A decade ago, the Southern Law Poverty Center started tracking a singer and guitarist in the white-power music scene. On Saturday, that man allegedly killed six people, opening fire on a Sikh temple in Wisconsin before being shot and killed by police when he refused to disarm.
The alleged gunman, Wade Michael Page, joined the white power music scene in 2000, singing and playing guitar in bands with neo-Nazi beliefs, according to Southern Poverty Law Center spokesman Mark Potok.
"This was not a man who was on the fringes of the scene," Potok told Ed Show host Ed Schultz. "This is a man who was very much in the middle of the white power music world and rubbing shoulders with some of the worst people out there."
Violent crimes against Sikhs are "mistakes on behalf of, in my opinion, extremely stupid people," Potok said, explaining that since 9/11, white supremacists have frequently conflated Sikhs with Muslims, another common target of racist attacks.
"When you look at white supremacist propaganda as we do, you virtually never see writings about evil Sikhs, it's all about Muslims," Potok said. "This guy thought he was targeting Muslims. He just saw beards and turbans."
In 2005, Page started his own band, End Apathy. According to Potok, the band name is a commentary on the perceived failure of many white supremacists to act on their beliefs.
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One less white supremist in the world today. Good.
I do not care if they represent a party or not. The is really gettin petty. He is a white supremest Bigot, it is true when it comes to hate of people who are not the same belief and culture, or have a different color of skin or do things in a different way there are some people like this guy who want to show what they think is their superior. there is where they make their mistake. It was bachmann who just a week ago was going off on Muslims.
On Sunday morning our sermon was about praying for those who are different than we are. Muslims pray every day, maybe not to the same God or maybe to the Same God. Who knows. The God I know is a caring God. Not an evil one.
America should not forget that despite the beliefs of the republicans right wing affliataed terrorism(white nationalist, anti-choice, anti-immigrant, anti-muslim, secessionists) has killed many more people and is far more of a domestic threat than radical "islamic" terrorism
I can count thousands in 9/11 from sources opposed to your claims. Do you have proof in your obvious claim to tie a tragedy to a political purpose.
Right you mean like you just did yourself.
There is a major difference between actual Jihadists, like bin Laden, and most Muslims, such as those in Dearborn (Michigan). Nor does it help for people like Rep. Bachmann and her ilk to make unjustifiable accusations that people like Ouma Abidin (SecState Clinton's aide) are closet members of the Muslim Brotherhood, merely because close relatives happen to have belonged. Islamophobics is much more dangerous than are those people who they've made false accusations against. And, as law enforcement agents around the US had stated, leading up to the 1st hearing that Rep. Peter King had on Islamic terrorists in country (or those abetting such terrorists), other Muslims are quite effective at ferreting out those Muslims who are Jihadists or support Jihad.
Right winged extremists have many ideological shades of anti-choice, anti-muslim, anti-immigrant, secessionist, pro-white supremacist often anti-federal government radical beliefs all wrapped up in a common thread of hatred. These radicals get even more dangerous when they have Bibles in one hand and automatic rifles in the other hand. The harsh rhetoric of hatred in recent years by the extremists on the far right is just short of actually inciting violence but on occasion even these restraints are shed. The anti-choice radicals are the scariest example of being just a notch below violence threshold. When Dr. George Tiller was assassinated in Wichita you know that the radical Christian right wing were quietly cheering on the shooter behind the scenes. Other anti-abortion activists were openly joyful of his murder.
All of these extremists have different ideologies but the ones on the far right are the ones to be scared off particularly if they are part of a militia group. Most of these ultra-conservatives have some sort of survivalist mentality. Like I say, people spouting out extremist hatred justified by Biblical passages in one hand but who stock pile automatic rifles in bunkers with huge arsenals of ammunition or explosives are truly dangerous people. Some will spend their whole lives never bothering anyone while a few will become terrible mass murderers. What is scary is that you can never tell what will trigger a murderous rampage while many of the same ideological ilk are essentially non-violent. We saw today how lethal these types can be when a triggering event in their lives puts them over the unstable edge. What I don't like about these suicidal rampages is that the attacker ends up taking many others who are innocent to early graves.
