1995: White Supremacist Caught with Arms Stockpile

July-December 1995: White Supremacist Attempts to Revive

Nearly-Moribund Racist Church Group

Matthew Hale.[Source:Anti-DefamationLeague]

May 1996 and After: White Supremacist Church Restarts in

Montana

This page can be viewed at http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=matthew_hale_1

Profile: Matthew Hale

Matthew Hale was a participant or observer in the following events:

John McLaughlin, who will become a close friend of white supremacist church leader Matthew Hale(see July-December 1995), is sentenced to two and one-half years’ probation after officials discoveran arms stockpile meant for the “ultimate race war.” (Southern Poverty Law Center 9/1999)

Twenty-four-year-old Matthew Hale, desiring to head a “religious” rather than apolitical group, revives the near-moribund Church of the Creator (COTC—see1973) in East Peoria, Illinois, where he lives with his father. The COTC was nearlyobliterated by a series of crippling judgments against it in regards to a murdercommitted by one of its former officials (see 1994). Hale has described himself asa white supremacist from the age of 11, after, he claims, discovering that “whitepeople had been responsible for the vast majority of progress in the world, and assuch, the idea that the races were ‘equal’ to one another seemed incorrect.” Heis fascinated with Nazism and the work of Adolf Hitler, and formed a neo-Nazigroup called “The New Reich” at age 14. Three years ago, Hale proclaimedhimself the “National Leader” of the National Socialist White Americans’ Party; asa college freshman, he founded the American White Supremacist Party (AWSP)before dissolving it and unsuccessfully attempting to form a chapter of DavidDuke’s National Association for the Advancement of White People (NAAWP). Afterabandoning his attempt to start a chapter of the NAAWP, Hale became involved

with the COTC. Hale tells old COTC members that he is the “great promoter” that COTC founderBen Klassen long promised. He enters law school in the fall; in December, he renames the group theWorld Church of the Creator. Hale will write of Jews: “Among ‘humans‘… there is an inbornparasite. That parasite is the Jew.” Of blacks and Asians, he will write: “Why do the n_ggers thinkon a lower level than we do? Because they have smaller, less developed brains. Why do Orientalsthink fiendishly, deviously? Because they have a different brain structure.” Of the US government,he will write, “Until the Jewish parasite is removed from the government, we Creators shall opposeall military endeavors brought in its name, for all policies emanating from [it] advance the interestsof the Jews and militate against the interests of our people.” (Anti-Defamation League 7/6/1999;Southern Poverty Law Center 9/1999; Anti-Defamation League 2005)

Matthew Hale, attempting to revive and expand the nearly-defunct Church of the Creator(COTC—see 1973 and July-December 1995), joins with two old COTC members, Matthew Hayhow(see August 1990) and Guy Lombardi, and convenes a gathering at the Montana ranch of COTCleader leader Slim Deardorff. Hale is elected Pontifex Maximus (supreme leader), and JonathanViktor, a devotee of COTC founder Ben Klassen, is chosen Hastus Primus, or vice president, of thereconstituted group, now officially named the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC). Hale issuccessful at revitalizing the organization, aggressively marketing it through pamphlets,newsletters, Web sites, a public access television show, and highly publicized public meetings.Perhaps its most popular publication is a 32-page booklet entitled “Facts that the Government andthe Media Don’t Want You to Know,” which many people find on their porches and in theirdriveways. The booklet, written by Hale, denigrates nonwhites and promotes anti-Semitic theoriesabout Jewish control of the media, the so-called “Kosher Food Tax,” and material allegedly

May 1998 - January 1999: White Supremacist Denied Law

License

June 1998: White Supremacist Church Leader Charged with

Witness Intimidation

April 1999: White Supremacist Church Leader Appeals Denial

of Law License

July 2, 1999: White Supremacist Denied Law License Again;

Denial May Trigger Shooting Spree

demonstrating the biological superiority of whites. Unlike many white supremacist organizations,Hale works to reach out to women and children, offering far more recognition and involvement towomen than other, similar movements. Hale himself is a frequent guest on national television andradio talk shows. (Southern Poverty Law Center 9/1999; Anti-Defamation League 2005)

