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♪♪
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-it's clear that the far right
extremist global movement today
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looks like what al-qaeda
looked like in the early '90s.
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Time and again, what we've seen
is that if america does not act,
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people will die.
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-That skull mask
you're wearing --
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what's its significance?
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-They see themselves
as sort of an insurgent army.
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They almost identify more
with al-qaeda
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than they do with the klan.
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-Left unchecked, these guys
are gonna keep recruiting,
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they're gonna keep training,
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and they're gonna
keep planning
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and carrying out
violent attacks.
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-You put anger and alienation
together,
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you've got a walking time bomb.
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-You know, when they're done
coming for jewish people
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and gay people and black people.
What's next?
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Are you safe?
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♪♪
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♪♪
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♪♪
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♪♪
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♪♪
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-you just kind of open
it up for me.
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I just want to look at it
and make sure it's straight.
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Might want a damp rag.
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You know, little spot showing up
on the side.
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Double check that.
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-Bill collins is the mayor
of rome, georgia,
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population 36,000.
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He was born and raised here.
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Instead of city hall,
he prefers to work out of
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the auto body shop
that he's owned for years.
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-Not a whole lot.
How you doing this morning, sir?
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Oh, you lucky rascal.
Are you off today?
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-Rome is a town with connections
to the ku klux klan.
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Yet collins made history
in 2019
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by becoming the town's
first black mayor.
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-It's been quite a ride
and quite an experience.
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I never thought when I live
two blocks from here
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in a two-bedroom house
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with about nine of us
staying here,
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that I would ever become mayor.
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Not at all.
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You have a great deal of new
faces coming to the forefront,
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all nationalities blending
together in this city of rome,
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saying, "black lives matter."
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-what about the state
of white supremacy in rome
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and in its surrounding counties?
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What's it like right now?
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-It's behind the scene.
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So we don't get a chance
to see that much of it.
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-Have you ever had
any experiences
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growing up with the klan?
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Was this something
that you were aware of?
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-I have. I mean, I have actually
walked in a convenience store
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where about three hooded klans
was there,
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and I purchased
what I was purchasing
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just like normal
with them standing right there.
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-Were you all that surprised
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that there was
another generation
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of young, angry
white supremacists
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around -- around rome?
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-Not at all.
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-For mayor collins,
georgia's legacy
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of organized hate groups
entered a new era.
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In February 2020,
a shadowy terrorist cell
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operating out of rome's
floyd county emerged.
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It was called the base.
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-The base originally
described themselves
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as a network
of white supremacists
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with the idea of getting
training to various members.
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They would allow members
of other groups to join
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as long as they kind of had
this core commitment
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to violent, extreme nazism.
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This is entirely about
weapons training.
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It's about unit tactics.
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It's about
people getting together
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and using firearms in the woods
to clear buildings.
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They're showing what their group
is capable of
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and how they hope
to attract others.
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-And why do they burn
the american flag?
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-They're burning
the american flag really to show
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that they're against
the government.
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This is about trying to
get people to rise up
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00:04:33,474 --> 00:04:35,173
against the government.
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This is trying to get
the left and the right
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to fight one another.
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They wanted to show
that they meant business.
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00:04:41,849 --> 00:04:44,616
-The group is led by new jersey
native rinaldo nazzaro,
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a pentagon contractor that,
for a time,
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was said to work with
u.S. Special forces.
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00:04:50,224 --> 00:04:52,457
The base practiced
accelerationism,
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the idea that generating chaos
through terrorism
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could provoke the downfall
of the u.S. Government
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incite a race war,
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and establish
a white ethno-state.
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00:05:01,335 --> 00:05:03,168
The aim to catalyze
the tenets of nazism
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00:05:03,203 --> 00:05:05,804
with their modern blend
of combat tactics
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00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:07,639
and online organizing.
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-I knew that the base was active
in georgia for months,
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but we didn't know
exactly where.
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Turns out a cell
was using property
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00:05:20,587 --> 00:05:25,223
down this road here
for paramilitary-style training.
106
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So this was their jump
from the online world
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into the real world,
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00:05:29,563 --> 00:05:32,064
is meeting
on this property down here.
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00:05:32,099 --> 00:05:34,633
-Chris joyner, a long-time
local investigative reporter
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00:05:34,735 --> 00:05:36,501
with "the atlanta
journal-constitution,"
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00:05:36,537 --> 00:05:38,670
has covered the klan for years
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and most recently turned
his attention to the base.
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It's pretty crazy
in this sort of serene,
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00:05:44,712 --> 00:05:47,713
peaceful country environment,
just over that tree line...
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00:05:47,748 --> 00:05:49,247
-Mm-hmm.
-...There was a neo-nazi
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00:05:49,283 --> 00:05:51,049
terrorist group training.
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00:05:51,085 --> 00:05:55,020
-Yeah, I mean, but, you know,
people are spread out here.
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There are a lot of hunters,
you know,
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people who have
a lot of firearms
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for their personal enjoyment.
121
00:06:00,594 --> 00:06:03,362
So hearing gunfire wouldn't
necessarily concern people.
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00:06:03,397 --> 00:06:05,664
I mean, they might hear it,
you know,
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00:06:05,766 --> 00:06:08,233
during deer season anyway.
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00:06:08,268 --> 00:06:10,202
It's easy to have something
like this in an area
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00:06:10,237 --> 00:06:11,903
where you're this remote.
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00:06:11,939 --> 00:06:13,505
-Right. If you're gonna do
a paramilitary training camp,
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this isn't the worst place
to do it.
128
00:06:15,075 --> 00:06:16,641
-No, it's not.
129
00:06:16,744 --> 00:06:19,111
-This area definitely has
a legacy of white supremacy.
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00:06:19,146 --> 00:06:20,879
How does the base
fit into that?
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-Well, there was certainly
a lot of klan involvement
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00:06:24,418 --> 00:06:26,485
that goes all the way back
into the '30s
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that was prominent in
north georgia up in the hills.
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It's extremely white,
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00:06:32,926 --> 00:06:36,595
and it's long had a history
of being impoverished.
136
00:06:36,630 --> 00:06:39,931
A lot of that breeds
sort of extremist sentiment
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00:06:39,967 --> 00:06:42,033
and still does today.
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The base was sort of
a natural fit for folks
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00:06:44,471 --> 00:06:46,972
who were looking to turn
their white nationalist,
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00:06:47,007 --> 00:06:49,441
white supremacist sentiment
into action,
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00:06:49,476 --> 00:06:51,376
which, of course,
is what the base was all about.
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-So something like the klan,
they burn crosses and they --
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-right.
Their idea of terrorizing
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00:06:55,816 --> 00:06:57,382
is much different, right?
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00:06:57,484 --> 00:06:59,284
You see this a lot
with accelerationist groups.
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00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:02,154
They almost identify more
with al-qaeda
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00:07:02,189 --> 00:07:03,755
than they do with the klan.
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00:07:03,791 --> 00:07:05,390
You know, they see themselves
much more
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00:07:05,492 --> 00:07:07,459
as sort of an insurgent army
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00:07:07,494 --> 00:07:10,328
than a political force,
for instance.
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00:07:10,364 --> 00:07:12,330
The base wants to be
an insurgency,
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wants to be an outsider
and violent group.
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-In georgia, the fbi says these
three men allegedly had plans
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to overthrow the government
while planning an attack
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00:07:22,509 --> 00:07:25,577
on members of the left-wing
group antifa.
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-Why do you think a young,
white kid in nearby silver creek
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would join a neo-nazi
terrorist group like the base
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and then carry out paramilitary
training near your city?
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-I can't really answer that,
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'cause we have seen some acts
across this great country
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that we find ourselves living in
that make you scratch your head
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and wonder how, and why would
this happen in my community?
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This is one of those times.
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-The base furnished
a long list of enemies
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from across
the political spectrum.
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00:08:03,383 --> 00:08:06,818
And in January of 2020,
georgia cell members were poised
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00:08:06,854 --> 00:08:10,455
for a planned assassination
of an anti-fascist activist.
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00:08:10,557 --> 00:08:12,657
This is the first time
he's speaking about it on camera
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and has chosen
to conceal his identity.
