NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Aryan Nations

Aryan Nations (AN) is an international white supremacist, Neo-Nazi organization that is affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan. It was founded in the 1970s by Richard Girnt Butler as an arm of the Christian Identity group Church of Jesus Christ-Christian. Image File history File links Aryan_Nations_flag. ... Image File history File links Aryan_Nations_flag. ... White supremacy is a racist ideology which holds the belief that white people are superior to other races. ... The terms Neo-Nazism and Neo-Fascism refer to any social or political movement to revive Nazism or Fascism, respectively, and postdates the Second World War. ... Members of the second Ku Klux Klan at a rally during the 1920s. ... Aryan Nations current leader August Kreis III, left, with Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler Richard Girnt Butler (February 23, 1918 in Bennett, Colorado - September 8, 2004 in Hayden, Idaho) was an American aerospace engineer for Lockheed turned neo-Fascist leader of Aryan Nations, a movement built around Christian Identity. ... // For the general identity of an individual with certain core essential religious doctrines, see Christianity. ... The Church of Jesus Christ-Christian is a white supremacist church, which was founded in 1946 by Ku Klux Klan organizer Wesley A. Swift, the son of a Methodist Episcopal Church, South minister, who was considered the single most significant figure in the early years of the Christian Identity movement...

History

Its origin lies in the teachings of Wesley Swift, a significant figure in the early Christian Identity movement. Swift combined British Israelism, extreme antisemitism, and political militancy. He founded his own church in California in the mid 1940s where he could preach this ideology. In addition, he had a daily radio broadcast in California during the 1950s and 60s. In 1957, the name of his church was changed to the Church of Jesus Christ-Christian, which is used today by Aryan Nations churches.^[1] Church of Jesus Christ - Christian was founded in the 1940s by Dr. Wesley A. Swift, the son of a Methodist Church minister and who was considered the single most significant figure in the early years of the Christian Identity movement in the United States. ... // For the general identity of an individual with certain core essential religious doctrines, see Christianity. ... British Israelism (sometimes called Anglo-Israelism) is a Christian theology based on the premise that many early British people, Europeans and/or their royal families were direct lineal descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel and in some cases of the Tribe of Judah. ... Antisemitism (alternatively spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed at Jews. ...

From the 1970s until 2001 the headquarters of the AN was in a 20 acre (81,000 m²) compound at Hayden Lake, Idaho.^[1] There were a number of state chapters, only loosely tied to the main organization. The group ran an annual "World Congress of Aryan Nations" at Hayden Lake for both AN adherents and other right-wing groups.^[1] Hayden Lake is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. ...

Some in the AN openly debated a plan to forcibly take five northwestern states - Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming - from the United States government in order to establish an Aryan homeland.

In September 2000 the Southern Poverty Law Center won a $6.3 million judgment against the Aryan Nations (Bill Sali representing) from an Idaho jury who awarded punitive and compensatory damages to a woman and her son who were attacked by Aryan Nations guards.^[2] The lawsuit stemmed from the July 1998 attack when Aryan Nations security guards in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho shot at Victoria Keenan and her son.^[3] Bullets struck their car several times, and subsequently the car crashed, after which one of the Aryan Nations guards held the Keenans at gunpoint.^[3] As a result of the judgement, Richard Butler turned over the 20-acre compound to the Keenans, who in turn sold the property to a philanthropist, who donated the land to North Idaho College, which designated it a "peace park."^[3]^[4] Currently, while tours are occasionally given on the property, cows use it for pasture.^[4] In February 2001, the group's Hayden Lake compound and intellectual property, including the names "Aryan Nations" and "Church of Jesus Christ Christian", were transferred to the Keenans.^[3] In the fall of 2000, fellow Sandpoint, Idaho millionaire Vincent Bertollini provided Butler with a new house in Hayden, Idaho.^{[citation needed]} The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American non-profit legal organization, whose stated purpose is to combat racism and promote civil rights through research, education and litigation. ... Coeur dAlene (IPA: ) is the county seat and largest city of Kootenai County, Idaho. ... Aryan Nations current leader August Kreis III, left, with Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler Richard Girnt Butler (February 23, 1918 in Bennett, Colorado - September 8, 2004 in Hayden, Idaho) was an American aerospace engineer for Lockheed turned neo-Fascist leader of Aryan Nations, a movement built around Christian Identity. ... North Idaho College is a community college located in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, right next to the lake. ... Sandpoint is a city in Bonner County, Idaho, United States. ... Vincent Bertollini (b. ...