Matthew Hale, the leader of the overtly racist World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May 1996and After), graduates from law school and passes the Illinois bar exam. However, the Illinois StateBar Association rejects Hale’s application to practice law because of his “character and fitness.”(Southern Poverty Law Center 9/1999) The commissioners deny Hale’s application because of hispublished rhetoric, which they find in “absolute contradiction” to the required conduct of lawyers.A report issued by the Committee on Character and Fitness quotes racial slurs from the WCOTC Website as evidence of Hale’s “bad character.” (Anti-Defamation League 2005) In the January 1999 issueof WCOTC’s monthly newsletter “The Struggle,” Hale implores his fellow “Creators” to mobilizethemselves in the event that his appeal of the ruling is denied, writing: “I call upon all White RacialLoyalists, whether inside or outside of the Church, to stand united in their opposition to this furtherattempt to disempower our Race in the court of law. While the time has not yet come for protestsand other public shows of support for this struggle, the time is now to galvanize the entire WhiteRacial Loyalist community in the event that the Hearing Board also declines my certification. I needall of you to spread news of what is happening throughout our community. For now, these eventsmust only serve to motivate all of us even further to do our utmost to bring about the destruction ofthe Jewish system.” (Anti-Defamation League 7/6/1999)

Guy Lombardi, the Southeast regional director of the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May1996 and After) and commander of the group’s militant “White Berets,” is charged withintimidating a witness in an assault case against two fellow WCOTC members (see August 1997).Lombardi will plead guilty to the charge. Shortly thereafter, WCOTC leader Matthew Hale will ejectLombardi from the group, for what he calls “insubordination”; Hale will assure other WCOTCmembers that Lombardi’s dismissal has nothing to do with his arrest, which Hale will call “a badgeof honor.” (Southern Poverty Law Center 9/1999) In the September 1998 issue of The Struggle, Halewill write: “Lombardi was not replaced as commander of the White Berets as a form of punishmentfor being arrested. Not at all. Being arrested for engaging in our religious rights has never and willnever be considered anything by me other than a badge of honor.” (Anti-Defamation League7/6/1999)

The Illinois State Bar Association hears an appeal by Matthew Hale, the leader of the World Churchof the Creator (WCOTC—see May 1996 and After), who was denied a law license the year before(see May 1998 - January 1999). Hale brings WCOTC member Benjamin Smith (see July 2-4, 1999) totestify on his behalf; Smith says Hale has kept him from committing acts of violence. Smith tells theCharacter and Fitness Committee: “He’s given me spiritual guidance.… When I first met him, Iwasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life, what direction I was going to go.” (SouthernPoverty Law Center 9/1999; Anti-Defamation League 2005)

Indiana newspapers announce that the Illinois State Bar Association has denied an appeal byMatthew Hale, the leader of the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May 1996 and After), topractice law (see April 1999). Apparently the news triggers a murderous shooting spree by one ofHale’s disciples, Benjamin Smith (see July 2-4, 1999). (Southern Poverty Law Center 9/1999) Halesreleases a statement that reads in part: “I have been denied my most precious rights of speech and

July 2-4, 1999: White Supremacist Goes on Three-Day Killing

Spree

Benjamin ‘August’ Smith.[Source: Eye on Hate(.com)]

religion. If the courthouse is closed to ‘NON APPROVED RELIGIONS,’ America can only be headed forviolence.” Asked if he thinks Smith’s shooting spree was connected to the Illinois State Bar’sdecision, Hale replies: “I do. I very much do.” (Anti-Defamation League 7/6/1999) Halesubsequently files an appeal with the United States Supreme Court, an appeal which will be denied;in response to that denial, Hale will state that he could “no longer in good faith and in goodconscience urge, recommend, or instruct my adherents and supporters in general to obey the lawsof this land… whatever blood is spilled with be [sic] on the hands of those who so severely wrongedus today.” (Anti-Defamation League 2005)

Benjamin “August” Smith, a troubled 21-year-old man who devoutly believesin the racist teachings of the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May1996 and After), goes on a three-day killing spree targeted at Jews andnon-whites. Smith gave himself the nickname of “August” because hebelieves his given name sounds Jewish, and as a reference to the Romanemperor Caesar Augustus. Smith was expelled from the University of Illinoisat Champaign-Urbana for several run-ins with police, and is in trouble at hiscurrent school, the University of Indiana, for distributing WCOTC literatureand penning racist screeds for the student newspaper (see August 27, 1998).His girlfriend has broken up with him due to his physical and emotional abusetowards her. The event that apparently triggers Smith’s killing spree isIllinois’s denial of a law license to Matthew Hale, the leader of the WCOTCand a man Smith considers to be his mentor (see July 2, 1999).