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-The morning three gentlemen
knocked on my door
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and showed me a badge
before I opened it,
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and I -- you know, I took
kind of a defensive position,
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crossed my arms,
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because fbi agents have shown up
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to other activists' house
to harass them.
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But he said, "this is what's
called a victim notification.
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We just arrested three men
who were planning to murder
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you and your spouse."
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-an undercover fbi agent
infiltrated the group,
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00:08:46,093 --> 00:08:48,360
gaining the trust
of the georgia cell
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and logging its inner workings,
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including
the assassination plot.
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00:08:52,733 --> 00:08:54,332
The base had developed
a web of cells
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across the country,
in maryland, michigan,
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california, minnesota,
among others,
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00:09:00,274 --> 00:09:02,374
all training for the race war.
187
00:09:02,409 --> 00:09:04,576
Why did the base target you?
188
00:09:04,611 --> 00:09:08,914
-I've been told that they picked
me put me off of a dox list
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00:09:08,949 --> 00:09:11,516
of georgia anti-fascists,
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00:09:11,618 --> 00:09:15,186
just because I was closest.
191
00:09:15,289 --> 00:09:16,721
-What were you thinking?
192
00:09:16,757 --> 00:09:19,624
-It was a wide range
of thoughts, like,
193
00:09:19,660 --> 00:09:24,863
how did I miss a group --
a whole group -- in my backyard?
194
00:09:24,965 --> 00:09:27,899
Who else was in danger
because of that?
195
00:09:27,935 --> 00:09:30,669
I raced through
my memories so much,
196
00:09:30,771 --> 00:09:36,274
trying to see if I could
see them somewhere,
197
00:09:36,310 --> 00:09:41,279
if I literally missed them in --
in my real day-to-day life.
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00:09:41,315 --> 00:09:45,917
All I could do was
stare out my front window
199
00:09:45,953 --> 00:09:50,589
and really memorize every single
car that went by my house.
200
00:09:50,624 --> 00:09:54,059
You're not a man for planning
to bust someone's door down
201
00:09:54,161 --> 00:09:58,964
and murder
whoever is behind the door.
202
00:09:58,999 --> 00:10:02,934
I was both thankful and mad
that the fbi had to protect me.
203
00:10:02,970 --> 00:10:05,136
-What kind of justice
do you want to see done
204
00:10:05,172 --> 00:10:07,606
to those three individuals
in the base?
205
00:10:07,641 --> 00:10:12,110
-I want them to be as alone
as they wanted themselves to be
206
00:10:12,145 --> 00:10:14,012
for the rest of their lives.
207
00:10:14,047 --> 00:10:17,749
They think they're so special
that other people need to die,
208
00:10:17,851 --> 00:10:20,752
that other -- other other races
need to serve theirs.
209
00:10:20,854 --> 00:10:25,290
We need more people
to wake the...Up
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00:10:25,325 --> 00:10:29,127
and shut these racists down.
211
00:10:29,162 --> 00:10:30,829
It's well out of control,
212
00:10:30,864 --> 00:10:33,999
and it's not something
that anybody --
213
00:10:34,034 --> 00:10:37,002
anybody can ignore anymore.
214
00:10:37,037 --> 00:10:41,640
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215
00:11:37,496 --> 00:11:39,097
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♪♪
231
00:12:09,563 --> 00:12:11,296
-one.
[ gunshots ]
232
00:12:11,398 --> 00:12:13,965
-modern hate group
the base breathed new life
233
00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,367
into long-standing
fascist principles,
234
00:12:16,403 --> 00:12:18,203
and for organizations
like theirs,
235
00:12:18,238 --> 00:12:22,140
maintaining a strong ideology
often requires a role model.
236
00:12:22,242 --> 00:12:28,313
♪♪
237
00:12:28,415 --> 00:12:30,115
tell me, who is james mason?
238
00:12:30,217 --> 00:12:31,816
-[ chuckles ]
239
00:12:31,852 --> 00:12:34,719
I guess I'm a guy
that's just out of step.
240
00:12:34,755 --> 00:12:36,287
[ laughs ]
241
00:12:36,423 --> 00:12:39,290
but when you consider all those
who are in step,
242
00:12:39,392 --> 00:12:42,160
I'm proud of it.
243
00:12:42,195 --> 00:12:44,462
-James mason is the author
of "siege,"
244
00:12:44,564 --> 00:12:47,966
and insurgency manual
he wrote in the early '80s.
245
00:12:48,101 --> 00:12:50,235
"siege" is thought to be
the ideological influence
246
00:12:50,270 --> 00:12:53,838
of modern-day neo-nazi groups
like the base.
247
00:12:53,874 --> 00:12:56,341
Mason, a former
kmart security guard,
248
00:12:56,443 --> 00:13:00,311
quit school at age 14
to join the american nazi party
249
00:13:00,447 --> 00:13:03,715
run by founder
george lincoln rockwell.
250
00:13:03,750 --> 00:13:05,683
When you were 14,
251
00:13:05,786 --> 00:13:08,887
what initially drew you
to the nazi party?
252
00:13:08,922 --> 00:13:12,157
-Alienation...
253
00:13:12,292 --> 00:13:14,192
And anger.
254
00:13:14,227 --> 00:13:18,429
You know, everything coming down
the pike just made me sick.
255
00:13:18,465 --> 00:13:21,399
Then in -- we got into the '60s.
And I got old enough to realize
256
00:13:21,434 --> 00:13:24,068
something's going on here.
257
00:13:24,104 --> 00:13:27,572
Something's gone wrong
in this country.
258
00:13:27,607 --> 00:13:29,274
We're under attack.
259
00:13:29,309 --> 00:13:31,943
Our society, our culture,
our people were under attack.
260
00:13:31,978 --> 00:13:34,045
And I don't mean
the cold war either.
261
00:13:34,147 --> 00:13:35,613
I mean at home.
262
00:13:35,649 --> 00:13:39,083
The danger's always been here,
nowhere but here.
263
00:13:39,119 --> 00:13:43,388
-"siege" preaches
mass murder and war.
264
00:13:43,423 --> 00:13:45,356
-I don't think so.
-You don't think so?
265
00:13:45,492 --> 00:13:48,593
-I don't think so.
-I mean, how would you see it?
266
00:13:48,628 --> 00:13:51,763
-I just -- just
the unvarnished truth is all.
267
00:13:51,798 --> 00:13:54,399
I don't tell anybody to go out
and do anything
268
00:13:54,501 --> 00:13:56,634
that I wouldn't do myself.
269
00:13:56,670 --> 00:13:58,403
Like nathan hale said,
270
00:13:58,505 --> 00:14:03,908
"I regret I have only one life
to give for my country,"
271
00:14:04,010 --> 00:14:08,213
so you better make it count.
272
00:14:08,348 --> 00:14:09,647
-The base wasn't the only group
273
00:14:09,683 --> 00:14:11,983
taking its violent cues
from "siege."
274
00:14:12,018 --> 00:14:14,252
mason's writings became
the founding doctrine
275
00:14:14,354 --> 00:14:16,554
of one organization
in particular --
276
00:14:16,690 --> 00:14:18,423
atomwaffen division.
277
00:14:18,458 --> 00:14:21,159
German for "atomic weapons,"
the atomwaffen division,
278
00:14:21,194 --> 00:14:25,296
or awd, was made up
of angry, young, white men.
279
00:14:25,332 --> 00:14:28,633
They created paramilitary
training called hate camps
280
00:14:28,668 --> 00:14:32,804
and used them to make slick
isis-like propaganda videos.
281
00:14:32,839 --> 00:14:35,673
At its height,
atomwaffen was an 80-man crew
282
00:14:35,709 --> 00:14:38,142
and has been linked
to five deaths,
283
00:14:38,178 --> 00:14:41,145
plans to bomb a nuclear facility
and synagogues.
284
00:14:41,181 --> 00:14:44,749
James mason would become
its chief ideological influence.
285
00:14:44,885 --> 00:14:47,852
-The atomwaffen division started
in 2015,
286
00:14:47,888 --> 00:14:51,356
originally came from a website
called iron March,
287
00:14:51,391 --> 00:14:55,693
which was an online web forum
for fascists, neo-nazis,
288
00:14:55,729 --> 00:14:58,630
and white supremacists
of various types.
