Interesting case, though he is certainly not an Antifa goon, as the Antifa groups he once worked with quickly & correctly identified and widely denounced him as a
provocateur.
His whole sordid history is covered below. Sullivan also worked with the Proud Boys, and his brother is an extreme rightwing activist. I suspect they are symbiotic sociopaths. In my opinion John Sullivan should definitely be in prison. He probably will end up there eventually, or he’ll just end up dead. The Wikipedia article below has over 60 linked references:
en.m.wikipedia.org
This asshole is a psychologically twisted hustler out for fame and money … and violent thrills. Wanting and getting attention, he’s so far succeeded in making pretty good money off of his nihilistic stunts and “Gonzo journalism.” His brother (who has also apparently worked with the FBI) and he are having a film made about themselves! John probably worked as an informant for various police agencies in Utah, and so was convicted of only minor offenses on Jan. 6th. His video work on the “front lines” of that shameful episode was used by all sides to make their own political points.
When I served with others as “marshals” at huge anti-war demonstrations back in the 1960s, as later when I was a union activist on picket lines, or at anti-racist or anti-imperialist protests, there was often a need for
self-discipline and self-defense. Identifying provocateurs and isolating them is something every movement, especially those expecting violence — or those prepared to act in self defense or engage in civil disobedience — needs to take seriously.
There are almost always individual provocateurs or even a few paid informants embedded amongst extremist protesters in such a large and violent protest.
Of course police authorities will rarely ever admit this! Even if true and admitted, though, it will hardly ever serve as a legal “excuse,” especially for the sort of massive criminal activity we saw committed on Jan. 6th.
The courts generally convict on the basis of one’s own individual criminal actions, and don’t allow excuses for criminal action even if a “leader” publically encouraged attacks on our Congress by calling for “trial by combat.” Little sympathy can be expected even for foolish criminals who claim they were just following the requests of a crazy “lame duck” Commander-in-Chief — who stood by watching for hours as crowds carrying
his banners fought their way through police lines and into the nation’s capital — to violently stop, or try to stop, the peaceful transfer of power.