On this day April 19, 1985, over 200 federal agents surrounded the compound of The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord, a radical white nationalist group based in northern Arkansas. The heavily armed standoff lasted two days and ended peacefully when the group surrendered without a single shot fired.
The CSA was known for its extremist views, stockpiled weapons, and ties to other domestic terror networks. The siege was part of a larger investigation into domestic terrorism and illegal weapons activity. The group had been preparing for what they believed would be a government collapse and had made threats against public officials. The successful resolution of the standoff without violence was seen as a major win for law enforcement, who used negotiation and patience to avoid bloodshed.
Fun fact: The leader of the CSA, James Ellison, later testified against other extremists and served time in prison as part of a plea deal.