289
00:14:58,665 --> 00:14:59,998
You have a core group of people
290
00:15:00,033 --> 00:15:02,767
who are going to
commit violent acts
291
00:15:02,869 --> 00:15:05,370
to sort of bring about
a second civil war
292
00:15:05,405 --> 00:15:07,705
or bring about some sort of
insurgency
293
00:15:07,741 --> 00:15:10,608
and to create chaos,
to create what they hope for
294
00:15:10,710 --> 00:15:13,044
would be the downfall
of the government,
295
00:15:13,079 --> 00:15:14,779
the downfall of society.
296
00:15:14,915 --> 00:15:18,883
-And the base -- are they
similar to atomwaffen division?
297
00:15:18,919 --> 00:15:20,685
-Very similar,
but you could call them
298
00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,187
a little bit more grown up
in some ways.
299
00:15:23,223 --> 00:15:24,989
When the base came along,
300
00:15:25,025 --> 00:15:29,694
they decided that they were
going to focus more on action
301
00:15:29,729 --> 00:15:32,497
and sort of less
on propaganda videos.
302
00:15:32,599 --> 00:15:35,667
The base was a lot more
secretive
303
00:15:35,702 --> 00:15:39,871
about their activities.
304
00:15:39,906 --> 00:15:41,472
-What is your role,
305
00:15:41,574 --> 00:15:42,907
or what was your role
within atomwaffen division?
306
00:15:42,943 --> 00:15:44,676
-I didn't have a role.
307
00:15:44,711 --> 00:15:46,878
-And were you ever involved
with the atomwaffen division?
308
00:15:46,913 --> 00:15:48,846
-Well, I met a lot of them.
309
00:15:48,949 --> 00:15:51,983
They -- they did open up
that website
310
00:15:52,085 --> 00:15:53,918
for my stuff specifically.
311
00:15:53,954 --> 00:15:57,255
And I did address their
gathering in vegas last year.
312
00:15:57,290 --> 00:16:02,193
But as far as going out on
any night rides rides, hell no.
313
00:16:02,295 --> 00:16:05,596
-Do you feel like you inspired
the creation
314
00:16:05,632 --> 00:16:07,565
of violent nazi terror groups
315
00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,000
like the base
and atomwaffen division?
316
00:16:09,102 --> 00:16:11,402
-No, no.
317
00:16:11,438 --> 00:16:14,505
No, no, these things
were gonna happen
318
00:16:14,641 --> 00:16:16,941
with or without me,
319
00:16:16,977 --> 00:16:20,878
but I believe I've been able
to give them some insight.
320
00:16:20,981 --> 00:16:24,816
-But "siege" was this critical
text in the formation
321
00:16:24,851 --> 00:16:26,250
of atomwaffen division.
322
00:16:26,286 --> 00:16:28,019
-Mm-hmm, yeah.
323
00:16:28,154 --> 00:16:31,255
-I mean, this is the basis
for the entire group.
324
00:16:31,291 --> 00:16:32,757
-That's okay.
325
00:16:32,792 --> 00:16:36,060
I simply put my thoughts
down on paper
326
00:16:36,096 --> 00:16:38,563
and got them out there.
327
00:16:38,665 --> 00:16:42,700
As for activities, I don't know,
and I don't want to know.
328
00:16:42,802 --> 00:16:45,870
-Jews will not replace us!
329
00:16:45,972 --> 00:16:49,107
Jews will not replace us!
330
00:16:49,142 --> 00:16:50,608
-After charlottesville,
331
00:16:50,643 --> 00:16:52,744
mainstream news
and law-enforcement agencies
332
00:16:52,846 --> 00:16:54,812
outed the identities
of protesters
333
00:16:54,848 --> 00:16:57,148
who openly walked with torches.
334
00:16:57,183 --> 00:16:59,417
The exposure reinforced
to groups like atomwaffen
335
00:16:59,452 --> 00:17:00,985
that it was better
to stay in the shadows
336
00:17:01,021 --> 00:17:02,420
and plan your race war
337
00:17:02,522 --> 00:17:04,622
without showing up
on the 6:00 news.
338
00:17:04,657 --> 00:17:07,091
-Charlottesville,
for a group like atomwaffen,
339
00:17:07,193 --> 00:17:09,260
shows that they're right,
that it's not about
340
00:17:09,295 --> 00:17:12,964
getting thousands
or tens of thousands of people,
341
00:17:12,999 --> 00:17:15,133
that what you need
is a core group of people
342
00:17:15,168 --> 00:17:17,902
who are going to try
and create chaos
343
00:17:18,038 --> 00:17:19,437
and move that along.
344
00:17:19,539 --> 00:17:21,839
These aren't people
who are just interested
345
00:17:21,875 --> 00:17:23,975
in spreading propaganda.
346
00:17:24,010 --> 00:17:25,610
They are people
who are committed
347
00:17:25,712 --> 00:17:27,311
to committing violent acts.
348
00:17:27,347 --> 00:17:29,147
These groups
might have been small,
349
00:17:29,182 --> 00:17:30,515
but they're trying to seek out
350
00:17:30,550 --> 00:17:34,919
the most radical
of an already radical scene.
351
00:17:35,021 --> 00:17:37,422
-I spoke to a man who was
an atomwaffen cell leader,
352
00:17:37,557 --> 00:17:39,891
who agreed to meet with me
if his identity was protected
353
00:17:39,926 --> 00:17:42,827
in order to openly discuss
his experiences.
354
00:17:42,862 --> 00:17:44,929
At 17, he says
he joined the group
355
00:17:45,065 --> 00:17:47,999
after becoming enamored with
the world of national socialism,
356
00:17:48,034 --> 00:17:50,501
or, in other words, nazism.
357
00:17:50,537 --> 00:17:52,770
What was your role in awd?
358
00:17:57,744 --> 00:17:59,110
What -- what kind of
responsibilities
359
00:17:59,212 --> 00:18:00,378
did that entail?
360
00:18:10,223 --> 00:18:13,658
And you have --
you have firearms of your own?
361
00:18:13,693 --> 00:18:15,126
Like, a lot?
362
00:18:18,098 --> 00:18:19,730
Semi-automatic?
363
00:18:20,900 --> 00:18:21,999
And would you say
that's the same
364
00:18:22,035 --> 00:18:25,069
for most of the members in awd?
365
00:18:25,105 --> 00:18:28,206
And how were you drawn into this
ideology, when you were 17?
366
00:18:28,241 --> 00:18:30,074
Where did that come from?
367
00:18:44,257 --> 00:18:48,159
Are you proud of what
atomwaffen division achieved?
368
00:18:48,261 --> 00:18:50,261
And why?
369
00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:09,113
That skull mask
you're wearing --
370
00:19:09,149 --> 00:19:11,315
what's its significance?
371
00:19:28,968 --> 00:19:32,236
So it's -- it's literally
to -- to show that
372
00:19:32,272 --> 00:19:34,205
you're willing to die
for this cause.
373
00:19:37,177 --> 00:19:43,214
♪♪
374
00:19:50,690 --> 00:19:53,157
-thank you, everyone,
for coming to class today.
375
00:19:53,193 --> 00:19:55,660
Um...We have a lot of work
to do,
376
00:19:55,695 --> 00:19:57,461
so let's get started.
377
00:19:57,497 --> 00:20:00,298
-Blaze was really unique.
378
00:20:00,333 --> 00:20:03,301
-Today we've got nacho cheese,
rice krispies, tortilla chips,
379
00:20:03,336 --> 00:20:04,936
and daiya cheese.
380
00:20:04,971 --> 00:20:07,104
Three, two...
381
00:20:07,140 --> 00:20:09,473
Unh-unh, unh-unh. Mm!
382
00:20:09,509 --> 00:20:12,577
-He was unique in the fact
that his right and left brain
383
00:20:12,712 --> 00:20:17,148
seemed to really be
very high-powered.
384
00:20:17,183 --> 00:20:19,450
He was super artistic
and creative,
385
00:20:19,485 --> 00:20:22,987
and he was also really good
at math and chemistry.
386
00:20:23,022 --> 00:20:26,157
I mean, he had a real mind
for seeing patterns,
387
00:20:26,192 --> 00:20:27,792
and chemistry was his thing.