We need to ban large semiautomatic rifles with large clips. Semiautomatic handguns like the Glock 9mm are also bad news because many people have 30 round ammunition clips. This allows the shooter to get off a hundred rounds or more in the first minute or two before the police have a chance to even answer the radio and dispatch a unit to the scene. We have to wonder why we are the only country that allows civilians to own these semiautomatic weapons with high capacity ammo clips.
Like the Sikh gentleman in India said today on television, what is the point in the U.S. being the world's greatest superpower when on the home front we can not even protect the lives of innocent people? The Sikhs massacred in Wisconsin today were apparently law abiding family people who were failed today by our NRA/ALEC/GOP system. These kinds of statements do not say a whole hell of a lot about American society and the rest of the world knows it too. The NRA/ALEC agenda is to turn America into a vile cesspool one rampage at a time. You would have to judge that they are successful at it.
I own assault weapons and enjoy shooting them all the time.Why should I suffer for someone else mistakes. If we did not go into a phoney war.The american people would hate other races so bad.Also Im sure there has been many deaths with just a knife or hammer and I don't see everyone tryin to outlaw those things.So people don't react so fast before you have time to look and think all points of view....
A knife or a hammer cannot kill a multitude of people in a matter of a minute or two. Get real.
The NRA strikes again! More guns! More guns! They aren't the problem!
Amazing how many times I post that these days.
Somebody has been watching Rambo movies again.
Uhhh, Josh. Knives and hammers aren't built to kill people.
@Joshua Gore, RE:
I can understand someone going to a rifle range, under the auspices of a well-regulated militia, checking an assault weapon out of an armory, to use at the rifle range, then check back into the armory prior to leaving the facility.
However, for an individual to actually possess an assault weapon, much more powerful than the muskets in use during the Revolutionary War, without a well-regulated militia having ultimate control over that assault weapon, is in direct violation of the Second Amendment.
With regard to gun ownership and the Second Amendment, I can understand the "well-regulated militia" part of that Amendment being relaxed enough to allow law-abiding citizens to maintain control of handguns for the purpose of self-defense, for rifles and shotguns to be used for hunting or target shooting at a rifle range. But, for the Second Amendment to be interpreted so laxly that the phrase "well-regulated militia" is redefined to mean just a "law-abiding citizen," when there are too many ways for someone who can't pass a background check to still obtain weapons with more fire power than law enforcers have, by many orders of magnitude, it is ludicrous to allow any individual to possess an assault weapon made for killing many people rapidly. The same goes for magazine size. Had Loughner had only been able to fire 6 to 10 rounds before re-loading, there would have been fewer victims. The same goes for Holmes, in Aurora, at the theater, who, first off, should never have been able to buy ammo, in any quantity, over the Internet. If, instead, had Holmes had to go to a gun store or a Wal-Mart, etc., to buy the ammo, he may have been rebuffed in his efforts, for being noticeably unstable.
For those who are White Supremacists, Jihadists, etc. who are mentally stable but believe in a faulty ideology, insofar as they may happen to be part of a militia, it's an ill-regulated militia, and as such, they ought not be able to pass a background check. In the case of the massacre at the Sikh Temple, it turns out the perpetrator was well known, had not even tried to stay under the radar. But, so long as the NRA continues to hold members of Congress hostage to how they vote on gun control regulations, and those members of Congress let themselves be held hostage, outlaws with guns will continue to have more freedom to kill than innocents, in the wrong place at the wrong time, will have to stay alive. As such, the NRA leadership should be held not just morally, but legally, culpable for the wrongful deaths that their overzealous defense of gun ownership, beyond what the Second Amendment calls for, all but guarantees will happen.
