{{short description|Privately organized militia in the state of Ohio}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{About|the privately-organized militia in Ohio|the state defense force of Ohio|Ohio Military Reserve}} {{Infobox organization | name = Ohio Defense Force | image = Ohio Defense Force insignia.png | image_size = 250px | abbreviation = ODF | caption = | formation = 1989 | extinction = | type = private non-governmental paramilitary militia | affiliations = | location = Ohio | num_members = 300 (claimed by ODF) | key_people = William B. Alexander (founder) }}
The '''Ohio Defense Force''' ('''ODF''') is a right-wing privately organized militia in the state of Ohio. The Ohio Defense Force is not a part of the US Military, the Ohio National Guard, nor Ohio's similarly named State Defense Force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/5923 |title=Chapter 5923: ORGANIZED MILITIA |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= |publisher=State of Ohio |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308063517/http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/5923 |url-status=live }}</ref> Rather, it is organized, led, and staffed by private citizens. The Southern Poverty Law Center lists the Ohio Defense Force as an anti-governmental organization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Antigovernment Movement |url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/antigovernment |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Southern Poverty Law Center |language=en |archive-date=April 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408210912/https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/antigovernment |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Ohio Defense Force, originally named the Southeastern Ohio Defense Force, was founded in 1989 as a non-profit corporation. In 2004, the organization decided to expand statewide and was renamed the Ohio Defense Force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ohiodefenseforce.org/history/ |title=History |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=Ohio Defense Force Official Website |publisher= |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=May 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511011831/http://www.ohiodefenseforce.org/history/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/04/planned_home_guard_militia_tra.html |title=Planned Home Guard militia training in Geauga County prompts concerns from neighbors |last=Ewinger |first=James |date=April 4, 2009 |website=cleveland.com |publisher= |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=June 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615024619/http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/04/planned_home_guard_militia_tra.html |url-status=live }}</ref> TIME journalists conducted extensive interviews with members of the group during a training exercise in their piece "The Secret World of Extreme Militias".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gellman |first=Barton |date=2010-09-30 |title=The Secret World of Extreme Militias |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2022636-1,00.html |access-date=2023-04-05 |issn=0040-781X |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205114412/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2022636-1,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20230924165141/http://www.ohiodefenseforce.org/ Official Website]
Category:1989 establishments in Ohio Category:Organizations based in Ohio Category:American organizations established in 1989 Category:Right-wing militia organizations in the United States