388
00:20:27,827 --> 00:20:29,527
I mean, he told me
organic chemistry would be easy
389
00:20:29,562 --> 00:20:34,165
because it was just memorizing
patterns of molecules.
390
00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,968
He was brilliant, kind,
and caring,
391
00:20:37,070 --> 00:20:40,371
and he was a great friend
to people.
392
00:20:40,406 --> 00:20:41,672
He was a good person.
393
00:20:41,708 --> 00:20:44,308
He was a really,
really good person.
394
00:20:44,410 --> 00:20:47,478
-This is the last place that
blaze bernstein was seen.
395
00:20:47,580 --> 00:20:50,514
Today throughout the day,
crews met here and headed out
396
00:20:50,550 --> 00:20:52,350
looking for any sign
of the teen.
397
00:20:52,385 --> 00:20:54,352
There's still no trace
of the 19-year-old
398
00:20:54,387 --> 00:20:56,721
who hasn't been seen
since Tuesday.
399
00:20:56,756 --> 00:20:59,123
-He was found approximately
a mile from our home
400
00:20:59,225 --> 00:21:00,691
in a park that's adjacent
401
00:21:00,727 --> 00:21:02,660
to the elementary school
that he went to.
402
00:21:02,762 --> 00:21:04,829
And the reason that
they found him
403
00:21:04,864 --> 00:21:06,731
is because it had rained
the night before,
404
00:21:06,766 --> 00:21:09,000
and it had displaced the soil
405
00:21:09,035 --> 00:21:11,802
that had been
put on top of his body.
406
00:21:11,938 --> 00:21:14,372
-Blaze bernstein,
a gay jewish teenager,
407
00:21:14,407 --> 00:21:17,041
was stabbed to death
more than 20 times.
408
00:21:17,076 --> 00:21:18,542
Samuel woodward,
409
00:21:18,578 --> 00:21:20,311
a former classmate
and member of atomwaffen,
410
00:21:20,446 --> 00:21:22,947
has been charged with his murder
and a hate crime.
411
00:21:22,982 --> 00:21:25,283
He's pleaded not guilty
to both charges
412
00:21:25,318 --> 00:21:27,018
and has been denied bail.
413
00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:29,553
He's currently awaiting trial
in california.
414
00:21:29,589 --> 00:21:31,722
Had you ever heard of
something called
415
00:21:31,758 --> 00:21:33,424
the atomwaffen division
before this?
416
00:21:33,459 --> 00:21:35,860
-Before this? No.
417
00:21:35,895 --> 00:21:39,030
I wish I had.
I wish I knew.
418
00:21:39,065 --> 00:21:41,065
I don't know if it would have
changed anything that we did,
419
00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:43,601
because I never thought
that we could be the subject
420
00:21:43,636 --> 00:21:46,637
of a -- of a crime like this.
421
00:21:46,673 --> 00:21:48,272
I just never thought that
422
00:21:48,308 --> 00:21:53,044
somebody would target
one of my children.
423
00:21:53,079 --> 00:21:56,380
-So, what about a family
like the bernstein family,
424
00:21:56,482 --> 00:21:58,316
that their child,
blaze bernstein --
425
00:21:58,351 --> 00:21:59,950
he's a young, jewish --
426
00:21:59,986 --> 00:22:02,420
he was a young, jewish gay man
in california?
427
00:22:02,455 --> 00:22:03,721
He was stabbed repeatedly
428
00:22:03,823 --> 00:22:05,723
by a follower of
atomwaffen division.
429
00:22:05,825 --> 00:22:07,258
-Yep. Sam woodward.
-Sam woodward.
430
00:22:07,293 --> 00:22:08,592
-I met sam woodward.
431
00:22:08,628 --> 00:22:11,962
He came out here
with a friend of his
432
00:22:11,998 --> 00:22:16,534
soon after we linked up
with atomwaffen division.
433
00:22:16,636 --> 00:22:21,439
And, uh, I served him several
nice dinners, some good drinks.
434
00:22:21,474 --> 00:22:23,240
We had a lot of laughs.
435
00:22:23,343 --> 00:22:27,078
And he struck me as being a --
a stand-up kind of guy.
436
00:22:27,113 --> 00:22:30,948
But I promise you, if he had run
any of this past me at the time,
437
00:22:30,983 --> 00:22:34,785
I'd have said,
"for god's sake, don't do it!"
438
00:22:34,821 --> 00:22:38,723
there's a good man
who threw himself away,
439
00:22:38,858 --> 00:22:40,558
threw himself away.
440
00:22:40,660 --> 00:22:43,494
That incident didn't do us
a bit of good.
441
00:22:43,529 --> 00:22:45,563
It did us harm
if it did anything,
442
00:22:45,665 --> 00:22:47,231
because the masses
of people out there --
443
00:22:47,333 --> 00:22:51,135
you want them to be able to
at some level identify
444
00:22:51,170 --> 00:22:54,805
with what you've just done
rather than be turned off by it.
445
00:22:54,841 --> 00:22:56,807
-What would you say
to the bernstein family, though,
446
00:22:56,843 --> 00:23:00,177
that has to deal with the fact
that their child is -- is gone?
447
00:23:00,213 --> 00:23:05,216
-I don't know what I would say.
It's probably unfortunate.
448
00:23:05,251 --> 00:23:08,452
But blaze bernstein --
well, being a jew,
449
00:23:08,554 --> 00:23:09,820
I suppose that's one thing,
450
00:23:09,856 --> 00:23:11,355
but as far as
I would be concerned,
451
00:23:11,391 --> 00:23:12,990
if he was any child of my own,
I would say,
452
00:23:13,025 --> 00:23:17,228
"well, he died the minute
he came out as being gay."
453
00:23:18,898 --> 00:23:23,901
-I wrote this to my son in 2004
at the beginning of first grade.
454
00:23:23,936 --> 00:23:26,370
It was not a letter
that I gave to him.
455
00:23:26,406 --> 00:23:30,040
I kept it for him,
like in a scrapbook.
456
00:23:30,076 --> 00:23:32,143
I said,
"you say such hilarious things
457
00:23:32,245 --> 00:23:34,745
and some things that are
just downright profound.
458
00:23:34,781 --> 00:23:35,980
If there ever was a child
459
00:23:36,082 --> 00:23:37,448
that could think
outside of the box,
460
00:23:37,583 --> 00:23:39,884
it is definitely you.
461
00:23:39,919 --> 00:23:44,054
You asked me today what will
happen to us when the sun dies."
462
00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:49,427
-gideon, you --
had you ever read that?
463
00:23:49,462 --> 00:23:50,895
-I don't remember
ever reading it,
464
00:23:50,930 --> 00:23:53,264
but, you know,
when she read that sentence,
465
00:23:53,299 --> 00:23:57,701
"you asked me today what will
happen to us when the sun dies,"
466
00:23:57,737 --> 00:24:01,539
was he talking about the sun,
as in that in the sky,
467
00:24:01,574 --> 00:24:04,141
or was he talking about
what happens to us
468
00:24:04,277 --> 00:24:05,609
when your son dies?
469
00:24:05,645 --> 00:24:06,977
-Yeah, well...
470
00:24:09,749 --> 00:24:11,916
-What would you say to people
who think, you know,
471
00:24:11,951 --> 00:24:15,419
atomwaffen division --
it's only 40 or 50 guys?
472
00:24:15,455 --> 00:24:18,823
-You know, atomwaffen --
473
00:24:18,925 --> 00:24:21,225
if it's only 40 or 50 people
in the united states,
474
00:24:21,260 --> 00:24:23,194
and if we're all okay
with that,
475
00:24:23,296 --> 00:24:25,696
well, are you also okay
with the rise above movement
476
00:24:25,798 --> 00:24:27,865
and the brotherhood
and the aryan nation?
477
00:24:27,967 --> 00:24:29,934
And --
and if that's okay with you,
478
00:24:29,969 --> 00:24:31,435
if that's okay with society,
479
00:24:31,471 --> 00:24:33,237
well, you know,
just don't be surprised.