July 2: One Killed, Six Injured - Smith, driving a light blue Ford Taurus and carrying a .380semiautomatic and a .22 pistol, begins the killing spree on July 2 in a Chicago suburb when he seesa group of Orthodox Jews walking home from Sabbath services; he opens fire on them, injuring six.A short time later, Smith sees Ricky Byrdsong, an African-American and the former basketball coachof Northwestern University, walking with two of his children in his front yard in the Chicago suburbof Skokie. Smith shoots and kills Byrdsong from his car. He then fires on an Asian couple in theNorthwood suburb, but misses them both.July 3: Three Injured - On July 3, while police are piecing together the events of the Chicagoshootings, Smith drives to Springfield, Illinois, where he shoots at two African-Americans, woundingone and missing the other. He then drives to Decatur where he shoots and wounds StephenAnderson, an African-American minister. He then drives to Champaign-Urbana, where he criticallywounds an Asian student.July 4: One Killed, Shooter Commits Suicide - On July 4, Smith shoots and kills Won-Joon Yoon, aUniversity of Indiana doctoral student standing outside his Birmingham, Indiana church. Smithabandons his Taurus in Ina, Illinois, hijacks a van from a gas station, and flees. Police, alerted to thehijacking, locate him traveling towards Salem, Illinois. The police chase Smith down the highwayuntil he shoots himself below the chin in a suicide attempt; the badly wounded Smith crashes thevan and shoots himself twice more before being taken to the hospital, where he is pronounced deadon arrival. A search of the Taurus reveals that Smith carefully planned his shooting spree, though hechose his victims apparently at random. A journal left in the car contains anti-Semitic and neo-Naziwritings; the journal opens, “Anyone who knows the history of this plague upon humanity who callsthemselves Jews will know why I have acted.” The car also contains a bulletproof vest and receiptsshowing Smith has cashed in two retirement accounts. The police subsequently find and search astorage locker Smith had rented; it houses Nazi armbands and flags, a computer, printers, andfloppy disks. (Los Angeles Times 7/6/1999; Eye on Hate 2003)Reactions - A former Indiana roommate, Tyrese Alexander, says of Smith after the shootings: “Therewas never really a, ‘I don’t like you, I hate you because you’re black.’ He seemed to harbor intenseanger, but it was never of a physical nature. He never lashed out at anybody. He just had an angrylook on his face.… He seemed mad at the world. But I had no idea it would end like this.” (LosAngeles Times 7/6/1999; CNN 7/6/1999) Hale mourns his death, saying that Smith was “a pleasantperson who believes in his people, who believes in his people, the white people, I can’t say anythingbad about him,” and declares he feels nothing for the victims. Some believe that Hale may have

July 23, 2002: National Alliance Founder, Leader Dies

Erich Josef Gliebe.[Source: ClevelandScene]

known more of Smith’s plans than he admits. Of Smith’s victims, Hale says, “As far as we’reconcerned, the loss is one white man.” (CNN 7/6/1999; Eye on Hate 2003; Anti-Defamation League2005)'Martyr' for Radical Rightists - Many radical rightists will quickly declare Smith a “martyr” for thecause and an “exemplary student” of the movement. The spree will help bolster the WCOTCmembership, which will expand into 17 states and a large Internet presence. (CNN 7/6/1999; Elliott7/26/1999; Eye on Hate 2003) The WCOTC will eventually change its name to the “CreativityMovement” (see November 2002). Hale will be sentenced to prison in 2005 for soliciting the murderof a federal judge (see April 6, 2005). (Anti-Defamation League 2005)

William Pierce, the founder of the neo-Nazi National Alliance (see 1970-1974)and the author of the inflammatory and highly influential white supremacistnovel The Turner Diaries (see 1978) dies of cancer. He is replaced by Erich JosefGliebe, a former boxer who runs Resistance Records, the Alliance-allied whitepower music label (see Late 1993 and Summer 1999), and publishes the label’sassociated magazine, Resistance. Gliebe’s father was a member of the GermanArmy during World War II, and Gliebe says he grew up “racially conscious.”Plans for Alliance after His Death - Pierce dies unexpectedly, but had long citedhis failing health and advancing age as causes for concern, and said theAlliance must not make the mistakes of earlier white supremacist organizationssuch as the American Nazi Party (which fell apart after its leader and Pierce’smentor, George Lincoln Rockwell, was assassinated in 1967) and the ChristianNationalist Crusade (which collapsed after the death of its leader Gerald L.K.

