Send in the klans: hate-group recruiting and outreach at 'tea parties'

June 5, 1:59 PMPittsburgh Grassroots ExaminerMike Boda

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Ask any child what he knows about Shays' rebellion, and he will answer, "Oh, some of the farmers couldn't pay their taxes, and Shays led a rebellion against the court-house at Worcester, so they could burn up the deeds; and when Washington heard of it he sent over an army quick and taught 'em a good lesson"-"And what was the result of it?" "The result? Why--why--the result was--Oh yes, I remember--the result was they saw the need of a strong federal government to collect the taxes and pay the debts." Ask if he knows what was said on the other side of the story, ask if he knows that the men who had given their goods and their health and their strength for the freeing of the country now found themselves cast into prison for debt, sick, disabled, and poor, facing a new tyranny for the old; that their demand was that the land should become the free communal possession of those who wished to work it, not subject to tribute, and the child will answer "No."
-Voltairine de Cleyre, Anarchism & American Traditions

Despite the excess of protestations to the contrary, and even some of the participants' honest intentions, the astroturf organizers of the 'Tea Parties', have created an ideal situation for neofascists and other far-right ideologues to engage in outreach and recruiting. It's even too much for the gang at the right-wing Little Green Footballs blog. This is not just the opinion of liberal celebrities, but stated goals of members of the violent, reactionary fringes of the US right-wing. I remember these people crawling out of the woodwork when Bill Clinton was busy carrying out Reagan's agenda and they are now able to make racial hatred a key component of bashing Barack Obama, although he seems to be merely continuing George W. Bush's policies.

Observations by locals at the 4/15/09 Tea Party, in Pittsburgh's Market Square, turned up a number of neonazis either known to local anti-fascists, or wearing clothing with white supremacist slogans on it. Infiltrators working inside the Keystone State 'Skinheads' had also reported of their intention to conduct outreach at this event.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has published an expose' of this phenomenon, that outlines the efforts by users of the white supremacist website, Stormfront, to form a "Tea Party Americans Coalition" (TPAC), an idea floated by a Stormfront user named "Whites Forward", a handle that is probably not referring to washing socks and underwear before blue jeans.

From the ADL:

The Tea Party phenomenon, which began with anti-tax rallies staged across the country on April 15, 2009, will continue as activists in almost every state are planning similar events on July 4. Notably, white supremacists are again planning to participate. As they have done with other political and social issues, for example, promoting the Ron Paul campaign and using the immigration debate, white supremacists and anti-Semites are planning to exploit Tea Parties to disseminate their hateful views and recruit a larger following.

Extremists plan to recruit at Tea Parties

Stormfront, the most popular white supremacist Internet forum, is home to discussion between extremists eager to influence the events. In addition to circulating a list of local organizers and promoting planned rallies, Stormfront members are trying to find ways to involve themselves in the events. In posts to the forum, many voice their intent to attend the Tea parties for the purpose of cultivating an "organized grassroots White mass movement."

Posts to Stormfront:

• "We need a relevent [sic] transitional envelope-pushing flyer for the masses. Take these Tea Party Americans by the hand and help them go from crawling to standing independently and then walking toward racialism."

• "We intervene to shape the new pro-White grassroots agenda from within the crowd. We intervene for active effect at the event, for advancement of White racial consciousness and solidarity, and for the growth of the organized grassroots White mass movement and the most perceptive racially aware activist element."

• "I also agree that spreading the WN message at these events is a good idea-it's time already,we've gotta do it!! Carefully, of course."

• "A big crowd of irate White folks protesting the government seems like the perfect time and place for us WN's to promote our cause, at least to my way of thinking."

• "I distributed WN literature at the last Tea Party in Phoenix. I will be doing it again in July. This is the time and the place. For those on a budget, I would suggest printing business cards with the web address of your group or organization. Keep it simple."

• "I think they'd be ideal for spreading WN literature and gaining recruits in large numbers, more quickly."

Tea Party Americans Coalition

An anti-Semite and white supremacist using the name "Whites Forward" created the Tea Party Americans Coalition (TPAC) as "a working group for serious White racialist ACTIVISTS in the US who want to effectively coordinate our efforts and intervene for effect in Tea Party-type events." Anti-Semitic, racist, and anti-immigrant themes run through the six issues on which the working group is based.

"Whites Forward" is hoping that TPAC will be the "genesis of our new White mass movement and the fertile womb for our pro-White political party." He has called on other white supremacist groups to align themselves with the coalition, including the Council of Conservative Citizens, the Nationalist Coalition, David Duke's EURO organization, and European Americans United.

Currently, 42 individuals have registered as TPAC members, including:

• Don Black, well-known throughout the white supremacist and anti-Semitic community, both for his role as the founder and operator of Stormfront, and for his appearances and speeches at racist and anti-Semitic gatherings. Black is a former Grand Dragon in the Ku Klux Klan who served prison time for plotting to invade the Caribbean island of Dominica and overthrow its government.

• John Ubele, the Operations Manager for the neo-Nazi Nationalist Coalition. A former member of the neo-Nazi National Alliance, Ubele was also a founding member of the Sons of Liberty Committee, a group whose stated goal was for "the interests of European Americans…to reign supreme in all deliberations and actions of our government." Ubele also hosted "Radio with John Ubele," a weekly radio program hosted on Stormfront.

National Alliance leader tells followers to spread neo-Nazi message at Tea Parties

Erich Gliebe, who heads the West Virginia-based National Alliance (NA), devoted a May 2009 Internet radio broadcast to recast the purpose of the Tea Parties as opportunities to unite the white race and motivate its members to action. Gliebe argued that white people have simply had enough of what he described as minorities relying on tax dollars to fund government programs. He explained that "middle class White Americans are finally protesting."

Optimistic that recruitment at the Tea Parties could expand his group's membership, Gliebe suggested that "a number of those who turned out on April 15th are ready to embrace the National Alliance's message." He also alleged that the NA had experienced an increase in applications and requests for information as a result of the Tea Parties.

Gliebe encouraged white people to exploit the events to form a movement that will address the "major issues facing White Americans today." Finally, he requested that individuals intending on participating in future tea parties distribute a pamphlet created by deceased National Alliance leader William Pierce.

 

Neo-Nazi at Pittsburgh 'Tea Party'