480
00:24:33,272 --> 00:24:35,439
Don't be surprised
when we have mass shootings
481
00:24:35,475 --> 00:24:39,009
and when your kid goes missing
in the middle of the night
482
00:24:39,111 --> 00:24:40,611
'cause it's okay with you
if there's only
483
00:24:40,646 --> 00:24:43,247
40 or 50 of them running around.
484
00:24:43,282 --> 00:24:45,783
-Should americans care more
about these types of groups?
485
00:24:45,818 --> 00:24:47,785
-Absolutely, because, you know,
486
00:24:47,820 --> 00:24:50,421
when they're done coming for
jewish people and gay people
487
00:24:50,456 --> 00:24:53,624
and -- and black people
and immigrants,
488
00:24:53,659 --> 00:24:55,426
and then what's next?
489
00:24:55,461 --> 00:24:56,861
Are you safe?
490
00:25:00,366 --> 00:25:03,367
-We have certainly seen the rise
491
00:25:03,402 --> 00:25:08,305
of a global neo-nazi,
white nationalist movement
492
00:25:08,407 --> 00:25:12,243
that is deserving
of our attention.
493
00:25:12,278 --> 00:25:15,846
Many people, experts, have said
that this looks like
494
00:25:15,882 --> 00:25:20,050
what al-qaeda looked like
in the '80s and the '90s.
495
00:25:20,086 --> 00:25:24,188
Let's not find ourselves
asleep at the wheel
496
00:25:24,223 --> 00:25:27,258
as we did in the run-up to 9/11.
497
00:25:27,293 --> 00:25:29,927
-Congressman max rose,
a veteran of the afghan war,
498
00:25:29,962 --> 00:25:33,197
is at the forefront of seeking
a foreign terrorist designation
499
00:25:33,232 --> 00:25:35,099
for groups like
atomwaffen division
500
00:25:35,134 --> 00:25:36,700
and the base.
501
00:25:36,736 --> 00:25:40,004
When you see something
like atomwaffen division,
502
00:25:40,106 --> 00:25:41,105
how do you feel about them?
503
00:25:41,140 --> 00:25:43,674
-Scares the shit out of me.
504
00:25:43,776 --> 00:25:47,411
I -- I wouldn't be focusing
on this as much as I am
505
00:25:47,446 --> 00:25:49,580
were they not so scary
506
00:25:49,615 --> 00:25:52,583
and were they not given
the ability
507
00:25:52,618 --> 00:25:55,920
to completely operate
under the radar,
508
00:25:55,955 --> 00:25:59,523
to completely operate
in the shadows.
509
00:25:59,592 --> 00:26:03,060
-An fto, or foreign terrorist
organization, designation
510
00:26:03,095 --> 00:26:06,564
is how the government classifies
organizations like al-qaeda.
511
00:26:06,599 --> 00:26:09,066
With an fto applied to a group
like atomwaffen,
512
00:26:09,101 --> 00:26:10,601
members could be banned
from travel
513
00:26:10,636 --> 00:26:12,469
or have assets frozen,
514
00:26:12,505 --> 00:26:14,438
while they
or anyone assisting the group
515
00:26:14,473 --> 00:26:16,774
or providing material support
or resources
516
00:26:16,809 --> 00:26:19,476
could be prosecuted
as terrorists and conspirators.
517
00:26:19,512 --> 00:26:22,713
-They're clearly mimicking
the cell models
518
00:26:22,815 --> 00:26:25,950
that isis and al-qaeda
and other jihadist groups
519
00:26:25,985 --> 00:26:29,920
have improved and perfected
over the last 30 years.
520
00:26:29,956 --> 00:26:32,756
You could execute a small-arms
attack in 10 different cities,
521
00:26:32,792 --> 00:26:34,625
all at the same time.
522
00:26:34,660 --> 00:26:37,628
You could execute a coordinated
explosives and small-arms attack
523
00:26:37,663 --> 00:26:41,298
against health-care facilities
during a pandemic.
524
00:26:41,334 --> 00:26:44,234
You could attack
law-enforcement officials
525
00:26:44,337 --> 00:26:49,740
during a time of unprecedented
racial and societal strife.
526
00:26:49,842 --> 00:26:52,610
And just like
the jihadist threat,
527
00:26:52,645 --> 00:26:55,312
the far right movements,
these terrorists,
528
00:26:55,348 --> 00:26:58,582
are seeking
to radicalize people online,
529
00:26:58,684 --> 00:27:00,084
recruit them online,
530
00:27:00,186 --> 00:27:03,487
and then migrate them
to the encrypted apps.
531
00:27:03,522 --> 00:27:05,789
-Do you think other politicians
see it the same way,
532
00:27:05,825 --> 00:27:08,325
as a global terrorist movement?
533
00:27:08,361 --> 00:27:10,094
-They're starting to.
534
00:27:10,196 --> 00:27:12,296
Look, we don't have to
reinvent the wheel here, right?
535
00:27:12,331 --> 00:27:14,131
We have the designations.
We have the mechanisms.
536
00:27:14,166 --> 00:27:17,468
We've largely,
if not perfected this,
537
00:27:17,503 --> 00:27:19,336
really professionalized
this effort
538
00:27:19,372 --> 00:27:21,005
over the last 20 years
539
00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:24,308
in terms of our fight
against jihadist terrorism.
540
00:27:24,343 --> 00:27:26,744
-What the fto designation does
541
00:27:26,846 --> 00:27:29,813
is it truly provides
entities like the cia,
542
00:27:29,849 --> 00:27:33,183
like the fbi,
with the opportunity
543
00:27:33,219 --> 00:27:37,121
to pursue the threat
no matter where it is,
544
00:27:37,223 --> 00:27:41,492
'cause this is a global threat
akin to this jihadist threat.
545
00:27:41,527 --> 00:27:43,961
We -- we're trying to act like
it's not
546
00:27:44,063 --> 00:27:46,797
every single step of the way
we're doing this,
547
00:27:46,899 --> 00:27:49,033
but it doesn't change
the reality.
548
00:27:49,068 --> 00:27:51,035
It's classic government, right?
549
00:27:51,070 --> 00:27:53,771
Ignore, ignore, ignore
550
00:27:53,873 --> 00:27:56,106
until the problem hits us.
551
00:27:56,208 --> 00:28:02,846
♪♪
552
00:28:02,882 --> 00:28:05,649
-so I'm about to meet
arieana love.
553
00:28:05,751 --> 00:28:08,152
She's the ex-girlfriend
of a guy named ryan birchfield,
554
00:28:08,254 --> 00:28:10,354
who's a former member
of the base
555
00:28:10,389 --> 00:28:12,389
who went to ukraine
to fight with
556
00:28:12,425 --> 00:28:16,827
a neo-nazi far-right militia
in the war in donbass.
557
00:28:20,066 --> 00:28:22,032
When did you first meet ryan?
558
00:28:22,068 --> 00:28:24,535
-We actually met online
on facebook
559
00:28:24,570 --> 00:28:27,838
through some mutual friends.
560
00:28:27,940 --> 00:28:32,042
That was September of 2018
when we first started dating,
561
00:28:32,078 --> 00:28:34,712
but we had been talking
that summer.
562
00:28:34,747 --> 00:28:36,680
He was planning on going to
563
00:28:36,782 --> 00:28:39,016
the marines' version
of basic training
564
00:28:39,118 --> 00:28:41,118
in February of 2019,
565
00:28:41,153 --> 00:28:43,520
and then he decided
not to follow through
566
00:28:43,622 --> 00:28:45,222
with the army stuff.
567
00:28:45,257 --> 00:28:46,890
-Where was the switch?
Did he to tell you why --
568
00:28:46,926 --> 00:28:48,492
why he didn't follow through?
569
00:28:48,594 --> 00:28:50,027
-He was the kind of person
570
00:28:50,129 --> 00:28:53,063
who would want to be deployed
all the time,
571
00:28:53,099 --> 00:28:55,432
always seeing
front-line-type stuff,
572
00:28:55,468 --> 00:28:57,201
and he felt like
the u.S. Military
573
00:28:57,303 --> 00:28:58,836
couldn't offer that to him.
574
00:28:58,938 --> 00:29:01,238
-Did he ever show any signs
of preparing to go fight
575
00:29:01,273 --> 00:29:03,273
for a far-right militia
in ukraine?
