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Extremist Groups Vie for Audience With Simultaneous Events in Two States

U.S. Newswire, USA
July 13,2004 Press Release
releases.usnewswire.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Wednesday July 14, 2004

NEW YORK, July 13 /U.S. Newswire/ — Three of the most active Christian Identity groups in the U.S. are planning three separate events in Montana and Idaho on the weekend of July 16-18, 2004, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The events being held by the Aryan Nations, the Church of True Israel (CTI), an offshoot of Aryan Nations, and America’s Promise Ministries are expected to collectively gather most of the major Christian Identity figures from around the country.

Christian Identity

The teachings and practices of the Christian Identity movement are incompatible with Biblical, mainstream Christianity

Adherents believe present day Anglo-Saxon people are direct descendants of the ancient Israelites, and have thus inherited all God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants. The movement consists of a number of groups, most of which promote hate by considering whites to be the superior race (“white supremacy“).

Research resources on Christian Identity

“The Christian Identity Movement is a racist and anti-Semitic religious sect that figures prominently in right-wing extremist groups and movements in the U.S.,” said Daniel S. Alter, ADL director of civil rights. “Christian Identity influences virtually all white supremacist and extreme anti-government movements and is practiced by some of the most notorious bigots of the radical right.”

The Aryan Nations, the most criminally active of the groups, is planning to hold their annual World Congress at the Kahnderosa Campgrounds in Cataldo, Idaho, and to parade in downtown Coeur d’Alene. In addition to Aryan Nations’ leader Richard Butler, scheduled speakers include neo-Nazis Tom Metzger of White Aryan Resistance and Billy Roper of White Revolution. Ken Greg of the Tennessee’s Knights of Yahweh is also scheduled to address the gathering.

CTI is planning its own event, dubbed “The Gathering,” in St. Regis, Montana. The event, hosted by one of the group’s leaders, James Dillavou, will feature speakers and Identity leaders from over half a dozen states, including Mark Downey of Kinsmen Redeemer Ministries in Tacoma, Washington; Morris Gullett of Louisiana’s Church of the Sons of YHVH; V.S. Herrell of Tennessee’s Christian Separatist Church Society; Don Campbell of Minnesota’s Covenant Church of Yahweh; and Rachel Pendergraft and Thom Robb of the Arkansas-based Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.

America’s Promise Ministries, led by Pastor David Barky, will hold their annual event in Sandpoint, Idaho. Among the anticipated speakers at Barley’s annual summer conference are Ron Oja, Doug Evers and Ernestine Young of Idaho’s Church of the Covenant; and Warwick Potts and James Bruggeman of North Carolina’s Stone Kingdom Ministries.

For information on Aryan Nations, CTI, America’s Promise Ministries, and Christian Identity, please visit ADL’s Web page, http://www.adl.org/extremism/.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.