Chris Pratt’s brother, whose work as both a sheriff’s deputy and part-time artist has been promoted by the star, appears to be connected to an extremist militant group, according to a new report.
Daniel “Cully” Pratt, the actor’s brother, is one of several deputies in the Solano County Sheriff’s Office to show support for the Three Percenters, according to a report by Scott Moris for Open Vallejo, a nonprofit news website based in Vallejo, California.
Cully Pratt, who was a public information officer at the Solano County Sheriff’s Office before being promoted to Sergeant-Sheriff last year, has a wood-carving side business. Open Vallejo reported that some of this art included Three Percenters symbols.
In a 2018 Instagram post obtained by Open Vallejo, he posed with a wood carving that had hooks for an AR-15 rifle, the words “WILL NOT COMPLY,” and the Roman numeral III, which is the Three Percenters logo. He included the hashtags “#3percenter,” “#pro2a,” “#libertyordeath,” and “#joinordie,” among others.
According to Open Vallejo, he made the rifle rack for Sgt. Roy Stockton of the Solano County Sheriff’s Office. The Instagram post has since been taken down. Representatives for the Solano County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Insider’s requests for comment.
The Three Percenters is an extremist anti-government movement
The Three Percenters is one of many groups that make up the extremist anti-government movement, but it's one of the movement's "core components," according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The movement does not have an organizational structure like the Oath Keepers, another militant group, does. The name comes from a myth alleging that only 3% of colonists fought the British in the Revolutionary War.
Three Percenters followers have been involved with criminal acts "ranging from weapons violations to terrorist plots and attacks," according to the Anti-Defamation League. One of the men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in October wore a Three Percenters symbol.
The FBI has also arrested several people they say are tied to the Three Percenters in connection with the riot at the US Capitol on January 6, The New York Times reported.
The Three Percenters logo can be seen as supporters of President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021. Stephanie Keith/Reuters
The report comes as actor Chris Pratt's politics have been called into question
Chris Pratt, known for his breakout role on "Parks and Recreation" and starring roles in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and other Marvel Cinematic Universe films, has previously promoted his brother's wood carvings on Instagram, Open Vallejo reported.
Chris Pratt has also worn clothing with controversial symbols associated with far-right groups in the past.
In 2018, he wore a hat to a 2018 Solano County Sheriff's Office fundraiser that featured the circular 13 stars of Betsy Ross' flag, a symbol that's been adopted by far-right extremists.
And in 2019, he was photographed wearing a shirt with an American flag along with the Gadsden Flag snake insignia and the words, "Don't Tread on Me." The Gadsden Flag, a coiled snake with the "Don't Tread on Me" phrase, was created by colonists seeking American independence from the British during the Revolutionary War. Conservative activists and commentators like Ben Shapiro and Steven Crowder defended Pratt after he drew criticism on Twitter for wearing the controversial shirt.
But its modern meaning is more complex since it was co-opted by the Tea Party in 2009. More recently, it has become extremely popular among anti-government militants, or "anyone who gets riled up by the idea of government overreach," as the New Yorker reported in 2016 - including the Three Percenters.
Representatives for Chris Pratt did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
