Accused White House Correspondents Dinner gunman Cole Allen professed to be a part of a progressive collective known as “The Wide Awakes” — a loosely-organized group which traces its roots to Civil War abolitionists and espouses nonviolence. The group calls itself a modern “remix” of the organization that formed during the 1860 presidential election, and consisted of anti-slavery supporters of President Abraham Lincoln. Original members were known for donning costumes and putting on rowdy shows of support for the Republican president, which included flashy scenes throughout New York and other northern cities during the lead-up to the momentous election preceding the Civil War. The Wide Awakes, a progressive group, espouses nonviolence and traces roots to abolitionists. mpi43/MediaPunch/MediaPunch/IPx Accused White House Correspondents Dinner gunman Cole Allen claimed membership in “The Wide Awakes”.…