576
00:29:03,309 --> 00:29:06,877
-No, he had mentioned
visiting ukraine before
577
00:29:06,979 --> 00:29:10,647
but hadn't really said that
there was a particular reason.
578
00:29:10,683 --> 00:29:12,850
-And he never told you
why he went?
579
00:29:12,952 --> 00:29:16,587
-He basically just told me that
he was going into a war zone,
580
00:29:16,622 --> 00:29:18,055
and that was it.
-You didn't know exactly
581
00:29:18,157 --> 00:29:19,623
what he was doing
or where he was going?
582
00:29:19,658 --> 00:29:21,558
-No, I knew a little bit
based on
583
00:29:21,660 --> 00:29:23,727
some articles from journalists
that were published
584
00:29:23,829 --> 00:29:25,129
in the past few months
before that.
585
00:29:25,164 --> 00:29:26,697
But that was it.
586
00:29:26,799 --> 00:29:29,266
If I had known all of this
was gonna come out of it,
587
00:29:29,301 --> 00:29:32,469
I would have never,
ever dated him.
588
00:29:32,505 --> 00:29:34,805
-While the fbi
can neither confirm or deny
589
00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:36,940
an investigation
into birchfield's actions,
590
00:29:36,976 --> 00:29:40,144
rome's circuit assistant
district attorney emily johnson
591
00:29:40,179 --> 00:29:42,880
said in open court
that birchfield fought
592
00:29:42,982 --> 00:29:45,115
for an ultranationalist group
in ukraine,
593
00:29:45,151 --> 00:29:46,950
something he now denies.
594
00:29:46,986 --> 00:29:48,819
But the base's interest
in ukraine doesn't end
595
00:29:48,854 --> 00:29:50,420
with birchfield.
596
00:29:50,523 --> 00:29:52,289
Vice has obtained
an exclusive audio conversation
597
00:29:52,324 --> 00:29:54,491
with the base founder,
rinaldo nazzaro,
598
00:29:54,527 --> 00:29:57,461
strategizing about
training in ukraine.
599
00:29:57,496 --> 00:29:58,996
This is the first time
this recording
600
00:29:59,031 --> 00:30:00,597
has ever been made public.
601
00:30:17,883 --> 00:30:19,750
Mollie saltskog
is an intelligence analyst
602
00:30:19,852 --> 00:30:22,886
at the soufan center,
a world-renowned private firm
603
00:30:22,922 --> 00:30:25,489
with connections
to the fbi and cia
604
00:30:25,524 --> 00:30:28,025
that tracks
international terrorism.
605
00:30:28,060 --> 00:30:30,327
Why ukraine?
Why is it so important?
606
00:30:30,362 --> 00:30:34,298
-Ukraine represents the only
chance for white supremacists
607
00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:36,500
to go and gain
actual combat experience.
608
00:30:36,535 --> 00:30:40,037
It's their conflict
on the front lines of europe.
609
00:30:40,072 --> 00:30:43,240
There's no substitute
for the tacit knowledge transfer
610
00:30:43,275 --> 00:30:45,342
of gaining actual
combat experience
611
00:30:45,377 --> 00:30:47,044
and being part
of paramilitary training,
612
00:30:47,079 --> 00:30:49,880
and not to mention the street
cred that these guys get
613
00:30:49,915 --> 00:30:51,849
from actively participating
in conflict.
614
00:30:51,884 --> 00:30:54,985
They went there.
They were on the front lines.
615
00:30:55,087 --> 00:30:57,521
At least 35 americans
have gone over there
616
00:30:57,556 --> 00:30:59,356
since the start of the conflict.
617
00:30:59,391 --> 00:31:01,191
-So what do these guys do
when they come back?
618
00:31:01,227 --> 00:31:04,561
Atomwaffen members who've gone
to ukraine and come back --
619
00:31:04,597 --> 00:31:07,898
they've definitely intended
to plan violent attacks
620
00:31:07,933 --> 00:31:09,666
and threatened
to plan violent attacks.
621
00:31:09,768 --> 00:31:12,336
Luckily, they've been caught
by the law enforcement.
622
00:31:12,438 --> 00:31:15,539
But in other cases, like
the swedish guys who went over
623
00:31:15,574 --> 00:31:17,674
and trained with
the russian imperial movement,
624
00:31:17,776 --> 00:31:20,010
they came back home,
and within a couple months
625
00:31:20,112 --> 00:31:24,581
they had bombed
asylum shelters in sweden.
626
00:31:24,617 --> 00:31:28,352
-What have you heard in terms of
washington, d.C., talk
627
00:31:28,454 --> 00:31:30,354
around why they haven't
designated
628
00:31:30,456 --> 00:31:32,389
something like
atomwaffen division
629
00:31:32,424 --> 00:31:34,725
as a foreign terrorist
organization?
630
00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:36,393
-I think there's real concern
631
00:31:36,428 --> 00:31:39,429
that a large part of
the membership of atomwaffen
632
00:31:39,465 --> 00:31:42,032
is made up of u.S. Nationals.
633
00:31:42,134 --> 00:31:43,600
And that might have been true.
634
00:31:43,636 --> 00:31:46,403
Atomwaffen started
in the united states
635
00:31:46,438 --> 00:31:48,272
and was founded by americans.
636
00:31:48,307 --> 00:31:50,941
But as our recent research
has shown,
637
00:31:50,976 --> 00:31:54,912
it is a transnational movement
that has affiliates
638
00:31:54,947 --> 00:31:58,115
uk, europe,
all the way to australia.
639
00:31:58,150 --> 00:32:02,252
And atomwaffen has also
successfully created a brand
640
00:32:02,288 --> 00:32:05,255
that is almost equally
identifiable to neo-nazis
641
00:32:05,291 --> 00:32:09,259
the way isis is identifiable
to a salafi jihadist.
642
00:32:09,295 --> 00:32:10,727
So all of a sudden,
643
00:32:10,829 --> 00:32:13,130
america's become
an exporter of this ideology.
644
00:32:13,165 --> 00:32:16,600
Left unchecked, these guys
are gonna keep recruiting,
645
00:32:16,635 --> 00:32:17,968
they're gonna keep training,
646
00:32:18,003 --> 00:32:19,770
and they're gonna keep planning
647
00:32:19,805 --> 00:32:22,306
and carrying out
violent attacks.
648
00:32:27,746 --> 00:32:29,947
-By early 2020,
there were obvious signs
649
00:32:30,082 --> 00:32:34,351
the fbi was taking atomwaffen
and the base very seriously.
650
00:32:34,386 --> 00:32:36,520
Director christopher wray
testified to congress
651
00:32:36,555 --> 00:32:38,221
that white-nationalist terrorism
652
00:32:38,257 --> 00:32:40,724
was a real threat
to national security.
653
00:32:40,759 --> 00:32:45,729
-We elevated
to the top-level priority
654
00:32:45,764 --> 00:32:47,831
racially motivated
violent extremism
655
00:32:47,933 --> 00:32:49,299
so it's on the same footing
656
00:32:49,401 --> 00:32:50,734
in terms of
our national-threat branding
657
00:32:50,769 --> 00:32:55,772
as isis and homegrown
violent extremism.
658
00:32:55,808 --> 00:32:57,674
-Rumors circulated
that the state department
659
00:32:57,776 --> 00:33:01,011
was designating atomwaffen
as a terrorist organization.
660
00:33:01,113 --> 00:33:03,747
In a sweeping crackdown,
five members of awd
661
00:33:03,782 --> 00:33:05,849
were arrested for crimes
ranging from swatting
662
00:33:05,951 --> 00:33:07,718
to death threats.
663
00:33:07,753 --> 00:33:09,019
With the fbi closing in,
664
00:33:09,121 --> 00:33:11,455
mason suddenly made
an announcement.
665
00:33:32,911 --> 00:33:34,578
Were you ever afraid
of getting arrested
666
00:33:34,613 --> 00:33:36,079
for your connections
to atomwaffen division?
667
00:33:36,115 --> 00:33:39,249
-It looked pretty bad in March
668
00:33:39,284 --> 00:33:42,519
with this damned...