Until 1998 the leadership of the AN remained firmly in the hands of Butler. But by that year he was over eighty and had been in poor health for some time, so at the annual "World Congress", Neuman Britton was appointed as the group's new leader. In August 2001, however, Butler appointed Harold Ray Redfeairn from Ohio, who had been agitating for control since the mid-1990s. Shortly thereafter, Redfeairn and August Kreis, III, propaganda minister of Aryan Nations, led a splinter group away from Butler and was expelled from the organization, but a few months later Redfeairn returned to an alliance with Butler.^[1] Redfeairn died in October of 2003. Butler died of heart failure in September 2004.^[1]

At the time of his death Aryan Nations had 200 members, Butler's World Congress in 2002 drew fewer than 100 people, and when he ran for mayor, he lost by about 2,100 votes to 50.^[4]

Split and decline

There are two main Nations factions. The first, led by August Kreis III joined with Charles John Juba to continue one faction of Aryan Nations.^[1] In 2002 Kreis moved Aryan Nations World Headquarters to a ten-acre compound in rural Potter County, Pennsylvania, which was host to the 2002 Aryan Nations World Congress.^[5] They also held an Aryan Nations World Congress in July 2000. Juba resigned in March of 2005 announcing his successor Kreis as the group's new leader with a headquarters located in Lexington, SC. In 2005 he received media attention by seeking a Aryan Nations-al Qaeda alliance, similar to the Nazi-Islamic alliance attempt.^[6] Commenting on Kreis, CNN said "With his long beard and potbelly, August Kreis looks more like a washed up member of ZZ Top than an aspiring revolutionary."^[6] Image File history File links Kreisbutler. ... Image File history File links Kreisbutler. ... August Kreis III, left, with Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler August Kreis III (born Nov 2, 1954) is a long-time member and leader of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), Posse Comitatus and Aryan Nations Kreis spent 13 years as a member of the KKK before joining the Posse Comitatus... Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ...

The other faction that claims to have remained loyal to Butler's wishes upon his death, and its members have continued to call themselves "The Church of Jesus Christ Christian".^{[citation needed]} They are led by a council of 3 men and headquartered in Lincoln, Alabama. The leader is Jonathan Williams. They have held a Congress each year since the passing of Richard Butler, and have used these congresses to forge alliances and social networks with various other white supremacist groups including the Ku Klux Klan. The name Jonathan Williams can refer to a number of people: Jonathan Williams, the engineer Jonathan Williams, the architect Jonathan Williams, the Formula 1 driver Jonathan Williams, the current keyboardist of the Pat McGee Band Jonathan Williams, the UK-based composer and conductor of music for video games Jonathan Williams...

Subgroups

Like many other extreme racist groups, AN has produced many small, transitory subgroups. Bob Mathews formed a group called The Order, which committed a number of violent crimes, including murder.^[1] Their mission was to bring about a race war. Dennis McGiffen, who also had ties to the AN, formed a cell called The New Order, based on Mathews' group.^[1] The members were arrested before they could follow through on their violent plans. Black and white photograph of Robert Mathews Robert Jay Mathews (January 16, 1953 â€“ December 8, 1984) was the leader of an American neo-Nazi organization called The Order. ... The Order, also known as the BrÃ¼der Schweigen or Silent Brotherhood, was a neo-Nazi organization active in the United States between 1983 and 1984. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Dennis McGiffen, David Neumann, and Troy Murphy broke from Thom Robbs Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in 1994 to start their own Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Michigan. ...

A relatively new tenet among Christian Identity believers justifies the use of violence in order to punish violators of God's law, as interpreted by Christian Identity ministers and adherents. Christian Identity followers engaging in such behavior are referred to as Phineas Priests or members of the Phineas Priesthood, though they usually seem to act alone.^[1] The Phineas Priesthood is a Christian Identity movement that opposes abortion, mixing of races, and homosexuality. ...

Non-aligned members of AN later convicted of serious crimes include Chevie Kehoe, who was convicted of three homicides, conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property also spent some time at the AN compound. Buford O. Furrow, Jr., the man accused of the August 10, 1999, shooting at the Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles, California, and the murder of Filipino American postal worker, Joseph Ileto also spent some time at the AN compound working as a security guard.^[7] Chevie OBrien Kehoe (born January 19, 1973) is a white supremacist who is most notable for his attempts to build an all-white country by overthrowing the United States. ... Homicide (Latin homicidium, homo human being + caedere to cut, kill) refers to the act of killing another human being. ... Buford ONeal Furrow, Jr. ... is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... A Jewish Community Center is a general recreational, social and fraternal organization serving the Jewish community in a number of cities. ...

On August 12, 2007 a Mexican-American was beaten by several white males who claimed they were part of the Aryan Nations.^[8] According to police, "the assault was committed by between six and 10 people, including four teenage girls."^[8]

See also

Aryan Brotherhood The Aryan Brotherhood, (also known as the AB or The Brand) is a prison gang numbering about 15,000 members in and out of prison. ...

References

Further reading The Anti-Defamation League (or ADL) is an advocacy group founded by Bnai Brith in the United States whose stated aim is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American non-profit legal organization, whose stated purpose is to combat racism and promote civil rights through research, education and litigation. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Waco Tribune-Herald is an American daily newspaper serving Waco, Texas and vicinity. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On the Edge: Political Cults Right and Left is a non-fiction book about political cults, written by Dennis Tourish and Tim Wohlforth. ... Timothy Andrew Wohlforth is a former Trotskyist politician. ...

