Morris Dees and the Aryan Nations

In 2000, Morris Dees, attorney and founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, bankrupted the Aryan Nations organization with a lawsuit that eventually forced racist leader Richard Butler to turn over his 20-acre compound to satisfy the judgement. The compound was leveled and racist symbols and literature destroyed.

Section:Gallery

Thu., March 14, 2019

Morris Dees exits the Kootenai County Courthouse after the first day of trial in 2000. Dees represented two people chased and assaulted by the Aryan Nations.

Brian Plonka The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center makes a call as hours pass during long discussions during a pre-trial conference in Coeur d’Alene regarding the Aryan Nations case.

Brian Plonka The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Attorney Morris Dees is congratulated at a press conference after he won $6.3 million for Victoria and Jason Keenan in their the trial against Richard Butler and the Aryan Nations. Dees represented the two people chased and assaulted by the Aryan Nations.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Victoria Keenan smiles at Attorney Morris Dees during the press conference after she and he son Jason seated next to her, were awarded 6.3 million in their trial against Richard Butler and the Aryan Nations. Dees represented the two people chased and assaulted by members of the Aryan Nations.

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Victoria Keenan, who was attacked by Aryan Nations security guards in 1998, kisses the hand of Southern Poverty Law Center lawyer Morris Dees at the press conference following the verdict awarding her and her son more than six million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages Thursday, Sept. 7, 2000.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Everett Hofmeister, left, and Richard Butler go over legal documents including an affidavit from a man who infiltrated Aryan ranks at the Kootenai County Courthouse in Coeur d'Alene Wednesday afternoon. An Idaho judge signed an order preventing the Aryan Nation from selling its compound until a civil damages suit goes to trial.

Liz Kishimoto The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Notorious racist leader Richard Butler of the Aryan Nations and his supporters give the stiff arm salute to protesters from the stage of the bandshell in Coeur d'Alene's City Park on July 3, 1999. Butler was bankrupted by a lawsuit and forced to give up his compound

John Sale The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Richard Butler, founder of the Aryan Nations in North Idaho, addresses the media during an event at his racist compound. A few years later, he was forced to give up his compound after a lawsuit by Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Richard Butler arrives at the Kootenai County Courthouse on Monday morning. He and his Aryan Nations Church will face civil rights attorney Morris Dees and Coeur d'Alene attorneys Norm Gissel and Ken Howard in a trial that could end the Aryan Nation. Butler was forced to give up his compound after losing a $6.3 million verdict.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
The 40-foot watchtower of the former headquarters of the Aryan Nations takes a final tumble toward the ground with a push from an excavator Wednesday, May 23, 2001, in Hayden Lake, Idaho. The buildings, situated on about four of the 20-acre compound, are being demolished by their new owners, a human-rights group, the Carr Foundation purchased the land following a lawsuit by Morris Dees and the Southern Poverty Law Center. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Elaine Thompson Associated Press
An excavator digs into a dilapidated cook shack which had a swastika on the roof at the Aryan Nations compound in Garwood Wednesday. Photo by Jesse Tinsley

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo