{{Short description|American activist}} '''Mark Gregory Koernke''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɔr|ŋ|k|i}}; born 1957), known as "Mark from Michigan," is an American militia activist and shortwave radio broadcaster.<ref>{{cite web |url =http://annarborobserver.com/articles/mark_koernke_s_war_full_article.html |first = Michael |last = Betzold |title = Mark Koernke's War: Dexter man inspires Michigan Militias |work = The Ann Arbor Observer |date = 2010-06-24 |access-date = 2014-04-15 }}</ref> As an early proponent of the black helicopters conspiracy theory, he was largely responsible for popularizing it<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/koernke.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=2&item=koernke |title=Mark Koernke |access-date=2007-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219070609/http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/koernke.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=2&item=koernke |archive-date=2007-02-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> in appearances on Tom Valentine's radio show and in speeches which were widely circulated on videocassette. He was host of his own radio show, "The Intelligence Report",<ref>[http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=298 The Voices of Radical Radio]</ref> on WWCR until the station indefinitely suspended his broadcasts.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE1DF1230F93AA15757C0A963958260 |title = Terror in Oklahoma; Rightist Leader Is Off the Radio |work = The New York Times |date = 1995-04-29 |access-date = 2007-03-14 }}</ref> Shortly before his suspension, Koernke had suggested that authorities were setting up Timothy J. McVeigh for assassination.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7DF1639F933A05757C0A963958260 |first = David |last = Stout |title =Terror In Oklahoma: Radio; Some Rightist Shows Pulled, and Debate Erupts |work = The New York Times |date = 1995-04-30 |access-date = 2007-03-14 }}</ref> During this time he was interviewed by Sam Donaldson.<ref>{{YouTube|U_RBs2SxaTI|Mark Koernke interviewed by Sam Donaldson}}</ref>
Koernke is also known for his various educational videos on the New World Order. One of his better known pieces of work is called "America in Peril".<ref>[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1526462573111576587 Mark Koernke - America in Peril (About The New World Order)] Google Video</ref> America in Peril is the first in a trilogy of movies with America in Peril 2, and America in Peril 3 being the following documentaries.
After serving a three-to-seven-year sentence in prison for assaulting police, resisting arrest, and fleeing from police in a car chase, Koernke claimed that he had been set up by John Stadtmiller, co-founder of the Republic radio network syndicating his show.<ref>{{cite news |title = Agents seize radio equipment, weapons from home of former militia leader |work = The Associated Press State & Local Wire |publisher = Associated Press |date = 2002-11-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title =Militia activist sentenced for fleeing police |work = The Associated Press State & Local Wire |publisher = Associated Press |date = 2001-04-24 }}</ref>
On March 15, 2007, Koernke completed his sentence and was released from prison. He is not under any parole since he served his entire time sentenced in prison. Koernke initially resumed hosting "The Intelligence Report" on the "Patriot Broadcasting Network"<ref>Website of the [http://www.pbn.4mg.com Patriot Broadcasting Network] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070412224344/http://www.pbn.4mg.com/ |date=2007-04-12 }}</ref> and WTPRN <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtprn.com/programs.html|title=WTPRN programs|access-date=2008-03-01|archive-date=2008-08-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827175348/http://www.wtprn.com/programs.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> but now is broadcasting on Liberty Tree Radio <ref>{{cite web|url=http://libertytreeradio.4mg.com|title=Liberty Tree Radio}}</ref> and the Micro Effect.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themicroeffect.com/|title=The Micro Effect}}</ref> In addition to radio Mark Koernke has many training videos on his YouTube page under the name Libertytreeradio.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/Libertytreeradio Mark's page on YouTube]</ref>
==See also== *American militia movement
==References== {{Reflist}} *{{cite news |first = Joseph P. |last = Shapiro |author2=Paul Glastris |author3=Mike Tharp |author4=David Bowermaster |author5=Jim Impoco |author6=Warren Cohen |author7=Peter Cary |author8=Douglas Pasternak |author9=Dorian Friedman |author10=Amy Bernstein |author11=Vic Sussman |author12=Timothy M. Ito |author13=Jerelyn Eddings |title = Extremism in America: An epidemic of fear and loathing |work = U.S. News & World Report |publisher = U.S. News & World Report |pages = |page = 37 |date = 1995-05-08 }} - "The fast-growing fringe claims broader influence with its pamphlets, videotapes, shortwave radio programs and computer bulletin board forums. These spread a vision of federal officials duped and controlled by some faceless threat to democracy be it ZOG (an alleged Zionist occupation government), the United Nations or the Russians. Some militant patriot leaders like "Mark from Michigan," Mark Koernke, whose rancorous radio broadcasts briefly made him a suspect in the Oklahoma blast believe the bomb may have been set off by federal agents in order to create a pretext for shutting down the militias." *{{cite book | last = Stern | first = Kenneth S. | year = 1997 | title = A Force Upon the Plain | edition = Reprint | publisher = University of Oklahoma Press | isbn = 0-8061-2926-3 }} *{{cite book |last=Berlet |first=Chip |author-link=Chip Berlet |author2=Matthew N. Lyons |year=2000 |title=Right-Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort |url=https://archive.org/details/rightwingpopulis00berlrich |publisher=Guilford Publications |location=New York |isbn=1-57230-562-2 |url-access=registration}} *{{cite book | last = Koernke | first = Mark | year = 1994 | title = Towards the new world order: America's secret police force | publisher = TRAX | id = ASIN B0006QGO4E }} *{{cite web |year = 2001 |url = http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=191 |title = Patriot Crimes: 'Mark From Michigan' goes to prison |work = Intelligence Report |publisher = Southern Poverty Law Center |access-date = 2007-02-15 }}
==External links== *[http://mp3.wtprn.com/Koernke08.html Radio show archives from WTPRN] *[http://libertytreeradio.4mg.com Liberty Tree Radio Home Page] *[http://www.theintelligencereport.tk/ Radio show archives from a listener named Spike] *[http://www.militiaradio.com Re-broadcast and show archives on Militiaradio.com] *[https://archive.today/20090122230307/http://home.comcast.net/~intelrptadmin/intelrpt.html/ Archives of The Intelligence Report] *[https://www.youtube.com/Libertytreeradio Mark Koernke's YouTube page] *{{Cite magazine | issn =0040-781X | last = Van Biema | first = David | author2 = Michael Mcbride | author3 = Mark Thompson | title = Mark Koernke | magazine = Time | access-date = 2012-03-22 | date = 1995-06-26 | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983083,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061208005341/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C983083%2C00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = December 8, 2006 }} *{{Cite news | title = Tip about militia member Mark Koernke led to Hutaree investigation, court filing says | work = AnnArbor.com | access-date = 2012-03-22 | url = http://annarbor.com/news/crime/fbi-launched-hutaree-probe-after-tip-about-mark-koernke-court-filing-says/ }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Koernke, Mark}} Category:Living people Category:American radio personalities Category:1957 births