The document provides an overview of white racial extremist groups in the United States, including the Ku Klux Klan, American Nazi Party, Aryan Nations, and other neo-Nazi and racist skinhead groups. It discusses the beliefs, origins, and activities of these groups, and examines topics like hate crimes, the role of music and the internet, and challenges in measuring their membership. Interviews have been conducted with over 325 individuals involved in extremist organizations.

1. White Racial Extremist Movements The Hardest Hate: An Introduction to White Racial Extremism

2. Thank You! I would like to thank Dr. Daniel Martin, Chair Janelle Wilson, and the Sociology and Anthropology Department for bringing me here to the University of Minnesota – Duluth to speak with you today… I have been here before speaking to the First Reading XV Sessions - "The Popular Culture of White Supremacy” on April 28, 1995.

3. Thinking about White Racial Extremism The project has focused on understanding the reasons that lead some people to join a social movement that many of us do not understand… The research has taken multiple tracks: (1) Interviewing members and leaders of these groups, (2) individuals who are connected to these groups, (3) content analysis of written material by and about these groups, (4) and collection and analysis of data on hate crime and hate crime laws.

4. Interview Data I have interviewed 325 individuals involved in extremist organizations in the United States Midwest: Ohio (148) Kentucky (25) West Virginia (15) Pennsylvania (14) Illinois (13) Indiana (16) South: North Carolina (19) South Carolina (25) Georgia (16) Tennessee (16) East: Massachusetts (18)

5. How many white racial extremists are in the U.S.? Hard to know Why… frequent changes and fluctuations in membership Did not track these groups until recently Most of data comes from watchdog groups (Anti-racist groups)

6. Hate Groups (2003)

7. Hate in Ohio (2003)

8. Content Analysis I have also conducted content analysis on hundreds of newspaper and print articles, television and radio programs, and letters to the editors written by white racial extremists. This analysis has helped contextualize white racial extremists in the local and national consciousness. I have also reviewed the scholarly literature in deviant behavior, criminology, popular culture, social movements, and white racial extremism. In addition, I have also examined hundreds of web sites.

9. Little good scholarship Although much scholarly work has focused on extremism in a useful way... Need for research on the ‘New Racism…’ Need for research that does not see racial extremists as pathological…

10. Introduction White Supremacy vs. White Racialism

11. What is a Racist?

12. White racialist beliefs Spirituality Racist Christian Identity Racist Odinism Community: Family and Race as Nation Race War ZOG/JOG

13. Odinism Considered the religion of the Vikings 15-50 percent are racist Christian Identity Covenant, Sword, and Arm of the Lord (CSA) Aryan Nations World Church of the Creator (WCotC) The creation of man & the two-seed theory

14. Extremist Organizations Ties to Hate Crime Important to remember the rise and development of Hate Crime in the U.S. & abroad as related to these individuals and organizations Domestic v. International Extremism Again - Hard to Measure Membership U.S. “Hate Groups”/White racial extremism trends

15. Briefly we will now turn our attention to Hate Crime for a few minutes: What is a Hate Crime? Characteristics of Hate Crime Impact of Hate Crimes

16. Hate Crimes and Hate Crime Laws Often a response to “hate activity” Hate Crimes and Hate Groups (5%) Significantly different than non-hate crimes

17. RAV v. St. Paul Seventeen-year-old Robert Anthony Viktora, who was white, burned a cross on a black family’s front lawn. He was charged with a variety of offenses, but in 1992 (in R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul ) the Supreme Court found one of his convictions to be a violation of the first amendment.

18. Mitchell v. Wisconsin Penalty Enhancement - 2 parts

19. Mitchell v. Wisconsin Nineteen-year-old Todd Mitchell, who was black, urged his friends to “go get” a fourteen-year-old white boy who happened to be walking by. The friends beat the boy badly enough to put him in a coma. Mitchell also faced a variety of charges, but this time, only a year after Viktora’s case, the Supreme Court upheld those convictions ( Wisconsin v. Mitchell , 1993).

20. What’s the Difference? What distinguished Viktora’s case from Mitchell’s? The former involved hate speech , whereas the latter involved hate crime . These terms are often used interchangeably by lay people and the media, and the distinction may seem unimportant. In reality, however, hate crime and hate speech are very different from legal, policy, and phenomenological standpoints.

21. Increasing Levels of Hate Crimes? In recent decades, our society has witnessed a significant increase in the occurrence of hate crimes targeting particular groups. One of the main concerns related to this unforeseen growth of hate crimes is that the brutality and nature of these crimes has intensified immensely.

22. Hate crimes are frequently Attacks Over the past few years, the number of attacks against people because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin has increased at an alarming rate. The increase in anti-Semitic violence in the 1990s is instructive of this trend.

