ARYAN NATIONS

Jaime Rosborough

Mrs. Kandoth

Period 6

Beliefs and Goals Aryan Nations supports:

Anti-Semitism White Nationalism Opposition to the Government

They believe in: White Supremacy Neo-Nazi Ideology

They speak Highly of Hitler. They also believe that non-Aryans

are inferior and must be destroyed. They are affiliated with the Christian

Identity and are Far-Right Extremists. Their goal is to create “a national

racial state” at “whatever price is necessary”

Quotes That Demonstrate Beliefs

“The Jew is like a destroying virus that attacks our racial body to destroy our Aryan culture and purity of our race. Those of our Race who resist these attacks are called ‘chosen and faithful’ ” –Dennis Hilligoss, a state coordinator in Oregon

“We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children” –David Lane

“We believe that there are literal children of Satan in the world today. These children are the descendants of Cain, who was a result of Eve’s original sin, her physical seduction by Satan. We know that because of this sin there is a battle and a natural enmity between the children of Satan and the children of The Most High God. We believe that the Cananite Jew is the natural enemy of our Aryan (White) Race. This is attested by Scripture and all secular history” – The Aryan Nations Website

Original Leader Aryan Nations was founded by

Richard Butler in the mid 1970s

Butler openly admires Hitler He is a World War II Veteran Joined the Christian Defense

League (group run by Identity leader Wesley Swift) After Swift’s death he created the Church of Jesus Christ Christian to carry on Swift’s ministry. It was affiliated with "Identity," a pseudo-theological hate movement. Identity doctrine states that Anglo-Saxons are the Biblical "chosen people," that non-whites are "mud people" on the level of animals, and that Jews are "children of Satan."

He moved the congregation to Idaho where it became a “Call to the Nations” or Aryan Nations

Recruitment Aryan Youth Conference –

intended to attract Neo-Nazi skinheads

Mass mailings which promote the Aryan Nations and it’s Christian Identity white supremacy message

Hosts many racist activities during it’s summer festivals of hate at Hayden Lake, called the "World Congress of Aryan Nations." Here, Butler's organization has offered courses in urban terrorism and guerrilla warfare

Typical Members Male White Have identifying tattoos with typical white supremacy

symbols, the initials “AN,” the phrase “Aryan Nations,” or the Aryan Nations’ emblem, which is a crown on top of a sword that goes through the revolving resurrection cross on a shield

Actions and Practices Bank and armored car

robberies in order to support itself

Bombing of Synagogues Burning of Crosses Attack/Murder of Jews and

Law Enforcement Officers Prison outreach – write letters

and send newsletters to members that are imprisoned

Attend Congresses and Conferences with extremist guest speakers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3-dnmdxW9M

Headquarters Located in Hayden Lake,

Idaho “International

Headquarters of the White Race”

20 acres – hosted festivals Patrolled by armed guards

and dogs Remote from possible

intrusions from law enforcement

Provided an atmosphere of rugged outdoors that complimented most visitors sense of survivalist and separatist

“Splinter” Groups Prison offspring - Aryan Brotherhood:

a network of prison gang members The Order – founded by members of

the Aryan Nations, it was a secret terrorist

group which planned to overthrow the U.S. government. It engaged in a crime spree involving murder, counterfeiting, bank robberies and armored car hold-ups.

Aryan Nations in the News In 1992 Randy Weaver, a white supremacist who had visited the Aryan

Nations in the past, resisted an effort by Federal agents to arrest him at his cabin for alleged weapons violations. Weaver's wife and son were killed during the stand-off, along with a deputy U.S. Marshall. Groups of Aryan Nations supporters rallied in support of Weaver.

In July 1998 Victoria and Jason Keenan were shot at during a car chase from the Aryan Nations compound. The Keenan's sued the Aryan Nations and won a $6.3 million judgment against them. Butler was forced to give them the 20 acre compound at Hayden Lake. The land was eventually donated to the North Idaho College and created into a “peace park”.

Jason Keenan (2nd from left) is escorted from court.

Randy Weaver holding a picture of his son, Sammy, shot in the back

Leadership Struggles Butler’s original successor Carl

Franklin, chief of staff for Aryan Nations, resigned in July of 1993 as a result of disagreements .

It became increasingly difficult to choose a successor because key members continued to leave the Aryan Nations: Wayne Jones was security chief at

the Aryan compound since the late 1980s and left with Franklin.

Two more key members, Charles and Betty Tate, left to join Kirk Lyons, their son-in-law, a lawyer who defended right-wing extremists.

An Aryan Nations official named Floyd Cochran quit the group and renounced anti-Semitism and racism.

The Aryan Nations Today After the sale of the Hayden Headquarters, the Aryan

Nations saw a decline as members joined other groups with similar beliefs.

Richard Butler died in September 2004 due to heart failure. Today, There are three main Aryan Nations sectors

One is led by August Kreis III and is located in Northern Pennsylvania. In 2005, he was seeking an Aryan Nations-al Qaeda alliance.

Another sector is led by Jerald O’Brien in Coeur d’Alene. It is stated that they are still loyal to Butler's wishes and continue to call themselves the Church of Jesus Christ-Christian.

The third sector is located in Lincoln, Alabama and led by Clark "Brother Laslo" Patterson.

Media such as fliers, chat rooms, email, and conferences are still being used today.

Negative Features

An aura of violence or potential violence Isolation from the outside world – The

Lake Hayden compound was remote and isolated.

Discouragement of rational thought and Weakening of members psychological make up - Members were encouraged to have racist thoughts, which is unethical and not rational.

Is the Aryan Nations a Cult?

Citations "Aryan Nations/Church of Jesus Christ Christian ." Extremism in America. 2005. Anti-

Defamation League, Web. 2009. <http://www.adl.org/Learn/Ext_US/Aryan_Nations.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=3&item=an>.

"Aryan Nations." Idaho Gangs. 2009. Idahogangs.com, Web. 2009. <http://idahogangs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=56&Itemid=280>.

"TIMELINE: The Aryan Nations through the years ." Rick Ross. August 20, 2000 . The Ross Institute Internet Archives, Web. 2009. <http://www.rickross.com/reference/aryan/aryan16.html>.

"Aryan Nations." Paranoia as Patriotism: Far-Right Influences on the Militia Movement. 2009. The Nizkor Project, Web. Nov 2009. <http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/orgs/american/adl/paranoia-as-patriotism/aryan-nations.html>.

Walters, Jerome. One Aryan Nation Under God: How Religious Extremists Use the Bible to Justify Their Actions . Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, 2001. Print.