Smith). He made careful arrangements for the Alliance to continue after his death, and leavesalmost all of his personal property to the organization, including 230 acres of property in WestVirginia that houses the Alliance’s compound and headquarters (see 1985), along with some 60 acresbelonging to Pierce’s “Cosmotheist Community Church,” which he has tried to classify astax-exempt (see 1978).Multi-Million Dollar Business - Under Gliebe’s leadership, the Alliance generates over $4 million ayear in income, largely from the sale of white power music recordings, books, videos, and relatedmerchandise. It broadcasts a weekly radio program, American Dissident Voices. In August 2002, theCenter for New Community writes that the Alliance will likely “continue to play a strong role in thecontemporary white nationalist movement, particularly by recruiting young people through its whitepower music distribution and merchandising.” (The organization has been particularly successful atdisseminating its message during concerts by the Texas thrash-metal group Pantera, whose leadsinger has worn pro-fascist shirts on stage; Alliance members hand out recruitment flyers at theshows headlined: “Remember when Heavy Metal was for Whites only? We do!”) It sells two videogames, one called “Ethnic Cleansing,” where players get to exterminate minority citizens in agraphic, brutal “first-person shooter” style.Largest Neo-Nazi Group in North America - The Alliance claims over 2,500 members and units or“proto-units” (local groups that have met membership requirements but not yet been sanctioned bynational headquarters) in 43 American and five Canadian cities, making it the largest andbest-organized neo-Nazi group in North America. It has more than doubled its membership since the1995 Oklahoma City bombing (see 8:35 a.m. - 9:02 a.m. April 19, 1995).Moderating Message, Expanding Contact with Similar Groups - Pierce led the organization in“moderating” its message, abandoning the Klan robes, brown Nazi-like uniforms, camouflage attire,and coarse racial slurs that other groups often sport. Leonard Zeskind of the Institute for Researchand Education on Human Rights has written: “Their only uniform will be their white skins. They willseek to establish a white nation-state, with definable economic, political, and racial borders, out ofthe wreckage they hope to create of the United States. And from Pierce they will have learned thearts and sciences of Aryan revolution.” Along with their white power musical concerts and rallies,Alliance members have marched with neo-Confederate groups and worked with younger, moreviolent “skinhead” groups. Generally, the Alliance shuns many public rallies, preferring instead to“build a revolutionary infrastructure” by training what the Center for New Community will call“dedicated cadres of activists outside the eye of the public.” It has worked closely with the more

November 2002: White Supremacist Church Loses Trademark

Infringement Lawsuit

Early December, 2002: White Supremacist Church Announces

Move to Wisconsin

overtly violent Hammerskin Nation, both in distributing “white power” music (the “Hammerskins”distribute music through Panzerfaust Records) and coordinating public activities.White Supremacists Praise Pierce after Death - A number of white supremacist leaders will praisePierce in the days after his death. Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke says Pierce “helpedpeople think straight about the Jewish Question and the other vital realities of race.” The overtlyracist British National Party (BNP) says in a statement: “The death of Dr. Pierce has opened a hugegap in the nationalist movement in the United States. We hope for the sake of the futuregenerations of white children for whom he felt so strongly that it will not be filled by crude inferiorcopies of William Pierce—the man was unique!” Dan Gentry of Christian Research praises “Pierce’slove and concern for the racial camaraderie of Celto-Saxons.” Richard Butler, the head of theneo-Nazi Aryan Nations (see Early 1970s), says, “The White Aryan race has lost a great intellectualmind and a Noble Warrior for Gods [sic] eternal truth.” And Matthew Hale, the leader of the violentseparatist World Church of the Creator (see May 1996 and After), writes, “We appreciate thecomradeship of many National Alliance members over the years and undoubtedly [Pierce’s] presencewill be missed.” (Center for New Community 8/2002 )

The World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May 1996 and After) loses a trademark infringementlawsuit brought against it by the Te-Ta-Ma Truth Foundation, which had successfully trademarkedthe name “Church of the Creator” years before. Federal District Court Judge Joan HumphreyLefkow originally rules in WCOTC’s favor, but her verdict is overturned on appeal. She orders thegroup to stop using the name, to give up its Web addresses, and to turn over all printed materialbearing the name. Group leader Matthew Hale refuses to comply, and files a lawsuit against Lefkow,claiming that she has ordered the destruction of the group’s Bibles. “If federal judges are to sit injudgment of the people, the people must be able to sit in judgment of them,” Hale says. TheWCOTC’s various Web sites urge its followers to picket Lefkow’s church, and refer to her as “a whitewoman married to a Jew with three mixed grandchildren.” (Wilgoren 1/9/2003; Anti-DefamationLeague 2005) For years afterwards, Lefkow will be plagued by an incessant round of death threats,as WCOTC and other white supremacist organizations publish her name, address, and familyphotographs on their Web sites along with an array of violent threats. In 2003, Hale will be chargedwith soliciting her murder (see January 9, 2003). “Underground” radio broadcaster Hal Turner willsay on his show that Lefkow is “worthy of being killed,” adding that “it wouldn’t be legal, but in myopinion it wouldn’t be wrong.” In 2005, Lefkow’s husband and mother will be murdered, possibly byHale supporters (see February 28, 2005). (Wilgoren 3/2/2005)

The World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May 1996 and After) announces that it is moving itsheadquarters to the small town of Riverton, Wyoming. Many residents and local organizations speakout against the virulently racist and white supremacist “church,” pointing to its pride in its NativeAmerican heritage. Thomas Kroenke, the “hastus primus” of the WCOTC, tells a reporter that if hisorganization had its way: “Well, you wouldn’t have anything, any races, except white races here.That’d be the only real difference—it would just be an all-white community.” Kroenke has lived inRiverton for two years after taking a job as a case worker at the nearby state prison farm; Kroenkelost the position after being named to a leadership position in the WCOTC. Kroenke describeshimself as racist, saying: “And what I mean by that is, I felt an affinity for my own race, and adisaffinity… for all the other races. We are for the survival, preservation, and expansion of thewhite race.” Kroenke is the de facto leader of the organization, as church leader Matthew Hale is injail for conspiring to kill a federal judge (see January 9, 2003). Fred Baehr, a painting contractorwho lives in nearby Lander, says of the WCOTC: “We do not have a right to go and lynch them—wejust don’t. But we do have a right to perhaps make them a little less comfortable. And frankly,when it comes to Nazis, I’m a little less concerned with their rights than I am with the rights of,shall I just say, decent people.” Tim Thorson of the Riverton Chamber of Commerce says the movehas forced residents to examine their town’s own legacy of intolerance: “There was a time whenbusinesses had signs in their stores saying ‘no Indians.’ That happened here.… Our focus is on trying

January 9, 2003: White Supremacist Church Leader Arrested

for Soliciting Murder of a Judge

April 24, 2003 and After: White Supremacist Church Found in

Contempt of Court for Refusing to Stop Using Name

to let the people that live here know that this is a safe place to be. And give them good reason tofeel safe.” (Associated Press 12/10/2002; Berkes 2/10/2003)

Matthew Hale, the leader of the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May 1996 and After),shows up for a contempt of court hearing in a Chicago courtroom based on his refusal to give up hisgroup’s name after losing a trademark infringement lawsuit (see November 2002). When Haleappears, he is arrested for soliciting the murder of the judge who presided over the lawsuit,Federal District Court Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow. Hale recently claimed Lefkow was prejudicedagainst him because she is married to a Jew and has children who are biracial. Law enforcementofficials with Chicago’s Joint Terrorism Task Force say Hale asked another person to “forcibly assaultand murder” Lefkow. FBI spokesman Thomas Kneir says: “Certainly freedom of speech and freedomof religion are important in our society here in America. But the threat of physical violence will notbe tolerated.” US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald adds, “Freedom of speech does not include thefreedom to solicit murder.” Hale is accompanied in the courtroom by about a dozen followers, manyof whom raise their fists in what they call a Roman salute but that is more widely known as a Nazisalute. One WCOTC member, Shawm Powers, says: “This is totally bogus—it’s in our constitutionalrights to believe in a religion. We are a bona fide religion, and they are trying to take that awayfrom us. Matt Hale is not a violent man, he doesn’t advocate violence.” Anti-Defamation Leagueofficial Richard Hirschhaut disagrees, saying: “Matt Hale has been allowed with impunity to engagein terrorist-like activity for four years now. He has had blood on his hands for more than four years.He is now where he should be.” Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center calls Hale“the most dangerous American racist of his generation.” Attorney Glenn Greenwald, representingHale, says he believes the charge against Hale stems from what he calls a misinterpretation ofHale’s statement that “we are in a state of war with Judge Lefkow.” Greenwald says: “They areprobably trying to take things he said along the lines of political advocacy and turn it into a crime.The FBI may have interpreted this protected speech as a threat against a federal judge, but it’sprobably nothing more than some heated rhetoric.” During Hale’s incarceration, specialadministrative measures will be imposed to reduce his ability to communicate with his followers.(CNN 1/8/2003; Wilgoren 1/9/2003; Anti-Defamation League 2005) The press will later learn thatHale solicited the murder from FBI informant Anthony Evola, a Chicago area pizza delivery man whowas asked by Hale to distribute racist and anti-Semitic pamphlets to schoolchildren. Evola insteadcalled the Chicago Public Schools to warn them about the racist material, and was later asked tobecome an FBI informant. In the months that followed, Evola became chief of Hale’s “White Beret”security squad and frequently traveled with Hale. Evola provided FBI officials with an email fromHale soliciting Lefkow’s home address, and a tape recording of a discussion between the two aboutLefkow’s murder. On the tape, Evola said, “We going to exterminate the rat?” Hale replied, “Well,whatever you want to do basically.” Evola said, “The Jew rat.” Hale then said: “You know, myposition has always been that I, you know, I’m going to fight within the law… but that informationhas been provided.… If you wish to do anything yourself, you can.” Evola replied, “Consider itdone,” and Hale responded, “Good.” (Southern Poverty Law Center 4/2003; Wilgoren 3/2/2005;Associated Press 4/26/2005) In addition, former WCOTC leader Jon Fox will testify that Hale askedhim in December 2002 to kill Lefkow and others involved in the legal dispute. (Korecki 4/14/2004;O'Connor 4/15/2004)