23. Benjamin Smith Benjamin Nathaniel Smith, who went on a deadly killing spree in the Midwest that targeted minorities, is one of the most recent hate-motivated criminals whose acts have prompted federal and local action. (AP Photo)

24. Characteristics of Hate Crimes 1. Severity of attack --most hate crimes are violent assaults. Nature of attack --hatred is illustrated when force is exercised beyond what may be necessary to subdue victims, make them comply, disarm them, or take goods from them. 3/4 of all hate crime attacks involve some physical injury.

25. Warning the next slide is graphic It is alright to avert your eyes…

27. Hate Crimes are Vicious I show you that slide to demonstrate the anger and hostility that accompany violent hate assaults

28. Characteristics of Hate Crimes II Randomness --hate crimes appear to be irrational crimes perpetuated at random on total strangers (85% of HC are committed by strangers) victims rarely provoke their attackers directly. Perpetuated by multiple offenders --unlike most violent crimes, hate crimes are usually committed by groups of people.

29. A New Idea Although bigotry is probably as old as humanity, the term "hate crime" is a new one, as is the idea of special treatment of these offenses. The first hate crime law was passed around 1980, and two decades later, 43 states, the District of Columbia, and the federal government had all enacted some form of hate crime legislation (Anti-Defamation League [ADL], 2001). The phrase has entered the popular vernacular, and it is used frequently by the media.

30. Groups Now that we have talked about Hate Crime, lets turn our attention to the various groups in the United States that I have conducted interviews with leaders and followers… We discuss these groups to understand the variety of white racial extremists…

32. Ku Klux Klan (1 st era) Not ONE Klan Dates of the “Klan Eras” vary First era (1866-1871) 1866: Formed in Pulaski, Tenn. 1871: 550,000 members

33. KKK Knights of Ku Klux Klan 1 st Era Klan 1865-1869/1870 Founded in Pulaski, TN during Christmas 1865 Started as a social group First Imperial Wizard was Nathan Bedford Forest Born July 13, 1821-October 29, 1877 Over time evolved into vigilantes then terrorist Dissolved in 1869-1870

34. KKK (2) Second era (1915-1930) 1920: 5,000 members Anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic 1925: 3.5 million - 5 million members (high point) Scandals caused decline

35. Ku Klux Klan (3-4) Third era (1954-1969) Civil rights era Fourth era (1974-1984) 1974: 1,500 members The new image (e.g. David Duke)

36. Third and Fourth Era Ku Klux Klan In the 1950s, the KKK reemerged to oppose the civil rights movement This is the era of fragmented Klans “ Dynamite Klan” 1950s Church Bombings Fourth era (1974-1984) 1974: 1,500 members The new image (e.g. David Duke) Imperial Wizard and leader, David Duke

37. KKK Today Fifth era (three possibilities) 1981 - present: new era of secrecy 1995 - present: the Internet Has yet to occur

38. Downtown Cincinnati (12/03) The Klan in Ohio

40. Preparing for a Klan Rally

41. 1999: There were 7 Klan Rallies in Ohio (3 examples) March 21, 1999 (Kettering) 15 Klan, 12 supporters, 200 protestors, 80/85 officers used, 2 arrests, $20,000-25,000 September 11, 1999 (Columbus) 20 Klan, 3 supporters, 200-300 protestors, $120,000 ($36,000 barracades) June 19, 1999 (Bowling Green) 10 Klan, 1 supporter, 50-60 protestors, all 32 officers used, $4,000

42. American Nazis Party George Lincoln Rockwell, Arlington, VA Coined the term “White Power” Extreme Anti-Semitism & Racism Vanguard Principle Admiration for Hitler (esp. his focus on organization, core beliefs, Anti-Semitism, and control)

43. George Lincoln Rockwell Killed by follower in 1967

44. Thomas Metzger Race and Reason Recruited young people 1988 SPLC law suit Lost and owed 8 million

45. American Dissident Voices radio show Resistance Records Neo-Nazi William Pierce The Turner Diaries

46. National Alliance Founded by William Pierce

47. The Turner Diaries Key text to Robert Jay Matthews (the Order) and Timothy McVeigh One of the best selling books among the racist right Also wrote “Hunter”

48. Philosophy of the National Alliance See Motto at left (on back of card)

50. Founded by Richard Butler and moved to a compound outside of Lake Hayden, Idaho and based on the religious philosophy of Christian Identity

51. The Order Splinter Group of Aryan Nations that was tired of all the talk and waiting for an eventual race war in the United States. They believed that direct action needed to be taken to begin the race war. Formed by Robert Jay Matthews. Killed controversial Denver-based radio talk show host Alan Berg. Successfully robbed two brinks armored cars and netted almost 4 million dollars. Killed a member that they thought was a traitor.

52. Robert Jay Matthews 1950-1983 Matthews pictured here with his ‘girlfriend’ Leader of the Order Also called the Silent Brotherhood

53. Significance of The Order Established a clarion call for direct violent confrontation Bought paramilitary equipment and trained for a strike on a populated city in the Pacific Northwest. Richard Snell Timothy McVeigh (not only was influenced by the Turner Diaries but also by The Order ) Spread the money that was stolen around the white racial extremist movement

54. Ritual Swearing-in ceremony View of History Organization of the Group Brotherhood David Lane – The 14 Words "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children."

