Well, this one looks interesting.
Susan Hathaway likes to take pictures and post them … but maybe not this one. For it may well be that parading proudly with the Flaggers, right next to Tripp Lewis, is the white supremacist Matthew Heimbach (in the hat and black jacket). And there, next to Karen Cooper, is reportedly Heimbach’s friend (at least at the time), Teresa Braun. Hey, isn’t that Grayson Jennings back there?
And here are Heimbach and Braun on the same day in a photograph not taken by Susan Hathaway.
For more on Heimbach, read here.
Tripp sure looks happy to be marching next to him, doesn’t he?
We await the usual disclaimers that it’s heritage, not hate, followed by another screed from you-know-who.
Crossroads 
Its troubling that you can purchase for framing a picture of Heimlach……
Matthew Heimbach was the founder of Towson State’s White Student Union and Towson’s Youth for Western Civilization (YWC). Several years ago I went to the latter group’s web site expecting to see a celebration of Western Civilization. I assumed there would be encomiums to Shakespeare and Voltaire, an exposition on opera, and a gallery of great Western painters.
Instead, I found a video clip from Lord of the Rings of the defense of Minas Tirith by the Men of the West against all sort of disgusting subhumans with the implication that immigrants from non-white countries are orcs. There were also a lot of attacks on France, which I thought was a creator of Western Civilization. After reading denunciations of Muslims, Latinos, gays, women, and just about anyone else who was not a white frat boy, and seeing nothing at all that could be described as a tribute to Western Civ, I wrote them and suggested a motto: “Youth for Western Civilization-Not So Much for Western Civilization as Against Everyone Else.”
Patrick,
Youth for Western Civilization WAS a college organization put together by Peter Brimlow of VDare.com and Morton Blackwell from the Leadership Institute. It was a division of LI’s “Campus Reform” conservative college group.
I also think there were other Paleo-conservative racists involved like Pat Buchanan and Tom Tancredo, but I cannot say for sure.
It’s former “leader” was a kid named Marcus Epstein, who is half Jewish and half Korean, but fancies himself a white supremacists of sorts.
Marcus had to leave/resign when it came out that he was arrested for trying beat up a black woman in Georgetown in DC, while he was drunk and called her the “N”word. He was arrested and charged on a felony 6 hate crime charge.
The group was then taken over by Kevin DeAnna, who is also an employee of the Leadership Institute. If you google his name you will find all kids of interesting info of who are the young fascists of today.
Heimbach’s YWC club at Towson was sort of the nail in the coffin for YWC.
Heimbach was so overtly white supremacist it pretty much killed off any nonracist claims YWC had when Heimbach was scrawling white power slogans all over Towson an wearing t-shirts with Nazi symbols.
He then founded his white student union, which has been evolved into the Traditionalist Youth Network in collaboration with who we refer to as the “white power gadfly” Matt Parrott who is Council of Conservative Citizens and the American Third Position aka The American Freedom Party, both white supremacist groups who work closely together.
Hope this helps place who is who and what is what.
I had quite an interesting correspondence with Youth for Western Civ for a number of months. I blog on immigration issues for two large immigrant web sites and spent months researching YWC back in 2008 and 2009. I did not realize until today that they had gone kaput. BTW, Marcus Epstein worked for Pat Buchanan. I saw Buchanan laugh after Epstein’s attack on the African American woman over the fat that he was half-Jewish and half-Korean. I notice Kevin DeAnna got into some Icelandic neopagan religious practices lately.
I set off a minor internal crisis on their web site when I wrote responses on their forum to their racist crap. As a professor, at least some of the members believed that I should be accorded the respect of being allowed to criticize them, but I think it was DeAnna, took some down and distorted others which led to several members claiming he had violated core “Western Values.”
Tancredo was the groups Chairman for a while, IIRC, and their main source of publicity. At most schools they were a pretty marginal influence, although their despicable affirmative action bakesales and “illegal alien parties” got a lot of attention.
