Volksfront

This article is about an American fraternal organization. Volksfront is also the German word for peoples front (usually left-wing), or for the right-wing Afrikaner Volksfront in South Africa.

Volksfront, also known as Volksfront International, described itself as an international fraternal organization for persons of European descent.^{[citation needed]}

The group and was founded October 20, 1994,in Portland, Oregon. Volksfront had approximately 50 members in the United States split between four chapters designated as Pac-West, Central States, North East, and Gulf-Atlantic, and an additional 50 members dispersed in other countries including Germany, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Spain. In the United States, the organization did not accept female members.^{[citation needed]}

Volksfront has been called "neo-Nazi" and a "racist-skinhead group" in press reports.^[1][2][3] The Anti-Defamation League claims since its establishment in 1994, the group had been growing nationally and internationally had called the group "one of the most active skinhead groups in the United States."^[4] The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has added Volksfront to its list of hate groups.,^[5] a designation that Volksfront disputes.

Events

Volksfront held several events, including weekend-long concerts and speakers two or three times a year. The group also held organizational gatherings and memorial parties in remembrance of white nationalists who had been murdered or imprisoned around the world.^[6] An annual Volksfront event called Althing was held south of St. Louis, Missouri at the group's Samuel Weaver Memorial Hall, which was named after the son of Randy Weaver, who was killed by federal agents in 1992.^[7]

Ideology

Volksfront stated on their now-defunct website that the group did not support Nazism and white supremacy: "As a group we believe in the right of all people to live free from alien and foreign domination, including and especially, persons of European descent. As a group, we do not believe in the inherent superiority of a particular race over another as it relates to the value of human life. We do not seek to oppress, victimize or intimidate any other racial or religious group, but we will defend our own race and VF family without apology or question from all comers. We do not believe in or support tyrannical or totalitarian government of any type. ^{[citation needed]}

According to the Anti-Defamation League, Volksfront was a virulently racist, rebellious, anti-authoritarianist and anti-semitic group that had become the most active neo-Nazi group on the West Coast of the United States, and which maintained close alliances with many other hate groups.^[4] Volksfront denied many of these claims as political attacks by the ADL and SPLC.

Endorsement of non-violence

In 2002, Volksfront became the first white nationalist organization in the United States to publicly renounce violence as a means to political-social change.^{[citation needed]}

Volksfront Statement of Activist Values: ^{[citation needed]}

• 1. Volksfront completely opposes violence, terrorism and criminal activity as a means to achieve our political aims.^{[citation needed]}

• 2. Volksfront acknowledges the right of all people, religions, races and cultures to live free from fear, oppression, exploitation and foreign domination.^{[citation needed]}

• 3. Volksfront will use political non-violent means to achieve our goals, in every case striving to educate rather than offend the communities in which we operate. We reject the simple psychology of reactionary politics as a recruitment tool.^{[citation needed]}

• 4. Volksfront will only use force in self-defense.^{[citation needed]}

• 5. Volksfront rejects cooperation with organizations which support violence and terrorism as means to political change. In every case we will refrain from any cooperation with organizations which use fear and terrorism to gain political or social power. Volksfront will use the tools of education, community activism and example to gain public support. ^{[citation needed]}

In late 2001, Volksfront requested to join the Coalition Against Hate Crimes (CAHC), a Portland, Oregon based organization started by the American Jewish Committee.^[8] In an anonymous email, a Volksfront member wrote "I think we would represent a currently unrepresented segment of our society on the issue of hate crimes and would therefore be a big asset."^[8] A CAHC representative stated "They weren't trying to join us because they believed what we believed. That was not their purpose."^[8] In the end, the organization was not invited to join CAHC.^[8] The Southern Poverty Law Center commented on the non-acceptance by stating that Volksfront was "working to turn the Pacific Northwest into an all-white Aryan homeland — an end it says it will reach by deporting people of color."^[8]

Alleged Violence by members

Some alleged members and associates have been charged or convicted of crimes of violence.^{[citation needed]} Volksfront's website states that it does not tolerate illegal activity, and asserts that "It is a fact that Volksfront members are far less likely per capita to commit any crime than members of the United States Congress or radical Leftist organizations.^{[citation needed]}

• In April 2007, Jacob Albert Laskey, alleged to be Volksfront’s Prisoner Affairs Coordinator^[9] in Eugene, Oregon, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for his role in a "racially-motivated attack" on the Temple Beth Israel.^[10] According to the FBI, Laskey is a "self-avowed white supremacist who admitted that he sought to commit acts of violence and destruction against Jews, African-Americans, and members of other ethnic and racial groups."^[10] A few months later in November 2007, Laskey's brother, Gabriel Laskey, was sentenced to six months incarceration for his role in the attack.^[11]

Dissolution

Volksfront in the United States announced their dissolution in August 2012 via their website www.volksfrontinternational.com (site no longer valid). Citing illegal harassment and investigations by the Government they announced the organization was disbanding. Their website, blog, Facebook page, and emails have since been closed.^[12]

Footnotes

See also

• List of white nationalist organizations

External links

• Official Volksfront website (Defunct)