669
00:33:42,621 --> 00:33:47,657
Who's that jew on staten island
that had that bill proposal, uh,
670
00:33:47,693 --> 00:33:52,195
to make us out to be
foreign terrorists?
671
00:33:52,331 --> 00:33:54,431
-Congressman max rose?
-Yes.
672
00:33:54,466 --> 00:33:57,868
I was a little worried
about that.
673
00:33:58,003 --> 00:34:00,771
And I thought that, uh,
the only thing to do --
674
00:34:00,806 --> 00:34:02,439
the only thing to do --
675
00:34:02,474 --> 00:34:05,142
was announce the disbanding
of the organization.
676
00:34:05,177 --> 00:34:08,545
-Was this disbandment designed
at avoiding that from happening?
677
00:34:08,647 --> 00:34:10,914
-Oh, hell yes.
678
00:34:11,016 --> 00:34:12,783
Hell yes.
679
00:34:14,853 --> 00:34:17,487
-When atomwaffen,
quote, unquote, "disbanded"...
680
00:34:17,523 --> 00:34:19,489
-Yeah.
-...What did you make of that?
681
00:34:19,525 --> 00:34:22,759
-I thought it was not true.
682
00:34:22,861 --> 00:34:24,394
Uh, I think that they wanted
to avoid sanctions
683
00:34:24,496 --> 00:34:25,962
from the state department.
684
00:34:25,998 --> 00:34:27,597
It's a classic al-qaeda move.
685
00:34:27,699 --> 00:34:30,500
They deliberately don't name
an affiliate,
686
00:34:30,536 --> 00:34:33,136
and al-qaeda name,
687
00:34:33,172 --> 00:34:36,440
to avoid the brunt of the u.S.
Counterterrorism apparatus.
688
00:34:36,542 --> 00:34:38,108
And atomwaffen did the same.
689
00:34:38,143 --> 00:34:41,111
-They disbanded and then
reappeared under a new name.
690
00:34:41,213 --> 00:34:44,514
-They disbanded,
reappeared under a new name.
691
00:34:44,550 --> 00:34:46,216
Atomwaffen leadership --
692
00:34:46,251 --> 00:34:49,152
james mason is their
spiritual leader, figurehead,
693
00:34:49,188 --> 00:34:52,322
and they're back to recruiting.
694
00:34:52,357 --> 00:34:55,692
-Not long before atomwaffen
members scattered and regrouped,
695
00:34:55,727 --> 00:34:58,829
the fbi also cornered
other factions of the base.
696
00:34:58,864 --> 00:35:00,597
In addition to the georgia cell,
697
00:35:00,699 --> 00:35:02,933
they arrested three members
of the maryland cell,
698
00:35:03,035 --> 00:35:05,802
one that had plans to
derail trains, murder police,
699
00:35:05,904 --> 00:35:08,004
and shoot up
a second amendment rally.
700
00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:11,241
All told, eight members
of the base were arrested
701
00:35:11,276 --> 00:35:12,809
and are awaiting trial,
702
00:35:12,911 --> 00:35:16,213
a crushing blow
to the entire organization.
703
00:35:16,248 --> 00:35:18,515
Yet both atomwaffen and the base
were able to avoid
704
00:35:18,550 --> 00:35:21,518
the foreign terrorist
organization designation.
705
00:35:21,553 --> 00:35:24,821
So the fbi undertook a pretty
striking crackdown
706
00:35:24,923 --> 00:35:26,990
of the base and atomwaffen.
707
00:35:27,092 --> 00:35:29,092
Do you think
they went far enough?
708
00:35:29,128 --> 00:35:33,730
-No, it's not enough,
because you're still applying
709
00:35:33,765 --> 00:35:38,869
a law-enforcement mindset
to a terrorist problem.
710
00:35:38,904 --> 00:35:40,871
The fbi up until recently,
711
00:35:40,906 --> 00:35:42,739
homeland security
up until recently,
712
00:35:42,774 --> 00:35:47,210
was unwilling to position this
as the top threat that it is.
713
00:35:47,246 --> 00:35:49,579
Now, we've seen
over the last couple of months
714
00:35:49,615 --> 00:35:51,047
that that has changed.
715
00:35:51,083 --> 00:35:54,351
But our intelligence holes
are still shocking
716
00:35:54,453 --> 00:35:56,987
because we have not authorized
the intelligence community
717
00:35:57,089 --> 00:36:00,090
to actually do what it is
supposed to do.
718
00:36:00,125 --> 00:36:02,125
-Despite the many fbi arrests,
719
00:36:02,161 --> 00:36:04,327
the "siege"-inspired
accelerationist terror movement
720
00:36:04,463 --> 00:36:06,163
carries on.
721
00:36:06,265 --> 00:36:08,365
The former atomwaffen leader
we spoke to says
722
00:36:08,467 --> 00:36:10,534
the group has reinvented itself.
723
00:36:10,636 --> 00:36:13,003
And while it's unclear
how big or influential
724
00:36:13,138 --> 00:36:14,638
the group actually is,
725
00:36:14,673 --> 00:36:17,474
they call themselves
the national socialist order.
726
00:36:34,326 --> 00:36:36,593
Awd -- they were disbanded.
727
00:36:36,628 --> 00:36:39,029
The base -- the fbi raided them.
728
00:36:39,131 --> 00:36:41,631
Is the nso trying to fill
the void they left behind?
729
00:36:56,982 --> 00:36:59,916
I mean, what's the difference
between the atomwaffen division
730
00:37:00,018 --> 00:37:02,118
and
the national socialist order?
731
00:37:13,899 --> 00:37:16,700
So what is
the national socialist order?
732
00:37:32,084 --> 00:37:33,450
And when you say
taking advantage,
733
00:37:33,552 --> 00:37:35,151
what does that mean?
734
00:37:51,370 --> 00:37:54,771
You know, right now
there's a lot of social unrest.
735
00:37:54,873 --> 00:37:57,807
There's a pandemic.
There's rampant unemployment.
736
00:37:57,909 --> 00:38:01,444
And you're choosing to refound
and create this group now.
737
00:38:01,580 --> 00:38:04,547
Is it designed
at this political moment?
738
00:38:16,228 --> 00:38:19,029
Tell me about the numbers.
How do you recruit?
739
00:38:19,064 --> 00:38:20,797
Do they find you,
or do you find them?
740
00:38:34,079 --> 00:38:35,845
What's the
national socialist order's
741
00:38:35,947 --> 00:38:37,714
relationship with james mason?
742
00:38:57,769 --> 00:39:00,770
♪♪
743
00:39:04,443 --> 00:39:07,210
-despite being haunted
by an assassination plot,
744
00:39:07,245 --> 00:39:09,846
this activist seems
more motivated than ever
745
00:39:09,948 --> 00:39:12,182
to make
his political statements.
746
00:39:12,217 --> 00:39:15,218
For him, the symbolism
of a burning flag
747
00:39:15,253 --> 00:39:18,355
is one way to steal power
from a hate group.
748
00:39:18,457 --> 00:39:20,657
-People who like
this piece of fabric
749
00:39:20,792 --> 00:39:23,426
really...Like it.
[ chuckles ]
750
00:39:23,462 --> 00:39:24,828
it just means the world to them
751
00:39:24,963 --> 00:39:26,062
when they have one up
at their house
752
00:39:26,098 --> 00:39:27,931
or on their driveway
or whatever,
753
00:39:27,966 --> 00:39:30,533
flying off the back
of their pickup truck.
754
00:39:30,569 --> 00:39:32,535
-Do you think the people that
fly those confederate flags,
755
00:39:32,637 --> 00:39:36,272
like, truly understand
the gravity of what it means?
756
00:39:36,308 --> 00:39:38,942
Do you think it's just
to promote the confederacy,
757
00:39:38,977 --> 00:39:40,610
or is it something else?
758
00:39:40,645 --> 00:39:43,380
-There are folks who think,
759
00:39:43,482 --> 00:39:46,883
"this is because I'm southern,"
full-stop,
760
00:39:46,985 --> 00:39:51,054
but that is such an enormous
lack of empathy.
761
00:39:51,089 --> 00:39:53,456
A lot of them, like,
have that language loaded up,
762
00:39:53,492 --> 00:39:55,024
"the heritage not hate,"
763
00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:57,427
the, "well, we come from
southern stock,"
764
00:39:57,462 --> 00:40:00,630
all -- all this bullshit.