Patrick,
YWC shut their doors a while ago. If you go to their Facebook page they are telling everyone to go to the Traditionalist Youth Network.
Marcus was both Pat and Bay Buchanan’s little token “nonwhite” puppet boy for trying to prove to the world that they weren’t racists.
He was working for them in as executive director for their PAC in an office in Vienna VA. I don’t know if he is still there, I do know he has been off getting his law degree at George Mason University, because UVA would not let him attend there.
I guess Marcus’s Jewish-Asian heritage would hold more weight if he wasn’t organizing the Holocaust denier and pro-Nazi David Irving to speak at restaurants in Arlington VA for his pro-Nazi friends. Or if Epstein wasn’t so kissy-faced with the racist Jared Taylor who runs American Renaissance.
We even dug up some old yahoo group list of white power/racist skin music that Epstein was involved with as a teen.
We started writing up an article about it a while ago, but then had to shelf it for other demands.
DeAnna’s “Wodenism” goes back years, which lead us to believe why they had a fist and a hammer for the YWC logo.
Keep up the good work defending those who deserve a voice. We are a nation of immigrants, it is the foundation of who we are.
I thought their emblem was a reference to Charles Martel, the “Hammer of the Moors.”
Their new iteration seems completely unlikely to draw in anyone but the hardcore Neo-Nazi. At least with the old YWC, they could operate under a cover that could draw in naive freshmen. That was the main reason I wrote about them. You hate to see an innocent kid drawn into that kind of hard-right group without understanding its real nature.
BTW, is that a syndicalist flag avatar you are using..
Is that why they made orcs white in the Hobbit movie ??
Ahhh…. the Flaffers…. case study for a psychiatry department.
This was at the Confederate Heritage Parade (a.k.a. the “kill Yankees!” march) in Richmond last year. I’m sure there will be lots of assertions that Heimbach “isn’t a Flagger,” but but he did march in the parade — not just with the Flaggers, but front-and-center, immediately behind the Virginia Flaggers banner (5:50). Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, etc.
The Confederate Heritage movement, at least as exemplified by the Flaggers, regularly bemoans how extremist groups like the Klan and neo-Nazis have tarnished the image of the Confederate flag — the old “a few bad apples” nonsense. It would be nice if that were true, but the reality is much more complex. Confederate heritage/Southern nationalism slides seamlessly into white nationalism/supremacist advocacy, with lots of people (like Heimbach and his lady friend) in both camps. This same march got a glowing write-up (with great praise for Hathaway and the Virginia Flaggers, specifically) over at Cushman’s Southern Nationalist Network, by someone using the identity “MarylandPatriot” — probably either Heimbach or Braun.
It’s stretching things to say that the core membership of the Virginia Flaggers shares Heimbach’s rancid views on race, because I don’t think they do. But they would do well to ask themselves why their own activities attract people like Heimbach, and what about their message gives white supremacists reason to believe they’d be welcomed — literally, in this case — within the ranks of their organization.
I don’t know what the Flaggers make of Heimbach’s views on race … but I don’t see them disassociating themselves from those views, either. Take the case of you-know-who.
“BTW, is that a syndicalist flag avatar you are using..”
Why, yes sir it is…we are antifa…
By your logic, Mr. Hall, the presence of members of the Nation of Islam and the New Black Panthers Party (both also considered “hate groups” by the ADL) would make the MLK memorial rally recently held on The Mall in Washington DC, a hate group rally. Both Confederate Heritage marches and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. appeal to a wide spectrum of supporters.
And so you admit that the actions of the Virginia Flaggers appeal to white supremacists. Good enough. Thanks for your insight.
Mr. Simpson, I see that you are a professor at Arizona State. No doubt you are familiar with the “Si, se puede” immigration rallies around your state. I have attended some of these as well (although not as a supporter). I have noticed the presence of Cuban, Soviet, Anarchist, and Che Guevara banners. Undoubtedly open borders appeal to Communists and Anarchists. Does that make everyone at the rally a Communist or Anarchist, or even an enabler of such philosophies? No.
