Aryan Nations Drops Youth Congress Pressure, Ice Storm Cited As Reasons To End Annual Skinhead Conference

The Aryan Nations has canceled its annual neo-Nazi skinhead gathering that for eight years has marked the April birthday of Adolf Hitler.

Aryan founder Richard Butler said Friday that he canceled this year’s Aryan Youth Congress because of its cost and “pressure being put on our members.”

“There’s no free speech here,” Butler said. “The so-called human rights council is going after every free, white Aryan.”

A regional civil rights leader hailed the cancellation of the skinhead convention as “good news” and said it could result in a decrease in hate crimes.

“I think it’s a good development for human rights and supporters of human rights,” said Bill Wassmuth, director of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment.

“Frequently there have been incidents of hate acts following the Aryan Youth Congress,” Wassmuth said when contacted at his group’s regional office in Seattle.

Butler confirmed that he announced the cancellation in a Jan. 18 letter, but hasn’t put the notice on his organization’s Internet site.

His letter was addressed to Aryan Nations “members and supporters who have entered the struggle for Aryan life in Christ.”

He wrote: “After careful consideration of all factors, we will have to bypass the youth congress this year due to the extra expenses incurred from winter’s onslaught and from the falling away of some supporters.”

Butler started the annual skinhead gatherings in April 1989. He said 100 Aryan youths attended, but police put the estimate at half that number.

In opposition to the first year’s event, about 1,000 civil rights protesters staged a peaceful march that generated more attention than the skinhead gathering.

Since then, Butler said Friday, his organization has lost “some supporters who fear” retaliation.

Asked about that, Butler said at least four members of his church “had jobs lined up in North Idaho, had passed the safety courses, that kind of thing.”

“But when their employers found out they were members of the Aryan Nations, suddenly they were told there was no need for them to come to work,” Butler said.

“Our people here are under real pressure from the Jewish-influenced business interests and people who say they support human rights,” Butler said.

He also said this winter’s ice storm, electrical outages and heavy snowfall were particularly hard on his organization.

“We still have 4 feet of snow here and there wouldn’t be time to get the grounds cleaned up in time for the youth congress in April,” Butler said.

But, he said, it would be a mistake for those who oppose his brand of religious racism to think the Aryan Nations has fallen on financial hard times.

“We’re still doing good,” he said. “We’ve got all our bills paid and we’ve got money in the bank. We’re not broke by any means.”

His letter also says his longtime friend and associate, Louis Beam of Texas, “has been forced by poor health to withdraw from active participation” in the movement.

Beam, who’s 50, frequently is mentioned as a possible successor to Butler, who turned 79 last month.

“He was severely infected by Agent Orange (in Vietnam) and his health is deteriorating rapidly,” Butler said of Beam.

Butler declined to say Friday where Beam is now living, but he is believed to be in the Houston area. He recently has spent summers in North Idaho and Montana.

, DataTimes