American Nazis

Anti-Semitic, Racist, Neo-Nazi Groups in America Today

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism. The ADL’s annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents found that Anti-Semitic incidents in the United States declined in 2005, but that levels were still a source of concern. More specifically, there were 1,757 reported anti-Semitic incidents in North America 2005, a three percent decline from 2004.

Anti-Semitic incidents included in the Audit comprise physical and verbal assaults, harassment, property defacement, vandalism or other expressions of anti-Jewish sentiment. States with the most total incidents: New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

One trend that has served as a driving force behind the numbers is public activity by organized neo-Nazi and other hate groups.

National Socialist Movement

Today America's largest Neo-Nazi group is the National Socialist Movement (NSM).

NSM is a Minneapolis-based hate group known for its Nazi uniforms and open display of explicit Nazi symbols.

NSM Profile

• Leader: Jeff Schoep
• Founded: 1974 by Robert Brannen and Cliff Herrington
• Ideology: Neo-Nazi
• Mission Statement: NSM calls for a "greater America" that would deny citizenship to Jews, non-whites, and homosexuals.
• Composition: Mostly young, including racist skinheads; some older members of the American Nazi Party of the 1960s.
• Structure: It has a vaguely paramilitary structure, with military ranks for its members.
• Character: One of the most explicitly "Nazi-like" neo-Nazi groups, emulating the uniforms and paraphernalia of the Third Reich.
• Outreach: NSM Magazine, Web site, literature distribution, conferences and rallies

NSM has outpaced other anti-Semitic groups in both membership and activity.

NSM Activity

• NSM has chapters in 32 states.
• NSM has absorbed members from various racist and skinhead groups.
• The group's activities, ranging from literature distribution to raucous rallies, have proven popular among these young recruits.
• NSM has a growing Internet presence that includes online radio and a "news service" geared to white supremacists.
• NSM launched its own in-house white power music label, NSM Records.
• NSM plans to release an anti-Semitic video game called "ZOG's Nightmare," whose object is to kill minorities and Jews. ZOG is a racist abbreviation for "Zionist Occupied Government."
• The NSM holds public events in various cities while dressed in full Nazi regalia and shouting "Seig Heil!" NSM members wear Nazi uniforms and openly display swastikas to a degree unusual even among white supremacists.

Other Anti-Semitic Groups in the United States

In the United States, the Constitutional guarantee for freedom of speech allows political organizations great latitude in expressing Nazi, racist or anti-Semitic ideology. Due to First Amendment restrictions, the federal government generally cracks down on such organizations only after members engage in hate crimes and violence.

Other American Anti-Semitic Groups

• American Nazi Party
• Aryan Nations
• Aryan Brotherhood
• Creativity Movement
• Jew Watch
• Ku Klux Klan
• Libertarian National Socialist Green Party
• National Alliance
• National Independents Movement
• National Socialist Party of America
• NSDAP-AO
• Overthrow.com (Bill White)
• Stormfront.org
• White Aryan Resistance

On the bright side, U.S.-based racist organizations are a tiny percentage of the population. Generally they are outnumbered at public demonstrations by counter-protesters. And they are quickly prosecuted for any crimes. The U.S. congress passed extra penalties for hate crimes, such as vandalizing a synagogue with a Swastika.

Nevertheless, as the 21st Century begins, NSM and other anti-Semitic movements in America must be carefully watched.

Never again.