External links

Categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since August 2007 | Neo-Nazi organizations | Organizations designated as terrorist | White supremacist groups in the United States | Religiously motivated violence in the United States | Protestantism | Christian Identity August Kreis III, left, with Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler August Kreis III (born Nov 2, 1954) is a long-time member and leader of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), Posse Comitatus and Aryan Nations Kreis spent 13 years as a member of the KKK before joining the Posse Comitatus... White supremacy is a racist ideology which holds the belief that white people are superior to other races. ... The flag of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging The Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging or AWB, is a political and paramilitary group in South Africa under the leadership of EugÃ¨ne TerreBlanche. ... It has been suggested that Bob Heick be merged into this article or section. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Aryan Brotherhood, (also known as the AB or The Brand) is a prison gang numbering about 15,000 members in and out of prison. ... Members of the Aryan Guard in Kensington, Calgary on August 25, 2007 The Aryan Guard is an Alberta-based neo-Nazi group with members primarily located in the city of Calgary. ... Blood and Honour emblem. ... In the United Kingdom, the British National Front (most commonly called the National Front or NF) is a far right political party that had its major political activities during the 1970s and 1980s. ... The Canadian Ethnic Cleansing Team (CECT) was an Ontario-based hate group lead by Alexan Kulbashian and associated with fellow CECT member James Scott Richardson and his neo-Nazi organization, the Tri-City Skins. ... The Canadian Heritage Alliance is a Canadian white supremacist organization that was founded in 2000 in Kitchener, Ontario and is now based in London, Ontario. ... Combat 18 logo, which is based on the Totenkopf of the 3rd SS Division Combat 18 (or C18) is the armed wing of the British neo-Nazi organization Blood & Honour. ... The Hammerskins, or Hammerskin nations is a white supremacist Skinhead gang. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Forsyth County Defense League was a white supremacist group established in 1987 in Cumming, Georgia, to counter efforts by Atlanta City Councilperson Hosea Williams to integrate all-white Forsyth County. ... Logo of Hammerskins The Hammerskins, or Hammerskin Nation is a white supremacist gang. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Hrisi Avgis logo, featuring a meander pattern. ... The Imperial Klans of America Knights of the Ku Klux Klan is one of several modern white supremacist organizations styled after the original Ku Klux Klan. ... Members of the second Ku Klux Klan at a rally during the 1920s. ... The Libertarian National Socialist Green Party (LNSGP) is the name of a think-tank published from the United States using the domain name . ... This article refers to the United States-based organization. ... The National Association for the Advancement of White People is a white nationalist political organization in the United States founded in 1980 by David Duke, former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. ... Danmarks Nationalsocialistiske BevÃ¦gelse (National Socialist Movement of Denmark, DNSB) is a neo-nazi political party in Denmark. ... David Copelands membership card for the National Socialist Movement The National Socialist Movement (NSM) is a British neo-Nazi group, best known in the UK for its association with David Copeland, the London nailbomber, who was a member, and local unit leader for his area. ... This article refers to the American National Socialist Movement; for other organizations see National Socialist Movement. ... The Nationalist Party of Canada is a white supremacist Canadian political party that was founded in 1977 in Toronto by Don Andrews (born Vilim Zlomislic), who continues as leader of the party. ... The Northern Alliance is a far-right, white supremacist organization based in London, Ontario, Canada. ... Imperium Europa (European Empire in Latin) is a movement in Malta. ... The Patriotic Youth League (PYL) is a patriotic youth organization in Australia whose members describe themselves as radical nationalists [1]. The PYL was founded in late 2002 by Stuart McBeth, a student at the University of Newcastle who was previously involved with the One Nation Party. ... Members of Russian National Unity group in a street parade Russian National Unity (RNU) or All-Russian civic patriotic movement Russkoye Natsionalnoye Edinstvo(Russian: ), better translated as Russian Ethnic Unity is an outlawed far-right, ultra-nationalist political party and paramilitary organization based in Russia and operating in states with... The Order, also known as the BrÃ¼der Schweigen or Silent Brotherhood, was a neo-Nazi organization active in the United States between 1983 and 1984. ... The Posse Comitatus (from the Latin phrase meaning power of the county) is a loosely-organized right-wing social movement that opposes the United States federal government and believes in radical localism. ... Tri-City Skins was an Ontario-based white power group active from 1997 to 2002, based in the Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge area. ... In Norse mythology, VÃgrÃÃ°r is the giant plain where RagnarÃ¶k will be fought. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Western Canada For Us (WCFU) was an Alberta-based hate group founded by Glenn Bahr and Peter Kouba in early 2004. ... WARs Hate and Fear logo The White Aryan Resistance is a neo-Nazi white supremacist organization founded and led by former Ku Klux Klan leader and well known pedophile piece of human excrement Tom Metzger. ... It has been suggested that Citizens Councils of America be merged into this article or section. ... The White Patriot Party was an American anti-Semitic white supremacist organization. ...

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