That's just one more reason why it's essential for Obama to be reelected; so that he'll be able to make additional appointments to the Supreme Court, allowing for the phrase "well-regulated militia" to regain the meaning and import bestowed upon it by those who framed the Constitution.
kkks do not cover their faces any more; they've been main streamed in the Rep party. It is a shame that GOP is now a neo-nazi National party that will destroy this country. Rep KKK elected officials already stopped democracy in some Rep controlled states. They use Emergency dictators to fire democratically elected officials & take over the city. This is actually happening in America (look it up). Don't been fooled. NRA/GOP/FOX have been preparing these people. NRA has been arming all Reps with guns for over a decade, even before Bush stole the election in Florida. They continue to send message which they know that gun represents (trouble, hate, fear of loss, intolerance), why? Almost all GOP ads have guns, why? Have guns taken over our flags? White supremists are terrified that "they are losing their country" & GOP is taking advantage of that fear. They should know that America was never theirs. You don't loss what was never yours. It is like one man claiming that Lady Liberty is his personal property. How crazy & dumb is that? It belongs to all of us. If they are not already consumed with hate, then they will realize that we are one people. America does not belong to white race alone. It belongs to all of us. Even Indians do not claim America the way whites do.
I have no empathy for dumb people that create their own pain through hate. Grow-up, white right-wingers & learn to share because people are sick of your hate. This is 2012. If you need something to keep you busy, there are pretty to choose from beside hate. Building love is better than destroying it & ending war is better than starting it. Stop taking the coward's way out. 'We the people' are telling you that this domestic terrorism must end. It will no longer be tolerated. It may take time but 'we the people' will defeat you because love always trumps hate. And you will realize that you are part of us (the American family), so stop creating trouble for America around the world. Stop making the world hate us. America cannot & should never stand alone. The Earth is a global belt & we must learn simple kindness & appreciation of others both here at home & around the globe.
Let just say KKK leader Stephen Donald, Rep Leader Chuck Gray, & Sarah Palin know more about the Arizona shooting connection than the gunman himself. Just like Michelle Bachmann know more about this Sikh Temple shooting gunman. She put the gun in his hands with her racial attack on Huma, Clinton's aide. Bachmann killed these six victims.
GOP nut-head like Bachmann, Cheney, Paul Ryan, Trump, Palin, Boehner, Grover Norquist, Karl Rove, Canter, & their king, Limbaugh know exactly the type of damage they are doing to this country & the danger they create for Americans, for our men & women all around the world but they don't care. As Romney puts it, he will do anything to get 51% of the vote. All they want is power & they don't care about throwing the entire country under the bus to get that POWER. The best way to stop the right-wing crazes is to deny them what they seek. Imagine how crazy they will be in the white house, worse than Bush, unthinkable!!
Whenever GOP uses wicked tactic like this one, they are trying to distract the media & cover up something horrible that they (GOP) did. Hence, this is the time that GOP should be more vigilant. Bachmann should be thrown out of the intelligent committee & out of congress because she has been leaking information to foreign organizations & Karl Rove (for political reasons) & blaming the administration for it. She is a dangerous crazy woman & a Swiss citizen.
How many Americans are GOPs going to alienate in their quest for power & control. Now they are alienating the world too. Jorge..do you hear how stupid you sound? Romney say stupid things all the time & he lies worse than my 5yr old. What about Romney's Anglo comments. There are many English words to choose from. Why do Romney & his team ALWAYS choose the offensive ones, because they know what it represents. This administration is trying their best. The President & Madam Secretary have done a marvelous job. However, the vivid image of what the right-wing hate mongers, Bachmann, is doing to America is shown all around the world & you will be a fool not see it, when they throw tomato at USA Madam Secretary. Don't blame the world for taking right-wing letters & blogs seriously because they have the title of US congress. This fool, Bachmann is also in the intelligent committee (double tragedy). What a shame. Have we no shame anymore? Where is our humanity as a nation? You vote for these crazes to represent us & this is how GOP represents us. We need to show the world that they do not represent this country by kicking these GOP hate mongers out of congress. They can't get any work done anyway. We've been paying them to hate. Love trumps hate so this country will survive. However, it will take America another 100 yrs to rebuild what GOP hate mongers have destroyed, trust around the world.