55. Aryan Nations Problems Sued for 6.5 million dollars and lost…which lost the compound and all of the resources of the organization in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Moved headquarters and leadership to Ohio Ray Redfairn Then split again…

57. Racist Skinheads and Neo-Nazis

58. Racist Skinheads Skinhead origins National Front (England) Music – Skrewdriver “ Foot soldiers of the movement”

59. Racist Skinhead Beliefs Connection to Neo-Nazis Beliefs Vanguard Hitler’s Organizational Principles Focused on Race Use music, popular culture, anger to promote message Uniform vs. Clean Appearance

60. Origin of Racist Skinheads Developed from music subcultures in England in the late 1960s and early 1970s Mods Rudes/Rudeboys Punk

61. Racist Skinhead Music Skrewdriver Ian Stewart Donaldson Led to the development of other “White Power” music: RaHoWa George (Hawthorne) Burdi Resistance Records Angry Aryans, Max Resist, Bound For Glory, many more…

62. Anti-Racist Skinheads These are groups that use the skinhead music and subculture to fight extremists in the United States and abroad: Sharp Skins New Edge Anti-Racist Action

63. Church of Jesus Christ Christian Historic Development (Barkin, Religion and the Racist Right ) Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion True Identity of Israel Racial Identity Enosh – Aliens that went to war w/ God Man Jews Mongrels

64. Armageddon Christian Identity believers (not what they call themselves but we need a term to identify them) Believe that Jesus will not return until Jews, Enosh, and Mongrels are removed from the Earth They do not believe in the rapture because they believe that Christians must fight evil rather than waiting for God to pull them out of the fight

65. How they view themselves

66. Pete Peters Identity Minister Pastor of the LaPorte Church of Christ and head of its Scriptures for America Worldwide international outreach ministry.

67. Peters Activities Peters has hosted Scriptures for America Bible retreats, Family Bible Camp Conferences, and seminars that have attracted prominent Identity and other far-right figures. He hosts a Scriptures for America short-wave radio program and disseminates audiocassette tapes of his sermons and those of other Identity preachers.

68. Scriptures for America Peters has promoted Scriptures for America Worldwide, the outreach arm of his church, as "dedicated to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to revealing to the Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and kindred peoples of the world their true Biblical identity."

69. Identity Belief Peters alleges that the 12 tribes of Israel consist of "the Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Celtic, Scandinavian and kindred peoples -- the peoples who comprise the white race which settled the North American continent, forming the bedrock population of the United States of America.“

70. Extremely Anti-Semetic Peters has said, "We are not 'Judeo-Christians' -- a term which is an oxymoron, if ever there was one. We neither follow nor promote the so-called 'Judeo-Christian ethic.' We are Christians." He has charged that "anti-Christ Jews" have "warred against the truth" to "demonize the label Christian."

71. Spreading the Word Scriptures for America audiocassette tapes by others have included: "The Six Million Holocaust" by Ernst Zundel, a pro-Nazi propagandist and Holocaust denier; "The Point of No Return" by Jack Mohr, a Mississippi-based anti-Jewish propagandist and Identity adherent; and "The Greatest Conspiracy" by Earl Jones, a New Mexico-based Identity minister.

72. Founded in 1973 by Ben Klassen who wrote a book called: White Man’s Bible

73. Creativity WCOTC is a white supremacist group that considers itself a religion founded on the proposition that the white race is "nature's highest creation" and that "white people are the creators of all worthwhile culture and civilization." Followers of the WCOTC do not believe in God, heaven, hell or eternal life. They consider Jews and nonwhites, whom they refer to as "mud races," to be the "natural enemies" of the white race.

74. Matthew Hale Pontificus Maximus of World Church of the Creator until 1996-2003 Former University of Michigan law student After graduation he was denied the right to practice law

75. Rise of Matt Hale Hale assumed leadership in 1996 Publish The Struggle More than 30 affiliated Web sites; online mailing lists, bulletin boards, and chat rooms

76. White Power Music Women and Children The Internet and social media

77. “ Music of the White Resistance” Since the 1980s…

78. White Power Music Recruitment tool Skrewdriver Resistance Records George Burdi National Alliance Panzerfaust

79. George “Hawthorne” Burdi Founder of the band RaHoWa (stand for Racial Holy War) Founder of Resistance Records Canadian Former member of World Church of the Creator

80. Rahowa Blue Eyed Devils Bound for Glory Extreme Hatred Angry Aryans Nordic Thunder Blood and Honour Brutal Attack Berserkr Max Resist

81. Racial Extremism and the Internet

82. New Forms of Communication Media Radio Television Politics Rallies Speeches Internet

83. Youth Racialists

84. Female Racialists

85. The Purpose Understanding these groups so we can respond to them How do we respond to behavior we do not understand?

86. We have a few minutes left any questions that I can answer?