White Supremacists Target NASCAR's Daytona 500 Race for Major Recruitment

[paineinthearse]

White Supremacists Target NASCAR's Daytona 500 Race for Major Recruitment Drive

2/18/2005 3:26:00 PM


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To: National Desk

Contact: Mark Medin, 954-478-3240, Monika Koplow, 954-938-8188, both of the Anti-Defamation League

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- One of the country's largest and most virulent anti-Semitic and racist hate groups plans to undertake a major recruitment drive at the Daytona International Speedway during NASCAR's Daytona 500 Race on Sunday, February 20.

Among other claims, the neo-Nazi National Alliance (N.A.) says it has arranged for an airplane to fly over the racetrack with a banner that reads, "Love Your Race" and promoting the group's Web site. Members of the group also plan on handing out fliers in the parking lot near the nationally televised event.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which monitors extremist groups, has notified local and state law enforcement authorities of the planned recruitment effort, and is warning the public to beware the group's hateful agenda.

"Our concern is that people will think that the National Alliance is some kind of mainstream group, when in fact they are a dangerous extremist group," said Mark Medin, ADL Florida Regional Director. "The National Alliance clearly sees this high-profile gathering of NASCAR fans as a prime opportunity to spread their message of hate, or possibly to recruit new members."

According to postings by National Alliance members on the Internet, the Tampa unit, led by Todd Weingart, is coordinating the recruitment drive. The group's national leadership in West Virginia has indicated their support.

This is not the first time the group has targeted a NASCAR event. In November 2003, four members of the National Alliance reportedly handed out racist fliers, cards and tape recordings of their broadcasts at the NASCAR Winston Cup Race in North Carolina. At the time, the group said it was trying to exploit tensions around efforts by African-Americans to diversify the sport of car racing.

One of the largest and most active neo-Nazi organizations in the U.S., the N.A. has four chapters in Florida: Orlando, Tampa, Palm Beach and Gainesville. The group has recently spread racist and anti-Semitic literature in Ft. Myers, Davie and St. Petersburg, and has rented billboard space on the Florida Turnpike near Orlando.

In the last decade, the N.A. has enjoyed significant growth and has recently focused most of its attention on recruiting young racists. At the same time, the N.A. has tried to attract middle-class professionals willing to be part of a dedicated cadre that carries out the group's goals. Over the last several years, dozens of violent crimes, including murders, bombings and robberies have been traced to N.A. members or appear to have been inspired by the group's propaganda.

EDITORS NOTE: For more information on the National Alliance's recent activities, visit the League's Web site at http://www.adl.org/extremism.

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The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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[whistle]

1. Well, looks like they'll all be in one place at the same time....

...what a golden opportunity!

[MJP]

2. As a Christian, NASCAR Loving, and Color Blind Liberal....I must ask

What the HELL does that mean!?

[whistle]

3. It means that as a Christian, NASCAR loving, color blind liberal...

...you are in a minority.

[MJP]

6. Well there you go..

Minorities are what this post is about.

Be sensitive.

It is hypocritical to portray oneself as sensitive to one groups feelings while stereo-typing another.

But, maybe I misunderstood, maybe you're not sensitive to any group.

BTW, I don't like to use labels, but I did it to prove a point. Let's face it, we all have a stigma toward labels, but you can't be "gray" about everything.

[ultraist]

9. Right, some generalities are true, that's why they are targeting a NASCAR

event. Because they know that it's fertile ground for recuitments. Of course, that doesn't mean ALL NASCAR fans are conservatives or racists.

They aren't targeting a symphony in the park event or an art exhibit for good reason.

[MJP]

10. That's fair. nt

[Joe the Revelator]

4. Labels are super fun!

as are thinly veiled threats of violence.

[QC]

8. Stereotyping is so much easier than thinking, you know.

And posting easy, obvious insults takes much less effort than coming up with an observation that is worth reading.

Maybe that's why we get so much stereotyping and conventional "wisdom" around here.

[QC]

7. ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... n/t

[BTFSTL]

5. They had a guy who was a radio talk-show host in St. Louis

His name: Frank Weltner, better known as The Couch Potato. He was on a free-wheeling (and often seen as fringe) talk station, WGNU-AM, where the late owner, Chuck Norman, let anyone with any type of position pay to have a show.

Recently, though, publicity about Weltner's views managed to get him taken off the air, along with another show, "The Right at Night," featuring Council of Conservative Citizens head Gordon Baum and his right-hand man, Earl Holt.

Since Norman's death, the staffer he willed the station to have apparently been trying to get the station more mainstream and away from the fringe elements, both left and right, that populated both the shows and the callers.

In a way, it's a shame. There was no more colorful station than WGNU, where white racists and black racists and all those in-between could either have their own shows or call in on every show if they wished.

On the other hand, it's nice to see folks like Weltner, Baum and Holt get their just desserts.

Here's WGNU's web site: http://www.wgnu.net

You can listen on-line as they stream their signal (I think you have to have Windows Media Player).

[jdots]

11. Notice all the turns are to the left in the big oval races

I say we change the rules,have the cars go to the right then get the white power jerks of to lay on the track.

[KharmaTrain]

13. George Carlin Say This Is No Sport

...it starts and ends in the same place...what's the use?

He also thinks everything other than baseball and football aren't sports.

Not all race car people are bad, doesn't David Letterman still own interest in some racing teams?

[Behind the Aegis]

12. Shooting fish in a barrel!

There are some fans that will be appalled by this, but the "sheet wearing" crowd does love their NASCAR! It will be interesting to see how this plays out. NASCAR itself will want to 'move away' from any type of publicity like this, and who can blame them.

[True_Blue]

14. I hope they run them down with their cars

The neo-nazis and KKK are just as dangerous and imbalanced as any foreign terrorists. One of Timothy McVeigh's favorite books was a neo-nazi book.

<snip>

"And one of McVeigh's favorite books: The Turner Diaries written by former American Nazi Party honcho William L. Pierce, under the pen name Andrew Macdonald. Its hero - Earl Turner - responds to gun control by making a truck bomb and blowing up the Washington FBI Building."

</snip>

http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/mcveigh/dawning_1.html?sect=1

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BiggJawn]

16. "Whut's thet say? 'Love your Race'? Why, HAY-ell YES I luv this race!"

"EARNHARDT!!!!!! WOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!YEEEE-HAH!" (Oops! Thet sounded like that Howard Dean guy...)
"Hey Murlene, git me 'nother ribbon!"