I agree with you, Eric J….NRA, a small organization that was started to protected local hunters, is now a $billion giant protecting white supremist groups, arming all Reps with guns, & intimidating/threatening Americans to vote the way NRA want you to. Now, they are hunting citizens like animals. Fact, NRA sends letters to congress to threaten congress & make sure they vote how NRA wants. How long shall we allow this domestic terrorism to continue before we get strict gun laws? Why does most Rep ad have gun in it or talks about guns. Look carefully. There political ads are now gun ads. When did gun take over our flag? I agree with GOP that gun is a symbol. However, gun symbol is understood around the world to symbolize hate, crime, war, murder, trouble, never anything good. One must wonder why Reps are using it in this country so carelessly in everyday politics. They are not dumb, they are sending same message they know that gun represent. Why vote for such candidate spreading hate & murder as their message for the country?
Think about it. KKK do not cover their faces anymore to commit crime & destroy lives. They are now mainstreamed in the Rep party. They've become the Rep leaders. Let just say KKK leader Stephen Donald, Rep Leader Chuck Gray, Palin, & Bachmann know more about the Arizona shooting connection than the gunman himself. Same people claiming not to like government, will do anything to get gov power. We must talk about the massive embezzlement going on among the GOP congress, using gov power to enrich themselves & their wealthy friends. Then they point finger at someone else to divert attention from themselves. Same reason they love war, to embezzle our money.
Make no mistake right wingers are using their divide & conquer strategy to tarnish Clinton's reputation & shut our Muslim citizens up at the same time. They are afraid of how popular Obama & Clinton has become around the world. They want to stop Clinton from entering the 2016 race to white house. Reps always plan ahead, while Dems lack behind. Dems didn't even catch on to Rep voter suppression & war on women until all the laws have already been enacted. When will Dems wake up & see the current Rep party for who they really are (like your brother has become your worst nightmare). The enemy within; how do we deal with it?
CatSs..Don't you know that NRA use paid bloggers here to shut people up about gun control? They post with different names, different accts. This is part of their ad campaign. They've got the money. They start early & stay till night. They have no other job. This is their day job. They blog 24hrs, especially whenever gun violence happens. NRA put all their staff power on blogs/media; you can't even get a word in without them attacking you. Same thing they do to congress. It's all about control & they control US congress. Unfortunately, responding to these bloggers makes it worse because their fee increases based on how many response they get, with the most insane posting. They need to realize that fear mongering, lies, & mass brainwash don't work anymore. People are educating themselves with facts, not listening to bloggers.
For the NRA talking heads' commenting here….
I will not say go back to Fox because you too deserve a real outlet & Fox is over, there is no debate there. Blind argument is useless even for the most gullible soul. So please stay, we welcome you, all your human hood, including your foolishness.
We may not agree to have more gun regulation, or agree in science, in evolution, or whether the world is round but we do again that it is 2012, right? Go back & read all your postings & ask yourself this:
1.Are they paying me enough for this gun campaign?
2.How long have I been crazy & consumed with hate, including hate for little children? Is blogging treatment (let it out) working or should I go for 2nd opinion? They lied when they told you blogging treatment will work because spreading hate is not a treatment. It causes you to hate yourself & everyone around you as NRA do. Practice makes perfect. With people blogging hate day & night? Why do you think country is getting worse when you have people blogging hate day & night?
3.Are they paying me enough to maintain my psychiatric care?
4.Why do they insist on giving me a gun when I don't want one?
5.Why does NRA control congress & why do they control me?
6.Will they use me like the Arizona gunman?
7.Why does GOP want to arm every republican nut-head with a gun?
