Nazis in the USA
In the wake of the murders of Jews in the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue, PBS’ “FRONTLINE” presented “Documenting Hate: New American Nazis,” which aired for the first time on Nov. 20. (It is available for viewing online at pbs.org/frontline.) It exposed the scary Atomwassen Division, a neo-Nazi terrorist organization based founded in 2013. Its goal is to train “lone wolf” terrorists to murder Jews and other “inferior people.”
The most frightening scene was an interview with its leader James Mason. He said that his heroes were Timothy McVeigh, who bombed the Arthur P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma; Robert Bowers, who murdered 11 Jews in the Pittsburgh synagogue; and the driver of a car that killed Heather Heyer Chare and injured 19 others in a peaceful demonstration against neo-Nazis in Charlottesville.
It was astounding to learn that there were those who are being encouraged to enlist in the armed forces to obtain training that can be used to commit terrorist acts. What is to be done about this threat? Organizing interfaith groups and obtaining support and solidarity can continue to serve as positive movements. Nonetheless, ways must be found to criminalize hate groups. It is apparent that spreading hate rhetoric leads to terror activity, encouraging “lone wolf” attacks.
The first amendment guarantees freedom of speech. Hate groups have been defended under that protection. It has been determined, however, that hate speech that leads to criminal activity is not to be tolerated. It is time to hold those responsible for the killing of innocents to be held accountable for their behavior. We no longer should accept the James Masons of the world that glorify killers.
Sol Koenigsberg
Overland Park, Kansas
