The Year in Hate 2003

Issue Number:

113

Spring

2004

After a tumultuous year, U.S. hate groups made something of a comeback, particularly among racist Skinheads and Klansmen. 'Patriot' groups increased significantly as well. Neo-Confederate zealots Douglas Wilson and Steve Wilkins set off a firestorm of protests in a small Idaho college town. A S.C. shootout belies the area's proclivity toward antigovernment sentiment.

In This Issue

Racist Skinheads, Klan Groups Up in 2002

By Mark Potok, Senior Fellow

After a tumultuous year, U.S. hate groups stage something of a comeback in 2003.

Doug Wilson’s Religious Empire Expanding in the Northwest

A religious empire based in Idaho is part of the far-right theological movement fueling neo-Confederate groups

By Mark Potok, Senior Fellow

While hosting a conference featuring his defense of Southern Slavery, Douglas Wilson exposes the radicalism of his growing 'Christian' empire.

‘Patriot’ Shootout in Abbeville, S.C.. Raises Questions About the Town’s Extremist Past

A 'Patriot' shootout kills two officers, shatters the peace of an Old South town and raises questions about an extremist past — and present

By Bob Moser

A 'Patriot' shootout in Abbeville that left two law enforcement officials dead belies the extremism of the 'upstate' portion of South Carolina.

Former Sierra Club Director Discusses Hostile Takeover Attempt by Anti-Immigrant Activists

A director of the Sierra Club discusses an ongoing attempt to turn the environmental powerhouse into an anti-immigration group

Robbie Cox, former Sierra Club president, discusses the ongoing attempt to turn the environmental organization into an anti-immigration group.

More Features

Nativist Sentiments Explode Editorial By Mark Potok, Senior Fellow History repeats itself as Americans strike out against immigrants with hate speech and even violence, this time creating a schism within the environmentalist Sierra Club.	Michael Savage Brings Bigotry and Anti-Semitism to the Airwaves By Camille Jackson Despite talk show host Michael Savage's astounding bigotry and anti-Semitism, the radio industry can't get enough of him.
Cyanide Bomb Found in Texas Owned by Racist, Anti-Semitic Couple William Krar and Judith Bruey By Camille Jackson The discovery in Texas of a huge arms cache, including a cyanide bomb, is a reminder that not all alleged terrorists are foreign	We The People Holds Antigovernment Gathering in D.C. By Heidi Beirich, Intelligence Project Director At a D.C.-area conference sponsored by the antigovernment, tax-protest extremist group We the People, the 'Patriot' movement proves it still has legs.
Former Earth Liberation Front Spokesperson Craig Rosebraugh Calls Supporters to Revolution A call to revolution by the former spokesperson of the Earth Liberation Front By Bob Moser A new manifesto by former ELF spokesperson Craig Rosebraugh touts the 'Logic of Political Violence.'	Hitler and the Sea-Monkeys By Bob Moser It seemed like a good old all-American craze — until the nasty truth emerged about the man who concocted it.
Neo-Confederate Preacher Steve Wilkins Pushes Distorted View of History By Mark Potok, Senior Fellow Neo-Confederate historian and pastor Steve Wilkins' 'America: The First 350 Years' markets a theocratic, white, male, pro-slavery American history to homeschoolers and the general public.	Anderson County, S.C., Law Enforcement Takes on Antigovernment Extremists By Bob Moser Up the road from Abbeville, a coalition of extremists puts Anderson County government in the crosshairs.
St. Louis Hate Group Leader, Earl Holt, Continues to Host Radio Show After Posting Racist Diatribe Online A hate group leader in St. Louis continues to broadcast vitriol — even after his most racist diatribe to date comes to light By Camille Jackson After replying to an antiracist blogger with an expletive- and slur-laced E-mail that went public, Earl P. Holt III has not been asked to step down as the co-host of a talk radio show in St. Louis, Mo.	The Blotter: Spring 2004 By Camille Jackson In 2003, a large number of crimes were carried out by extremists, including the murder of law enforcement officers and the amassing of a lethal, illegal arsenal.

Briefs

Rocked by Porn Scandal, SCV Attempts to Oust Moderates Neo-Confederates After a scandal exposed by the Intelligence Report, the neo-Confederate Sons of Confederate Veterans' controversial leader Ron Wilson tries to rid the organization of moderates.	Aryan Financial 'Whiz' Pleads to Ripping Off Investors 'Patriot' Games White supremacist financial adviser and former co-owner of the antigovernment and anti-Semitic Media Bypass magazine has pleaded guilty to running a million-dollar scam targeting his clients.	EURO Chief's Final Answer: Pornography Trumps Aryanism Neo-Nazis Pornographer Bruce Alan 'Vince' Breeding quit his job as the head of David Duke's European-American Unity and Rights Organization in the wake of an Intelligence Report exposé.
Heritage Battles White supremacist attorney Kirk Lyons' quixotic quest to establish "Confederate Southern Americans" as a legally protected minority has run into a serious roadblock — again. This time, the future of Lyons' Southern Legal Resource Center (SLRC) could be in jeopardy.	KKK Initiation Ceremony Goes Astray Ku Klutz Klan During a complex initiation ceremony involving a noose, paintballs, and live fire, one Tennessee member of America's Invisible Knights of the Ku Klux Klan shot another in the head, leaving the injured man unable to speak and in serious condition.	Neo-Nazi Fundraising Success Turns Sour Extremist Crimes After Chester Doles, Georgia National Alliance leader, pleads guilty to illegal weapons possession, supporters wonder what happened to the donations made to help him fight the charge.
Disorder in the Courts A year of irresolution in cases involving hate crimes and extremism By Brian Levin 2003 saw a variety of legal cases involving hate crimes and extremism fail to be resolved with clear ramifications.

Southern Poverty Law Center