8.Finally, why is there guns in almost all GOP ads
NRA, a small organization that was started to protected local hunters, is now a $billion giant protecting white supremist groups, arming all Reps with guns, & intimidating/threatening Americans to vote the way NRA want you to. Now, they are hunting citizens like animals. Fact, NRA sends letters to congress to threaten congress & make sure they vote how NRA wants. How long shall we allow this domestic terrorism to continue before we get strict gun laws? Why does most Rep ad have gun in it or talks about guns. Look carefully. There political ads are now gun ads. When did gun take over our flag? I agree with GOP that gun is a symbol. However, gun symbol is understood around the world to symbolize hate, crime, war, murder, trouble, never a good thing. One must wonder why Reps are using it in this country so carelessly in everyday politics. They are not dumb, they are sending same message they know that gun represent. Why vote for such candidate spreading hate & murder as their message for the country?
GOP plan: allow NRA as much freedom as possible, arm all Reps with guns. Have you ever asked why they need so many guns? Reps don't want any rules. Let's run wild. Sure! NRA leaders are now path of the legislative team in America. NRA & ALEC are destroying the country. When you vote Rep, you are helping NRA destroy this country. Poor & middle class keep on voting against your own self interest (voting for Rep house obstruction) & yet expecting things to get better. Let's all go to hell. Who cares? Show me an empire with no rules, especially about their banks & guns (money/weapon) & I will show you an empire that it bound to fall.
Don't you know that NRA use paid bloggers here to shut people up about gun control?
That is a total lie and has no merit what so ever.
In fact your post is all BS about the NRA, not one fact or turth, just made up bull$hit.
Here go learn what the NRA does, they have be around sense 1871.
www.nra.org
To bad for you that we know you aren't smart enough to get paid by the NRA because your word is about as good as Mittens is so the NRA won't pay people who can't stop people from talking about holding the NRA responsible for the nut cases in this country getting weapons.
Vbest, Thank you for your informative post. Do you think that the NRA has any success here. These people who want guns not to be controled in a civilized manner, are a danger in themselves. I don't care who they are, I'll still be talking out about the enforcement of stricker gun control. If guns give them such pleasure, then I would be afraid about what joy they would get about killing something. I just can't even fathem killing another human being. Even in self defence.
I taught all kinds of kids who were struggling to grow up under unusual circumstances. My husband us to be afraid for me, especially when I would stand toe to toe with some kid twice my size and give him motherly advice on how to do better. I wasn't afraid to die for the cause then and I'm not afraid to stand up for the same reasons now. What glory can one gain by killing a little old grey haired defenses lady. Make my Day.
This killer just proved what a coward he was. Maybe he also wanted to be put out of his pain. There are all kinds of reasons a sick mind will do what it does.
I wonder if Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin , Rush Lumbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck Donald Trump and others screaming hate are feeling at this moment. Probably GREAT!!!!!!!! After all their message is being carried out. Congratulation all you hate mongers your troops are carrying out your orders.
When did any of the people you listed above say anything about going out and killing Sikh's? What hate did they scream? Exactly what message is being carried out?
just saying...
Just lying you mean because everyone knows that tea bagged republicans are an ignorant lot who can't tell a Muslim from a Sikh's, all they see are brown people with beards wearing a turban. To bad for you capt re reg your just saying is just more right wing ignorant lying.
right-wing idiot.
Oh you mean they don't preach hate. Just more right wing crap that the only color right is the white color. Yep!!!!!!!!! Right wing Bull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So go,
Righty is alive and well. You know we are lefties, lefties, lefties.....and we don't come here and break rules. We are still welcome. I wouldn't be protesting when you are the one who comes here to argue. You know what we believe, and we have made it perfectly clear. We don't have to re-reg ourselves to be here. We are not addicted to arguing with the other side so much that we invade their space. You don't see us over taking abuse on the fake noise sight. You might think about what kind of possition that puts you in.
All these Dumb a@S RedNecks in this country all needs to go to HELL very in is.