So, then why do you persist trying to paint the Virginia Flaggers as white supremicists or fellow travelers despite the diversity of that group?
Also I am sure that you know that the most well known and respected Confederate heritage advocate these days is H.K. Edgerton, who was formerly the Chairman of the Buncombe County (Asheville NC) chapter of the NAACP.
You can answer your own question by explaining why the Virginia Flaggers embrace white supremacists. They’ve done nothing to distance themselves from these people. You find that acceptable, which makes your complaint ring hollow.
Andy Hall’s already dismissed your earlier exercise with what passes for logic with you, and I’ll leave it at that.
I grow tired of people like you who spend more time attacking people who criticize white supremacists than criticize white supremacists themselves. Could you tell me why folks like the Flaggers follow your limp lead in that regard? Thank you.
And yes, we all know about H. K. Edgerton. Why, look here. And here. And here. In short, there are a lot of questions about old H. K. … but I doubt you’ll answer them, either. At least you can no longer claim ignorance, so if you want to defend or denounce, be my guest. But we won’t find silence acceptable except as a sign of cowardice.
A disassociated Northern WASP like yourself cannot possibly understand why Southern people of different persuasions would rally around the symbols of their shared heritage. Yes, we generally prefer the companionship of fellow Southrons to that of rootless Yankee vagabonds such as yourself and your defenders.
Do you perform background checks to screen your friends and associates for membership in progressive “hate groups”? Somehow I doubt it. You are, however, quite good at repeating your meme of “Them flaggers is ray-cist” over and over again. Goebbels would be proud.
Now you’re just whining and ranting. But you aren’t attacking white supremacists. Thanks for the reminder of why the heritage you honor the way that you honor it sounds a little too much like hate.
At least now we know you’re also a coward, and I thank you for that. And that’s being kind … ’cause otherwise we’d be thinking you don’t find those white supremacists all that disgusting after all, since you would welcome them to a Confederate rally.
After all, isn’t Mr. Heimbach your FB friend?
So much for disassociating the Confederate flag from hatred and racism. You show us that such is simply not the case with you.
Take care. We’ve enjoyed your visit. But, as you said in a comment destined for SPAM, “I also find no need to attack or disassociate myself from people whose only crime to hold beliefs that you don’t like.” Including white supremacy.
You’ve made my point for me.
Say hello to your FB friend Matthew Heimbach.
A shared cultural identity is more important than outsider’s impressions. A common enough trait of subcultures. I also find no need to attack or disassociate myself from people whose only crime to hold beliefs that you don’t like.
As for cowardice, I’ve got a DD214 that speaks for itself. I find it laughable when an academic calls me a coward.
You’re just anti-Southern and probably anti-White as well.
So, what we have here is a man who claims he’s not a coward but who won’t post openly under his actual name admit that he find no need to disassociate himself from white supremacists. He goes so far as to claim it’s all about a “shared cultural identity.”
Seems to me that’s anti-southern. Most white southerners are not white supremacists, but there you go about their “shared cultural identity.” And you seem to forget just how many southerners are African-American (except for your old buddy H. K., and you were real silent about those links I provided, weren’t you?).
As for being anti-southern: University of Virginia, BA, 1979. And, judging from your information, I live south of where you are. Kinda funny to see someone post from Oregon about how wonderful it is to live in the South. Where did you think I was … Canada?
Want to tell people where you really live? Hint: not the South.
I’m just anti-bigot. Maybe that’s why we don’t get along. Have a nice weekend.
Could you please explain what you mean by “rootless”?
Just remember that he’s posting from Oregon, even if he’s a South Carolina boy who moved to Phoenix. Another breath of hot air from a fellow too afraid to say who he is or where he really is. We move on from such pretenders.
Rootless cosmopolitan?
People actually still worry about communists and anarchists now days? Do real ones actually exist anywhere? Certainly not in Cuba, China or Russia.
