In what is suspected to be an act of Evangelical Christian religious extremism, a monument in Elberton, Georgia was damaged in the pre-dawn hours of July 6, 2022 in suspected bombing authorities labeled "domestic terrorism."
Northern Judicial Circuit district attorney Parks White said in an email about the explosion:
"The destruction of a public building by explosive is inherently intended to influence the actions of the governing authority that owns the structure."
"The use of violence to sway or alter the behavior of any government agency is terrorism."
The Georgia Guidestones was a granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia erected in 1979-1980.
Standing 19 feet 3 inches tall and made from six granite slabs weighing over 118 tons (107 metric tons), the formidable structure was sometimes referred to as an "American Stonehenge."
The monument's creators stated an upcoming social, nuclear or economic calamity necessitated creating a guide for future humanity. The monument created little controversy when it was unveiled in a small ceremony in 1980, but became the subject of conspiracy theories alleging a connection to Satanism in the last few decades.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation shared surveillance video of an individual planting what they believe was an explosive device near the monument. They asked for the public's help in making an identification.
You can see video clips here:
\u201c(1/3) The GBI is releasing surveillance video from this morning\u2019s explosion that destroyed the Georgia Guidestones.\u201d— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GA Bureau of Investigation) 1657146096
\u201c(1/4) The GBI is releasing additional surveillance video that shows an unknown person leaving an explosive device at the Georgia Guidestones.\u00a0 \n\nThe video is unclear, but agents are still actively working to identify the person leaving the scene after the explosion.\u201d— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GA Bureau of Investigation) 1657230040
\u201c(3/3) For safety reasons, the structure has been completely demolished.\u201d— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GA Bureau of Investigation) 1657146096
The entire structure was demolished later in the day on July 6 citing safety concerns.
Large portions of the monument remained standing after the initial explosion.
\u201cNEW - Georgia Guidestones, the monument with the inscription "maintain humanity under 500,000,000", has been partially destroyed.\n\nhttps://t.co/pIjcovqvKq\u201d— Disclose.tv (@Disclose.tv) 1657129544
\u201cThe remainder of the Georgia Guidestones are being demolished following the mysterious explosion, that destroyed one of the pillars earlier this morning.\u201d— Swani Files (@Swani Files) 1657143939
\u201cNOW - Georgia Guidestones are now completely leveled.\n\nhttps://t.co/E8DNaOjdwu\u201d— Disclose.tv (@Disclose.tv) 1657145439
The remains of the monument were also hauled away from the site.
While the monument became a target for Evangelical Christian ire, the original creator claimed his Christian faith inspired the granite construction project. In 1979 a man using the name Robert C. Christian contacted the Elberton Granite Finishing Company on behalf of "a small group of loyal Americans" to commission stone and engraving for the structure.
"Christian" claimed the stones would act as a compass, calendar and clock capable of "withstanding catastrophic events". The man also reportedly claimed he chose the pseudonym "Christian" as a reference to the sponsoring group's deep faith.
His real identity has never been determined.
He reportedly said he was inspired to create the Guidestones by a visit to the British monument Stonehenge, but wanted to communicate a clear message in a United States monument.
Early public perceptions of the monument stated the creators were "loony" but it might be good for tourism. After the unveiling in 1980, Richard C. Christian passed ownership of the property over to Elbert County and effectively disappeared.
But in the 2000s, conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones and Evangelical Christian leaders enjoyed using the monument as a backdrop and "proof" for their claims about a new world order run by the deep state, Satanism and their antisemitic globalist and racist Great Replacement conspiracy theories.
Cameras were added around the structure after a series of acts of vandalism between 2008 and 2014—over 20 years after the monument's unveiling.
\u201cAlex Jones Visits The Georgia Guidestones - 11/23/20\u201d— Alex Jones Miner (@Alex Jones Miner) 1657132235
Evangelical Christians—including two Republican candidates for public office—cheered the act of domestic terrorism as a win for God.
\u201cOmg guys!\nThey just leveled ALL of the Georgia Guidestones. \nA historic day! God wins!\u201d— Smoky Mnt. Patriot (@Smoky Mnt. Patriot) 1657144305
\u201cThe Georgia Guidestones are evil and Satanic. I am glad to see authorities tearing it down. We only support and worship the one true God, not an imposter and the Father of all lies.\u201d— Wendy Rogers (@Wendy Rogers) 1657152125
\u201cULTRA Pepe Lives Matter \ud83d\udc38, [Jul 6, 2022 at 5:57 PM]\nF in chat for the evil Georgia Guidestones. \nWe will not miss you!\nRoe V Wade falls and now this!\nGod wins!\u201d— RE Harris007 (@RE Harris007) 1657144782
\u201cFormer Georgia Republican candidate Kandiss Taylor believes God took down the Georgia Guidestones and those claiming it was vandalized, aren\u2019t \u201cgiving God credit.\u201d\u201d— PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1657302778
\u201cGod bless the person that decided it would be good for humanity to blow up the Georgia guidestones\u201d— George (@George) 1657125706
\u201cYesterday the Georgia Guidestones were completely demolished and now the historic obelisk of Juan de Salcedo has been struck by lightning this afternoon 7/7.\n\nGod is working his way through and destroying all the evil satanic structures and buildings on Earth.\u201d— Elaine \ud83e\uddda\u200d\u2640\ufe0f \ud83d\udde3 (@Elaine \ud83e\uddda\u200d\u2640\ufe0f \ud83d\udde3) 1657217765
It took little time for new conspiracy theories to be spun up by religious extremists.
They claimed the Georgia Guidestones were either destroyed directly by God or the destruction was a ploy by the Satanic deep state globalists to trick Christians.
\u201cGeorgia guidestones: my discernment tells me that unless The Most High Father God struck part of it down, it was an intentional demo by the evil rulers to draw attention to them. \u201cLet\u2019s make the slaves feel like they are winning\u201d. False light incoming.\u201d— Contend4theFaith (@Contend4theFaith) 1657260290
\u201cGod took out the Georgia Guidestones with a massive lightning strike..\n\nProve me wrong.\u201d— nm156\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@nm156\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1657380227
Meanwhile an internet meme was created claiming a time capsule found under the monument was opened by Elbert County officials.
While entertaining...
\u201c1/ Mystery Intensifies as Georgia Guidestones Time Capsule Opened by Elbert Officials- (Elberton, Ga)\n\nToday officials with the Elbert County Historical Society, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and...#GeorgiaGuidestones #timecapsule\u201d— Jonny Winchester (@Jonny Winchester) 1657328657
\u201c3/ President of the Elbert County Historical Society. "We hoped its contents would help shed light on the builders of the monument." \n\nUnfortunately the time capsule, which was buried early in 1980, did little to answer questions about the orgins of the Guidestones.\u201d— Jonny Winchester (@Jonny Winchester) 1657328657
\u201c5/ "We really don't know what to make of this assemblage of items," said Charles Smith. "It will take weeks to determine the common thread that runs through these items."\u201d— Jonny Winchester (@Jonny Winchester) 1657328657
...that story is as accurate as all the other wild claims about the now demolished monument.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, a slab on the ground at the monument with an unfinished inscription claimed a time capsule was "placed six feet below this spot on..." that was "to be opened on..." with neither the placement nor opening date inscriptions completed.
Elbert County Road Department crews brought in an excavator to dig down six feet under the slab just in case.
After verifying the depth with a tape measure, officials said the only thing found at the six-foot mark was "more dirt."
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