Keystone State Skinheads

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Keystone State Skinheads (KSS or Keystone United) is a neo-Nazi, skinhead group based in Pennsylvania. [1] [2] According to the KSS website, the group had chapters in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Scranton, Reading, Carlisle, Allentown and other cities in the state. KSS was featured in the National Geographic Channel documentary American Skinheads. The Southern Poverty Law Center stated that the group was one of the most active skinhead organizations in the United States.[ citation needed ] In 2008, KSS changed its name to Keystone United. The number of its members remains unknown. [2] [3] The group's logos are a pit bull or a bulldog bordered by a chain or a Keystone symbol in the colors of the Nazi flag.

Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II militant social or political movements seeking to revive and implement the ideology of Nazism. Neo-Nazis seek to employ their ideology to promote hatred and attack minorities, or in some cases to create a fascist political state. It is a global phenomenon, with organized representation in many countries and international networks. It borrows elements from Nazi doctrine, including ultranationalism, racism, xenophobia, ableism, homophobia, anti-Romanyism, antisemitism, anti-communism and initiating the Fourth Reich. Holocaust denial is a common feature, as is the incorporation of Nazi symbols and admiration of Adolf Hitler.

White power skinhead skinhead belonging to extreme right-wing group

White power skinheads are members of a neo-nazi, white supremacist and antisemitic offshoot of the skinhead subculture. Many of them are affiliated with white nationalist organizations and sometimes prison gangs.

Pennsylvania State of the United States of America

Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state located in the northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The Appalachian Mountains run through its middle. The Commonwealth is bordered by Delaware to the southeast, Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, Lake Erie and the Canadian province of Ontario to the northwest, New York to the north, and New Jersey to the east.

Contents

History

Keystone State Skinheads was founded in late 2001 by five men from Harrisburg, PA. It originally focused on uniting white power skinheads throughout the regions of Pennsylvania. A second KSS chapter was founded in nearby Lancaster, which had a small group of white power skinheads who were part of a National Alliance youth group. Shortly after the formation of Lancaster's chapter, World Church of the Creator leader Matt Hale had announced plans to visit York, PA to speak at the public library. White supremacists were set upon by hundreds of Anti-Racist Action members and other anti-fascists outside the library. The Anti-Defamation League stated that: "KSS transformed itself from a mainly Harrisburg group to a network of seven regional crews that had members from every major city in the state and associates in New Jersey, Maryland and New York." [4]

National Alliance (United States) white nationalist, anti-semitic and white supremacist political organization in the USA

The National Alliance is a white supremacist,, neo-Nazi, Holocaust denial and white separatist political organization. political organization founded by white supremacist William Luther Pierce in 1974 and based in Hillsboro, West Virginia. Membership in 2002 was estimated at 2,500 with an annual income of $1 million. Membership declined after Pierce's death in 2002 and after a split in its ranks in 2005 the group has been barely functioning.

Matthew F. "Matt" Hale is an American white supremacist, neo-Nazi leader and a convicted felon. Hale was the founder of the East Peoria, Illinois-based white separatist group then known as the World Church of the Creator, and he declared himself its Pontifex Maximus in continuation of the Church of the Creator organization founded by Ben Klassen in 1973.

Anti-Racist Action

The Anti-Racist Action Network (ARA) was a decentralized network of anti-fascists and anti-racists in North America which existed from 1987 until 2013. ARA activists organize actions, including the self-defense to disrupt neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, and help organize activities against fascist and racist ideologies. ARA groups also oppose sexism, homophobia, heterosexism, anti-immigration, Nativism, anti-Semitism, and the anti-abortion movement. ARA originated from the skinhead and punk subcultures with influence from anarchist politics.

The KSS has organized several white power concerts in Pennsylvania, featuring bands such as: Blue Eyed Devils, Max Resist, Youngland, Grom, Cradle Song, Teardown, Those Opposed, Vinland Warriors, Grand Belial's Key and Fear Rains Down.

Grand Belial's Key (GBK) is a black metal band founded in Oakton, Virginia in 1992 by guitarist Gelal Necrosodomy and vocalist Lord Vlad Luciferian. Lord Vlad Luciferian was later ejected from the group due to internal differences. Although the band says their lyrical themes are simply "anti-JewishChristian and/or anti-religion", they have been accused of far-right and racist views. Gelal Necrosodomy has responded to these accusations by stating "black metal to me is paganism, and paganism is neo-fascism, and neo-fascism is anti-christian, and anti-christianity is black metal. It is a circle that cannot be altered for everything fits in perfectly."

KSS began to capitalize on its growing prominence by conducting a series of concerts, first in Harrisburg, and then in a series of venues across the state. In late September 2003, Hammerskin Nation allowed KSS to help coordinate Hammerfest, which was held in Pennsylvania. By the beginning of 2004, KSS had become the largest group in the northeastern U.S. [4]

The Hammerskins are a white supremacist group formed in 1988 in Dallas, Texas. Their primary focus is the production and promotion of white power rock music, and many white power bands have been affiliated with the group. The Hammerskins were affiliated with the record label 9% Productions. The Hammerskins host several annual concerts, including Hammerfest, an annual event in both the United States and Europe in honor of deceased Hammerskin Joe Rowan, the lead singer of the band Nordic Thunder.

KSS has also organized family-oriented events such as parties and picnics, as well as more political activities, such as distributing pamphlets, attending protests and posting fliers.

Violence and arrests

Footnotes

  1. "GeoClan.com interview about Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal". Pittsburgh Indymedia. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  2. 1 2 Bello, Marisol (2008-10-21). "White supremacists target middle America". Usatoday.Com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Pennsylvania". Adl.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  5. "Pennsylvania Skinheads Arrested for Ethnic Intimidation". Archived from the original on 2007-10-19. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  6. Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Court Summary Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine .

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