By now, some of you have probably heard that I have resigned as Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Florida. I feel I owe many of you the courtesy of an explanation for my decision.
I have been extremely outspoken against Augustus Sol Invictus, who is currently the only candidate for the Libertarian U.S. Senate nomination. My strong opposition to him has put me in conflict with the LPF Executive Committee.
Mr. Invictus has repeatedly vowed that it is his destiny to start a second civil war in America. In a 2013 memo to his colleagues, he wrote, “I have prophesied for years that I was born for a Great War; that if I did not witness the coming of the Second American Civil War, I would begin it myself."
He has described himself as an American fascist, and even his campaign logo is nearly identical to that of Benito Mussolini. He has displayed swastikas in his published campaign materials.
He has expressed support for a eugenics program, which would sterilize, euthanize or forcibly abort "the weakest, the least intelligent, and the most diseased."
Many of his supporters are known members of Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, such as American Front, Vinelanders, and Stormfront, and he has been recruiting them into the Libertarian Party.
In a private, face-to-face meeting with Mr. Invictus, I asked him directly, "Do you actually intend to kill millions of people and start a civil war?" His answer to me was, "It's my religion."
I would never disparage anyone on the basis of their religion. But, since Mr. Invictus cites his religion as the motivation for his violent intentions, I believe it must be scrutinized.
Mr. Invictus practices Thelema, an occult pagan religion based on the teachings of Aleister Crowley. Mr. Invictus was ejected from one order of the religion for brutally and sadistically dismembering a goat in a ritualistic sacrifice.
Even the legally-changed name he chose for himself is revealing. August Sol Invictus is Latin, and translates to "the Unconquerable Sun God."
Mr. Invictus is extremely charming and persuasive in person, and is a talented public speaker, which makes him all the more dangerous.
Clearly, this man is the absolute antithesis of a Libertarian. Violent Fascist and Neo-Nazi ideologies are completely incompatible with Libertarian values. As such, I had repeatedly and vocally disavowed him and his followers. I advised the LPF that I would continue to speak out against him, regardless of the consequences.
The majority of the LPF Executive Committee believed I should remain silent, and simply allow the primary election process to play out. That is something I was unwilling to do. While no one on the Executive Committee openly supported Mr. Invictus, only a few had the conviction to stand openly against him.
I strongly believe that we must ensure that these violent ideologies are not associated with the Libertarian Party in any way. Libertarians should always be the first to rise up against hatred, subjugation, and violence.
Since, I could not in good conscience remain silent about this man or his followers, I had no choice but to resign.
It is my sincere hope that the Executive Committee of the LPF reverse their position, and provide the new leadership with the authority to disavow and nullify this clear and present threat to our party, our nation, and our freedom.
I write this in an attempt to convince the LPF that it must recognize the evil it faces, and have the courage to resoundingly reject it.
Adrian Wyllie is the former chairman of the Libertarian Party of Florida and was the Libertarian gubernatorial nominee in 2014.
