who legally changed his name in 2006 to Dillon Hopper, is a Marine Corps veteran who had served in Afghanistan, also claimed that "many" members were veterans but active duty service members were barred from affiliating with the group until their contract had ended for their "safety".

[7][note 1] Hopper also states that local branches exist in Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

James Alex Fields, who was later responsible for killing a counter protester and injuring 19 others in a vehicle-ramming attack, was seen marching with the group and carrying a shield displaying a symbol associated with Vanguard America.

[11] After the rally, as Hopper was largely dealing with the fallout of Fields' action, Rousseau and his Texas branch of the VA split in August to form Patriot Front.