You forgot to mention that Edgerton was removed frm his post there by the state organization because, according to press accounts at the time, he’d run their local chapter finances into the ditch and insisted on allying himself with local attorney Kirk Lyons, who has a decades-long track record of personal and professional associations of the worst sort, from Hayden Lake to Black Mountain. Edgerton’s Confederate Heritage advocacy came after the NAACP showed him the door, and has continued to the present, often under Lyons’ and Dixie Outfitters’ patronage.
I never suggested the Flaggers shared Heimbach’s views on race. In fact, I believe I said just the opposite, which makes me wonder why they choose to associate with him. Instead of making assumptions about my “logic,” maybe you should ask Hathaway or Lewis or Jennings or Cooper about what their “logic” is in having him parade at the front of their group. After all, they’re the ones marching and posing for pictures with him, right?
The problem (as usual) is that the Flaggers and their supporters always try to disassociate themselves from the very people they embrace. Either they are stupid or dishonest. Sometimes it may be both: I know they are cowards when it comes to this sort of stuff.
What I love is that Flaggers and other Confederate heritage supporters claim they want to disassociate the CBF from hate groups, but when a hater comes up waving a flag, they take pictures, have Tripp Lewis place his best foot forward with his beaming countenance next to this fellow, and so on. They lack the integrity and the courage to say that this was a mistake, because that would admit they were ignorant of the fellow’s perspective. So, instead, they fail to disavow what he believes or to say that’s not what the CBF is all about. Instead, they have surrogates try to lash out blindly at anyone who notices the problem. This opens the possibility that they aren’t troubled by his views after all.
Meanwhile, the Richmond media now knows a little more about the Flaggers.
Christians have been added to the hate group list.
By whom? Certainly not the SPLC
Patrick,
Well, there are certain Christian groups such as “Army of God”, Operation Rescue, Westboro Baptist Church, The Aryan Nations “Christian Identity”, and most likely Pat Robertson, and Bob Jones, who have preached segregation and homophobia.
The KKK is actually traditionally a strange blend of crazy Christian and Masonic belief, but, have seemed to pal up with Aryan Nations and embrace their Identity religion.
These all are indeed hate groups.
Heimbach claims to be a Christian. What a joke. It’s like saying you are a Christian on the KKK application.
Dr. Simpson:
I do not understand why the flaggers should be of interest? This tiny minority makes noise, but does not influence people. Attracting a few like-minded people does not mean the group is influencing people, only that these people have found each other.
I read your blog because it is a thoughtful and accurate source of knowledge.
Do you see these people as more than noise-makers? If so, what am I missing?
I see these people as advancing a misleading version of history. I also think their associations should be of concern to those people who are interested in Confederate heritage but who are aware of some of the surrounding issues. If you want to decouple Confederate heritage from celebrating white supremacy, for example, you might want to wonder about these associations given the group’s commitment to speak for Confederate heritage.
The Flaggers do influence people … just not always as they intend. My readership’s broad enough that different people come here for different reasons, and that what interests one may not interest another.
Mr. Simpson, we just sent you an thank you e-mail for linking to our blog.
Patrick, just read up on your bio and you are a very impressive man indeed!
The Flaggers are oddly quiet today…?????
Must be in strategy sessions…or putting the flag pole together as I saw in a news report.
I am sure you know who has come up with some excuse for the Flaggers’ embrace of this individual. And you know that she really has no problem with his views. They aren’t that far apart, after all.
It was just posted…by you know who…
The shriek streak continues. 🙂
Some interesting articles that I have found, excuse me if you have read.
What Links the Neo-Confederate Virginia Flaggers, Barack Obama & Race: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/08/what-links-the-neo-confederate-virginia-flaggers-barack-obama-race.html
Opponents ponder options regarding flag on I-95: http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local/chesterfield/opponents-ponder-options-regarding-flag-on-i/article_50cad575-5559-534a-a010-8981371eef65.html
Neo-Confederates to Install 15-foot Battle Flag on Virginia’s I-95: http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/08/neo-confederates-install-15-foot-battle-flag-i-95