Federal judge Joan Lefkow levies a $1,000/day fine against the World Church of the Creator(WCOTC—see May 1996 and After) for failing to comply with a ruling in a trademark infringementlawsuit. The WCOTC was ordered to stop using the name “Church of the Creator” as a result oflosing the lawsuit months earlier (see November 2002), and WCOTC leader Matthew Hale is chargedwith soliciting Lefkow’s murder (see January 9, 2003). The WCOTC now calls itself the “CreativityMovement,” but continues to use the earlier name. Lefkow finds the group in contempt of court andorders its Web sites to be shut down until all trademarked terms are removed from them. AnAustralian Creativity adherent writes on a Creativity Web forum: “This is blatant discrimination! It

2004-2005: Attempt to Revive White Supremacist Church

Fails when New Leader Charged in Beating

April 26, 2004: White Supremacist Church Leader Convicted

of Solicitation of Murder

A courtroom illustration of MatthewHale listening to instructions fromJudge John Moody. [Source: VernaSadock / Getty Images]

Late 2005 or Early 2006 and After: White Supremacist

Founds Racist, Violent Videosharing Web Site

A popular image of AdolfHitler, created in the styleof the 2008 Obamacampaign poster andusing the campaignslogan ‘Yes We Can,’

has all the hallmarks of being a K_ke conspiracy to weasel that extra five cents out of the WhiteMan, while telling him that he is doing this for the good of the White Race!” Another message onthe forum says: “I’ll laugh if I ever get fined $1,000.00. I spit in the eye of the Jew vermin.” TheWeb site is shut down shortly after the messages are posted. Its hosts explain on another site: “Youcan thank the jews [sic] for making us waste our time and taking our money. We would mention thepeople who forced us to redo this site, but they would probably bring us to court because wementioned their name without their permission.” Other anti-Semitic and white supremacistorganizations are allowing the WCOTC to broadcast its messages and sell its wares on their sites.(Anti-Defamation League 5/1/2003) In October 2003, Lefkow will fine the WCOTC $200,000 forignoring her April ruling. It is not clear how the group will pay the fine, or even if it can. (Warmbir10/25/2003)

The World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May 1996 and After), almost moribund since thejailing of its leader Matthew Hale (see January 9, 2003) and forced to rename itself the CreativityMovement as a result of losing a trademark infringement lawsuit (see November 2002), is taken overby Florida white supremacist Adam Jacobs. Jacobs loses his position after being charged withviciously beating a fellow “Creator” over a period of 11 hours because he believes him to be a“snitch.” The movement again suffers a loss of membership and almost disappears entirely.(Southern Poverty Law Center 2010)

Matthew Hale, the leader of the World Church of the Creator(WCOTC—see May 1996 and After), is convicted of one count ofsolicitation of murder and three counts of obstruction of justice inregards to his attempt to solicit the murder of a judge (see January 9,2003). Hale never testified on his own behalf. Defense counselThomas Anthony Durkin called no witnesses, saying the prosecution’sevidence was the weakest he had seen in a major case, arguing thatHale was set up by an FBI informant. Durkin says he will appeal, andwill prove that prosecutors have been “out to get Hale” because ofhis suspected involvement in a shooting spree by WCOTC memberBenjamin Smith five years ago (see July 2-4, 1999; the jury heardaudiotapes of Hale laughing about Smith’s murders and mocking the

victims). US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the lead prosecutor in the case, says the trial’s outcomeproves “that we will not wait for the trigger to be pulled” before taking action. (Anti-DefamationLeague 2005; Associated Press 4/26/2005)

