Interfaith Works is joining with many in our community to express relief and gratitude to authorities that apprehended Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields on June 2, 2025.
The successful raid of their home base in Lacey included the seizure of specialized military weaponry and tactical gear that had been stolen from Joint Base Lewis-McChord over the past two years. Police seized at least 35 weapons with some being so deadly that active duty military members are not allowed to possess them outside of training facilities.
Images from the raid also showed the home adorned with Nazi flags, white supremacist paraphernalia, and altars dedicated to Hitler and his lieutenants. The combination of such weaponry and symbols of hate signals a mindset and a dangerous portent of threat, particularly to Jewish, Muslim, immigrant, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC and other vulnerable populations in our community.
These images and the arrest and seizure of the weapons in our region is chilling, especially in a time of heightened rhetoric and increasing polarization. We recognize the concern and destabilizing impact this type of story can have on our region.
This letter is to remind us we are more than our fears. We, the Board and Staff Directors of Interfaith Works, offer this letter to remember and celebrate our inter-connectedness and ask how we can continue to foster and deepen community and connection.
Interfaith Works is a coalition of regional, diverse faith communities and affiliated organizations. We are also one of the region’s largest providers of impactful social services for vulnerable adults experiencing homelessness.
For over 50 years, our organization has fostered meaningful connections within our community. Interfaith Works is blessed that the Islamic Center of Olympia and Temple Beth Hatfiloh are active members of our shared work and we recognize that each of these communities have been targets of hate crime and violence in the past years. We stand with our Jewish, Muslim, immigrant, and LGBTQIA+ neighbors; we are committed to them and we are ready to mobilize in support of them.
Statements of solidarity and visions of a better world do not need only come in response to a violent event, rather, we can name the world we want and come together in that vision. This is our message today.
The wisdom traditions of the world are absolutely consistent across even the most diverse cultural origins: all life is sacred and all life is connected and interwoven. The type of weapons seized in the raid on June 2 is a tragic reminder of how easily and completely such an essential, spiritual truth can be forgotten. We must help each other remember this shared truth, and then ask what is needed to make that truth an unforgettable basis of our interconnected realities.
The images of the Nazi flags and organized shelves of unthinkably lethal weapons are terrifying and tragic because of the way they point away from the essential truth of the sacredness of all life and people. Yet, our work continues in this time with purpose and hope, and we welcome you to join in!
Even the smallest act of kindness changes our world for the better. Smile at another human you pass by, talk to your neighbors and tell them of the world you want to build, learn about the myriad efforts and organizations doing the work of building beloved community right here in Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey. Look at the sky, the trees, the blooming of the flowers and give thanks, remembering that you are included in the essential truth we cannot afford to forget.
Interfaith Works Board of Directors and Staff Directors
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Southsoundguy
When are people going to have the same reaction to all the commies running around Thurston county?
Monday, June 30 Report this
CobraCommander
SouthSoundGuy intentionally left out that these two individuals attacked a soldier on JBLM with a hammer and a knife after they were discovered stealing weapons and sensitive items such as night vision goggles and body armor.
Why must you continue to defend these people?
Ah that's right, nazis protect their own.
Monday, June 30 Report this
Chappellg
Southsoundguy wants commies to be arrested for their political beliefs. Have you not heard of the First Amendment of the Constitution that protects Free Speech? I’m unaware of any American commie in my lifetime committing an act of violence against innocent people, but there are way too many skinheads, neonazis and Nazis who have done so. Do you know of any commie who steals weapons of mass destruction from the military? Do you think these 2 Nazis were stealing them just to admire them?
The parents of a friend of mine were American Communists from the 1940’s until their deaths this century. They were middle class working Americans who advocated for candidates and legislation that supported their political philosophy. Never did they advocate violence toward anyone! No, I have no fear of any American communist, but I am quite afraid of American Nazis.
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
Snevets
Thank you for this article & thank you @cobracommander & chapellg. I only wish that folks like southsound guy would do his homework and actually look up the definitions of communist, socialist, etc. before spewing they're ignorance.
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
ViaLocal
Southsoundguy is a racist who wouldn't mind if Nazi's came back into power because it would support his own race. Look at all his other comments. Dude is a racist MAGA supporter.
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
ViaLocal
Interfaith Works -- Thank you for this letter
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
Southsoundguy
I want commies arrested, yes. You want commies free, because you are weak minded betas.
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
CobraCommander
Southsoundguy - Ah, a misogynist as well as a racist.
Tuesday, July 1 Report this