Blood Tribe (neo-Nazi group)
Blood Tribe (also called Blutstamm) is a neo-Nazi group founded in 2020 by Christopher Pohlhaus, a former Marine turned tattoo artist. By 2023, members of the group began participating in anti-LGBTQ+ protests and established chapters in the U.S. and Canada. Founded around the same time as the neo-Nazi groups The Base and Nationalist Social Club-131, Blood Tribe has described itself as an "end of the pipeline type group" in terms of its extreme radicalization.
| Blood Tribe | |
|---|---|
| Founding leader | Christopher Pohlhaus |
| Dates of operation | 2020–present |
| Ideology | |
Background edit
After serving four years in the United States Marine Corps,[1] Pohlhaus (also known as "Hammer") was living in San Antonio, Texas in 2020, working as a tattoo artist. He developed an online following by promoting white supremacy propaganda, producing podcasts and selling gear. He espoused a need to take "a last stand, a righteous war" against those who "call for the destruction of their birthright and posterity." By 2021 Pohlhaus had networked with other white supremacy groups and recruited followers into a membership organization, naming it Blood Tribe.[2]
In May 2022, Pohlhaus bought 10.6 acres (4.3 ha) of land in Springfield, Maine to build an encampment where members could live and train.[3] In October 2023, Pohlhaus sold the property to a Massachusetts man, citing local pressure.[4]
Activities edit
In March 2023, dozens of Blood Tribe members disrupted a Drag Queen Story Hour near Akron, Ohio, carrying weapons and chanting "Sieg Heil" while giving Nazi salutes.[5] In May 2023, a few dozen Blood Tribe members demonstrated outside a drag event in Columbus, Ohio. Dressed in red, with most wearing black face masks and sunglasses, they carried a black flag with a swastika and a banner reading "there will be blood." They chanted slogans such as "no transgenders on our streets" and the phrase "All hail the new dawn of the Aryan sun."[6] Blood Tribe was joined by members of Nationalist Social Club-131 at both demonstrations.[1]
On July 29, 2023, Blood Tribe members demonstrated at a Pride in the Park event in Watertown, Wisconsin.[7] On January 1, 2024, Southeast Wisconsin experienced a second incident, with four Blood Tribe members projecting a swastika onto the side of a dorm building and reciting racist chants at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.[8]
On September 2, 2023, members of the antisemitic hate group Goyim Defense League joined Blood Tribe members for a public demonstration in Altamonte Springs, Florida, near Orlando. A few dozen demonstrators participated in what they called the "March of the Redshirts," waving swastika flags, performing Nazi salutes and shouting "Heil Hitler."[9][10]
By August 2023, some Maine officials were considering prohibiting militia training camps, which raised free speech issues. State senator Joe Baldacci drafted a bill to criminalize offering training in firearms, explosives or other tactics with the intent of causing a "civil disorder."[11]
On November 18, 2023, the group held a rally in Madison, Wisconsin, marching up Madison's iconic pedestrian thoroughfare, State Street, through the University of Wisconsin-Madison to the State's Capitol Square. They stopped outside the statehouse for about 30 minutes, delivering two speeches. The group chanted "They hate white men, Israel is not our friend," and "there will be blood," in addition to racial slurs at bystanders, before marching off toward nearby Madison park, stopping in front of the local synagogue, Gates of Heaven, to pose with their swastika flags. [12]
The group held a rally in Nashville at the Tennessee State Capitol on February 17, 2024, after which they marched down Broadway and past the City Hall chanting "Deportation saves the nation," before departing in box trucks. [13][14][15]
References edit
- ^ a b Makuch, Ben (July 8, 2023). "Russian militia has links to American neo-Nazi and anti-trans figures". The Intercept. from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Center on Extremism (August 28, 2023). "Blood Tribe". Anti-Defamation League. from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Tomaselli, Kathleen Phalen (August 7, 2023). "Neo-Nazi leader establishes training site in Maine". Bangor Daily News. from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Tomaselli, Kathleen Phalen (November 1, 2023). "Neo-Nazi says Mainers made it 'too dangerous' to keep Springfield property". Bangor Daily News. from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Wiggins, Christopher (March 13, 2023). "Neo-Nazis Chanting 'Sieg Heil' Target Drag Queen Story Event". The Advocate. from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Filby, Max (May 1, 2023). "Nazis protest at Land-Grant drag brunch: Here's what you need to know now". The Columbus Dispatch. from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Zagorski, Ed (July 30, 2023). "Armed hate group joins protestors against Watertown Pride in the Park". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Spoehr, Ryan; Davis, Carly (January 23, 2024). "University: Group recited Nazi chants, projected swastika on dorm". Daily Jefferson County Union. Adams Publishing. from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Rommen, Rebecca (September 2, 2023). "Neo-Nazis parade swastika flags in Florida, chanting 'We are everywhere'". Business Insider. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ Ramirez, Isabella (September 2, 2023). "Neo-Nazis March Through Florida Park". The Daily Beast. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ Miller, Kevin (August 30, 2023). "Proposal to prevent paramilitary and neo-Nazi training camps sparks free speech debate". Maine Public Radio. from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Katzenberger, Tyler (November 20, 2023). "Neo-Nazis marched in Madison on Saturday. Here's what happened - and what didn't". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ Glover, Anthony (February 17, 2024). "Nazi supporters march through downtown Nashville". WZTV. Nashville, Tennessee. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Sauter, Danica (February 17, 2024). "Lawmakers speak out after Nazi group marches through Nashville". WSMV4. WSMV Channel 4 Nashville. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ Greyman-Kennard, Danielle (February 19, 2024). "Tennessee neo-Nazis confronted in viral interaction". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved March 9, 2024.