Avowed white supremacist Craig Cobb (see October 31, 2005) moves toEstonia and founds Podblanc, an Internet-based videosharing Web site. It issimilar to YouTube, but Cobb and his supporters refuse to use that facility,calling it “Jew Tube” because its operators censor racist and anti-Semiticcontent. Podblanc offers over 1,000 channels of video content, includingcombat handgun training, bomb-making tutorials, a description of securitymeasures at three northern California synagogues, and an audio recording ofThe Turner Diaries, the infamous race-war fantasy novel (see 1978). The mostpopular video on the site shows Russian neo-Nazis beheading and shootingAsiatic immigrants; other popular videos show skinheads attacking randomJewish and minority victims. Cobb was a member of the violent World Churchof the Creator (WCOTC) until its collapse after its leader, Matthew Hale, wasarrested for soliciting the murder of a judge (see January 9, 2003 and2004-2005). Cobb posted the name and home address of the judge on the

posted on Podblanc in2009. [Source: Podblanc /OccupiedOregon (.com)]

February 28, 2005: Judge’s Husband, Mother Murdered;

White Supremacist Church Members Suspected

March 10, 2005: Man Unconnected to White Supremacist

Group May Have Murdered Judge’s Husband, Mother

internet, which may have led to the murder of her husband and mother (seeFebruary 28, 2005). Cobb has also attended events sponsored by the neo-NaziNational Alliance (see 1970-1974), and distributes “The Aryan Alternative,” a

white supremacist periodical written by Alex Linder, the founder of the Vanguard News Network(VNN), and published by former White Patriot Party leader Glenn Miller. Cobb documents WCOTC,VNN, and other organizations and events on Podblanc. Estonian authorities will force Cobb to leavetheir country in 2009; in 2010, Podblanc will go dormant when its host decides to refuse to carry itsracist and violent content any longer. (Southern Poverty Law Center 6/2007; Southern Poverty LawCenter 6/2009; Anti-Racist Canada 6/25/2010)

Michael Lefkow and Donna Humphrey are found dead of gunshots to the head in the Lefkows’Chicago basement. The two are the husband and mother, respectively, of Federal District JudgeJoan Humphrey Lefkow, who has endured four years’ worth of death threats ever since she orderedthe World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May 1996 and After) to abandon its name as a resultof a trademark infringement lawsuit (see November 2002). Authorities are investigating whethermembers of the Creativity Movement, as the WCOTC is now known, are responsible for the murders.In 2004, WCOTC leader Matthew Hale was convicted of soliciting Lefkow’s murder (see April 26,2004). Her daughter Laura Lefkow says, “I think she’s very upset with herself, maybe, for being ajudge and putting her family in this danger, but there’s no way she should have known.” Whitesupremacists celebrate the murders on their Web sites, while others theorize that Hale’s enemiesmurdered the two to affect his upcoming sentencing for his crimes (see April 6, 2005). Bill White,the editor of the Libertarian Socialist News, writes: “Everyone associated with the Matt Hale trialhas deserved assassination for a long time. I don’t feel bad that Judge Lefkow’s family wasmurdered today. In fact, when I heard the story, I laughed.” Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty LawCenter, which tracks hate groups, says, “We saw what happened the last time Matt Hale got slappedin the face by the system; the price of that was two dead and nine severely wounded.” Potok isreferring to the 1999 killing spree by WCOTC member Benjamin Smith in response to Hale’s denialof a law license (see July 2-4, 1999). “Now Matt Hale is about to be sentenced, very probably, tomost of his natural life to federal prison. It’s very possible that a Hale follower or sympathizer hasdecided to fight back.” Hale’s friend Billy Roper, who leads a group called White Revolution,disavows the murders, but draws a parallel between the Lefkow murders and the 1992 standoff atRuby Ridge (see August 31, 1992), saying: “We can stand alongside the federal law enforcementcommunity in saying just as they felt a deep regret and sadness over the death of Randy Weaver’sfamily, so we also feel a deep sense of regret and sadness over the death of Judge Lefkow’s family.If it was the case that someone was misguided and thought that they were helping Matt Hale, thenit would be similar in that other people had suffered for one person’s mistake.” Hale’s mother,Evelyn Hutcheson, says her son had nothing to do with the murders: “He had nothing to do withwhat went on last night. My son is sitting in a hole where he’s not allowed to even speak loudenough to be audible. Common sense would tell you, if he were into having somebody kill somebody—which he is not—would he have somebody go kill the judge’s family just before he’s sentenced?Somebody has done this to make him get an enhanced sentence.” Chicago Police Departmentofficial James Molloy says: “There is much speculation about possible links between this crime andthe possible involvement of hate groups. This is but one facet of our investigation. We are lookingin many, many directions.” (Wilgoren 3/2/2005; Chicago Tribune 3/10/2005) Days later, the Chicagopolice will say that a man with no connection to Hale’s group may be responsible for the shootings(see March 10, 2005).