765
00:40:00,665 --> 00:40:02,465
They all know it's like,
"well, it's because
766
00:40:02,501 --> 00:40:06,469
we're white
and we're special, too."
767
00:40:06,505 --> 00:40:09,305
this was on a flag pole...
768
00:40:13,678 --> 00:40:16,780
-Kkk, confederacy,
and then the base --
769
00:40:16,815 --> 00:40:19,082
do you consider them kind of
in the same --
770
00:40:19,184 --> 00:40:20,717
in the same group?
771
00:40:20,852 --> 00:40:23,620
-Kkk -- I know they still exist
in this area,
772
00:40:23,655 --> 00:40:26,623
but they don't seem to be
actively trying to do anything.
773
00:40:26,658 --> 00:40:30,126
The base -- people like this --
this neo-nazi stuff
774
00:40:30,162 --> 00:40:33,062
is, like, organizing
and being accelerationists
775
00:40:33,198 --> 00:40:35,765
and trying to get things
stirring
776
00:40:35,867 --> 00:40:38,001
to where more violence
can happen.
777
00:40:38,036 --> 00:40:41,304
-Then do you see it as, like,
the next generation of klan?
778
00:40:41,339 --> 00:40:43,973
-Yeah, they're not gonna turn
to the kkk.
779
00:40:44,009 --> 00:40:46,509
They're gonna turn toward
the base, league of the south,
780
00:40:46,545 --> 00:40:50,413
atomwaffen, whatever new name
they come up with.
781
00:40:50,515 --> 00:40:57,353
♪♪
782
00:40:57,389 --> 00:41:00,123
-when it come to violence
and hatred
783
00:41:00,225 --> 00:41:02,859
and things of that nature,
784
00:41:02,894 --> 00:41:06,763
we have a zero tolerance for it
around here,
785
00:41:06,898 --> 00:41:08,665
and you won't find it
in the wide open
786
00:41:08,700 --> 00:41:15,004
as far as being discussed
in any manner in this county.
787
00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:17,841
Systemic racism --
the things that
788
00:41:17,876 --> 00:41:20,844
are sort of blind and hidden
789
00:41:20,879 --> 00:41:24,113
and have came about
over the time.
790
00:41:24,216 --> 00:41:28,051
You got to do your part
791
00:41:28,086 --> 00:41:32,489
as a citizen
to respect your fellow man
792
00:41:32,591 --> 00:41:37,393
and to treat him
like you like to be treated.
793
00:41:37,429 --> 00:41:39,562
-For the future,
what do you see?
794
00:41:39,598 --> 00:41:42,866
Are you concerned that this is
gonna turn more violent?
795
00:41:42,901 --> 00:41:44,734
-There's certainly
the potential.
796
00:41:44,769 --> 00:41:46,469
There are certainly individuals
who are part of these groups.
797
00:41:46,605 --> 00:41:48,204
There are other groups
that are looking
798
00:41:48,240 --> 00:41:50,240
to kind of take on this mantle
799
00:41:50,275 --> 00:41:52,275
and that are looking to exploit
the situation,
800
00:41:52,310 --> 00:41:55,545
and especially leading
into the election.
801
00:41:55,580 --> 00:41:58,548
Currently, the pandemic,
mass unemployment,
802
00:41:58,583 --> 00:42:01,317
protests against racial
injustice in this country --
803
00:42:01,419 --> 00:42:04,220
I mean, these are opportunities
for these groups to exploit
804
00:42:04,256 --> 00:42:07,090
and either try and recruit
or try and push the situation
805
00:42:07,125 --> 00:42:11,227
towards something
that they think benefits them.
806
00:42:11,263 --> 00:42:12,996
-What do you say to people
who would say
807
00:42:13,131 --> 00:42:15,064
not to worry about the base
or the atomwaffen division?
808
00:42:15,100 --> 00:42:16,599
-Oh, I'd say that it's,
you know --
809
00:42:16,635 --> 00:42:18,001
it's really an old complaint.
810
00:42:18,136 --> 00:42:19,903
And they said it about the klan,
811
00:42:19,938 --> 00:42:22,472
and they're saying it now
about the base.
812
00:42:22,507 --> 00:42:26,042
I mean, I wouldn't want to
lead readers to believe
813
00:42:26,077 --> 00:42:28,545
that there is an army
of base members out there.
814
00:42:28,647 --> 00:42:30,179
What I do want them
to understand is
815
00:42:30,282 --> 00:42:34,083
a small, violent group
dug into our own community,
816
00:42:34,119 --> 00:42:36,786
plotting against other people
in our community
817
00:42:36,821 --> 00:42:40,256
is a significant problem,
and it deserves coverage.
818
00:42:40,292 --> 00:42:42,292
It deserves serious coverage.
819
00:42:42,327 --> 00:42:50,533
♪♪
820
00:42:50,635 --> 00:42:53,102
-in jewish tradition,
when you visit a grave site,
821
00:42:53,138 --> 00:42:55,939
it's traditional to just leave,
like, a little pebble or stone,
822
00:42:55,974 --> 00:42:59,776
that's, like, just a plain rock
to show that you've been there,
823
00:42:59,811 --> 00:43:03,279
to show that
you've paid respect.
824
00:43:03,315 --> 00:43:05,848
When blaze was killed
and everybody knew
825
00:43:05,884 --> 00:43:07,116
that it was at this park,
826
00:43:07,152 --> 00:43:09,152
they had a big
candlelight vigil,
827
00:43:09,187 --> 00:43:10,954
and so people started
leaving rocks
828
00:43:10,989 --> 00:43:12,989
around all of the trees here.
829
00:43:13,024 --> 00:43:14,624
And then they started
painting them
830
00:43:14,659 --> 00:43:16,326
and creating, like,
all these beautiful rocks.
831
00:43:16,361 --> 00:43:19,629
And it all evolved from that
to the city of lake forest
832
00:43:19,664 --> 00:43:22,799
offering to put
a memorial together for us.
833
00:43:22,834 --> 00:43:26,002
So, you know, you're able to
turn something so horrific
834
00:43:26,037 --> 00:43:28,738
into at least having
some semblance of beauty
835
00:43:28,840 --> 00:43:34,944
to be able to come to
pay your respects and just to
836
00:43:35,046 --> 00:43:37,814
try to give you
some perspective.
837
00:43:37,849 --> 00:43:40,350
-This one's from japan.
838
00:43:40,385 --> 00:43:42,485
-Limerick, pennsylvania.
839
00:43:42,520 --> 00:43:44,621
Chattanooga, tennessee.
840
00:43:49,494 --> 00:43:54,030
New york city.
841
00:43:54,065 --> 00:43:55,465
Somewhere around here,
842
00:43:55,567 --> 00:43:58,534
he was buried
in a shallow grave.
843
00:43:58,570 --> 00:44:03,840
So to be this close
and be able to be composed
844
00:44:03,875 --> 00:44:07,877
and, like, come here
and look at this
845
00:44:07,912 --> 00:44:10,546
and think about,
how many rocks are here?
846
00:44:10,582 --> 00:44:12,982
How many rocks
do you think are here?
847
00:44:13,018 --> 00:44:15,485
-Thousands.
-500, 1,000? Okay.
848
00:44:15,520 --> 00:44:16,819
-Just rocks, you know?
849
00:44:16,921 --> 00:44:18,154
It's just something
really simple
850
00:44:18,256 --> 00:44:20,523
that can become meaningful.
851
00:44:20,558 --> 00:44:22,792
If anything good
can come from this,
852
00:44:22,927 --> 00:44:24,527
I will make sure that it does.
853
00:44:24,562 --> 00:44:27,063
It happened
because we let it happen.
854
00:44:27,098 --> 00:44:30,166
We became desensitized
to violence and hate,
855
00:44:30,201 --> 00:44:32,235
and that has to stop.
856
00:44:32,270 --> 00:44:36,139
♪♪
857
00:44:54,125 --> 00:45:02,398
♪♪
858
00:45:02,434 --> 00:45:10,740
♪♪
859
00:45:10,775 --> 00:45:19,148
♪♪
75773
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