Chicago police say that the murders of the husband and mother of a judge who ruled against whitesupremacist group the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May 1996 and After and February28, 2005) may have been committed by a man with no connections to the group. Bart Ross of AlbanyPark, Illinois, shoots himself in the head during a routine traffic stop, dying minutes later. In hissuicide note, Ross claims responsibility for the double murder of US District Judge Joan Lefkow’s

Bart Ross. [Source:America's Most Wanted]

April 6, 2005: White Supremacist Leader Sentenced to 40

Years for Soliciting Murder

husband and mother. However, police decline to claim that Ross is definitelythe shooter. “We’re satisfied there is information in the letter that wouldpoint to Ross being in the Lefkow house that day” of the slayings, saysChicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline. The suicide note includes detailsof the shooting “that were not out in the media.” However, Cline says,“While we do characterize [Wednesday] night’s developments as significant,we are not prepared at this time to definitely say any one person isresponsible for these homicides. This case is by no means closed.” Otherdocuments retrieved from Ross’s minivan recount his bitterness and hatredfor Lefkow and other judges, stemming from court dealings he has had over

a medical condition. Police refuse to call any of the documents a “hit list,” though the documentsinclude the names of several judges and lawyers. Lefkow dismissed a lawsuit by Ross lastSeptember. The day of the murders, Ross was served an eviction notice by Cook County deputies.Police are searching for DNA and other forensic evidence to tie Ross into the murders; Cline says,“We are attempting to learn as much as we possibly can about Bart Ross’s history—who he was, whohe was associated with, and what he was doing in the days leading up to and following the Lefkowmurders.” Local television station WMAQ receives a handwritten letter, signed Bart A. Ross, claimingthat the author broke into the Lefkow home at 4:30 a.m. with the intention of killing the judge andanyone else in the house. According to the letter, the writer waited all day in a basement utilityroom before shooting the husband, Michael Lefkow, when Lefkow discovered him hiding in theroom. The writer claims to have then shot the mother, Donna Humphrey, after she heard thegunshot and called out to her son-in-law. The writer says he then waited for the judge to comehome, but left hours before she arrived later that evening. Police sources say they believe theletter to be legitimate. WCOTC leader Matthew Hale has been a prime suspect in soliciting themurders; Hale’s attorney Glenn Greenwald reveals that six to eight weeks before the murders,Hale’s mother asked him to pass what was clearly a coded message from Hale to a WCOTC follower.Greenwald says he refused because he did not understand what Hale was saying in the note.(Chicago Tribune 3/10/2005)

White supremacist Matthew Hale, the leader of the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC—see May1996 and After), receives a 40-year sentence for soliciting the murder of US District Court JudgeJoan Lefkow (see January 9, 2003). Lefkow ruled against Hale’s group in a trademark dispute (seeNovember 2002). Hale is sentenced after a rambling, two-hour statement in which he claims he isthe victim. “I have to go back to a solitary cell—I have to go back to hell,” Hale tells Judge JamesMoody. “They want me to die in a hole.” In his statement, Hale compares the FBI to the Gestapo,says the national news media was out to get him, blames his former lawyer for representing himpoorly, and chants the national anthem. He claims that he and Lefkow are “on the same side againstthese liars.” Moody, unmoved by Hale’s statement, gives Hale the maximum sentence for his crimes.US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald argued that Hale’s crime was essentially an act of domestic terrorismand Moody agrees. “Mr. Hale is not concerned about taking someone’s life, but rather how to do itwithout getting caught,” Moody says. “I consider Mr. Hale to be extremely dangerous and theoffense for which he was convicted to be extremely egregious.” After the ruling, Fitzgerald tellsreporters, “I put no stock in his claims, the crocodile tears, that he didn’t do anything wrong.”Hale’s mother, Evelyn Hutcheson, tells reporters: “I think it’s absolutely horrible. “Matt’s the onlyone in there telling the… truth.” (National Public Radio 4/6/2005; Robinson 4/7/2005) Hale willserve his sentence at the Florence, Colorado, “supermax” prison, the same prison where convictedbombers Eric Rudolph (see July 18, 2005) and Ted Kaczynski (see April 3, 1996) are held. (Korecki4/28/2005)