Lawsuits present challenge for neo-Nazi Daily Stormer site
By Patrick
Strickland, Al Jazeera, 5 May 2018
Daily
Stormer’s growing legal challenges come at a time of isolation and internal
disarray in the US far right.
Stormer’s growing legal challenges come at a time of isolation and internal
disarray in the US far right.
 |
| Daily Stormer’s Andrew Anglin has suffered a series of legal challenges in the wake of deadly Charlottesville rally [File: Michael Dwyer/AP] |
A slew of
lawsuits has compounded problems for the Daily Stormer, a widely read neo-Nazi
website known for its violent rhetoric and vocal support for US
President Donald Trump.
lawsuits has compounded problems for the Daily Stormer, a widely read neo-Nazi
website known for its violent rhetoric and vocal support for US
President Donald Trump.
Along
with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, former American
University (AU) student Taylor Dumpson filed a federal lawsuit against Andrew
Anglin, the Daily Stormer’s publisher, for allegedly launching a storm of hate
and threats online.
with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, former American
University (AU) student Taylor Dumpson filed a federal lawsuit against Andrew
Anglin, the Daily Stormer’s publisher, for allegedly launching a storm of hate
and threats online.
The
71-page lawsuit is the third high-profile suit against Anglin to be filed since
April 2017, when Montana-based realtor Tanya Gersh and the Southern Poverty Law
Center (SPLC) took Anglin
to court for sparking a flurry of online hate.
71-page lawsuit is the third high-profile suit against Anglin to be filed since
April 2017, when Montana-based realtor Tanya Gersh and the Southern Poverty Law
Center (SPLC) took Anglin
to court for sparking a flurry of online hate.
Dumpson’s
suit accuses Anglin of coordinating a “troll storm” of racist hate
that left Dumpson “fearing for her safety” at a time when far-right
hate incidents were soaring
on university campuses across the United States.
suit accuses Anglin of coordinating a “troll storm” of racist hate
that left Dumpson “fearing for her safety” at a time when far-right
hate incidents were soaring
on university campuses across the United States.
Kristen
Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee, explained
that her organisation hopes to “send a strong message to white
supremacists and the alt-right” with the lawsuit.
Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee, explained
that her organisation hopes to “send a strong message to white
supremacists and the alt-right” with the lawsuit.
“[Dumpson]
refuses to cower in fear and is standing up and pushing back because no person
should be subject to this kind of racial harassment and treatment,” she
told Al Jazeera by telephone.
refuses to cower in fear and is standing up and pushing back because no person
should be subject to this kind of racial harassment and treatment,” she
told Al Jazeera by telephone.
“Across
the US, we are seeing a spike in vicious hate crimes targeting racial
minorities, and young people are especially vulnerable.”
the US, we are seeing a spike in vicious hate crimes targeting racial
minorities, and young people are especially vulnerable.”
In May
2017, unknown assailants hanged bananas and nooses with racist messages on AU’s
campus the day after Dumpson’s inauguration as the first black female president
of the student government.
2017, unknown assailants hanged bananas and nooses with racist messages on AU’s
campus the day after Dumpson’s inauguration as the first black female president
of the student government.
She
received a barrage of hateful messages following Anglin’s publication of an
article on the Daily Stormer mocking Dumpson’s concerns after the incident.
received a barrage of hateful messages following Anglin’s publication of an
article on the Daily Stormer mocking Dumpson’s concerns after the incident.
“No
one feels safe around bananas,” Anglin wrote sarcastically. “Some
racists have taken to calling this African Queen ‘Dumpy Dumpson’.”
one feels safe around bananas,” Anglin wrote sarcastically. “Some
racists have taken to calling this African Queen ‘Dumpy Dumpson’.”
The
messages she received after Anglin’s post included claims that black people
should move to Africa, images of people performing Nazi salutes and other
racist content.
messages she received after Anglin’s post included claims that black people
should move to Africa, images of people performing Nazi salutes and other
racist content.
The
lawsuit demands monetary compensation and asks the court to mandate that Anglin
attend “anti-racism and anti-sexism training”.
lawsuit demands monetary compensation and asks the court to mandate that Anglin
attend “anti-racism and anti-sexism training”.
Growing
backlash
backlash
Founded
in 2013, the Daily
Stomer’s name is a nod to the German Nazi-era publication Der
Sturmer and includes a section titled “the Jewish problem”.
in 2013, the Daily
Stomer’s name is a nod to the German Nazi-era publication Der
Sturmer and includes a section titled “the Jewish problem”.
The
website issued marching orders to participants of the “Unite the
Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017.
website issued marching orders to participants of the “Unite the
Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017.
That
rally brought white
supremacists, white nationalists and neo-Nazis from across the
country to protest Charlottesville’s decision to remove a Confederate monument.
rally brought white
supremacists, white nationalists and neo-Nazis from across the
country to protest Charlottesville’s decision to remove a Confederate monument.
Violence
erupted when far-rightists clashed with community members, anti-fascists and
anti-racist activists throughout the city.
erupted when far-rightists clashed with community members, anti-fascists and
anti-racist activists throughout the city.
By the
end of the day, James Alex Fields Jr, who had been photographed marching with
neo-Nazis earlier in the day, allegedly rammed his car into a crowd of
anti-racists, killing
32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring dozens.
end of the day, James Alex Fields Jr, who had been photographed marching with
neo-Nazis earlier in the day, allegedly rammed his car into a crowd of
anti-racists, killing
32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring dozens.
Heyer was
one of at least 18 people killed by
white supremacists in 2017, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
one of at least 18 people killed by
white supremacists in 2017, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Following
the fatal rally, white supremacists and neo-Nazis endured a
wave of backlash, including being removed from social media sites
and having their websites removed by web-hosting service providers.
the fatal rally, white supremacists and neo-Nazis endured a
wave of backlash, including being removed from social media sites
and having their websites removed by web-hosting service providers.
Daily
Stormer was no exception.
Stormer was no exception.
Forced
into dark web at times
into dark web at times
After
Charlottesville, GoDaddy terminated its web-hosting services for Daily Stormer,
citing an article mocking Heyer’s death and referring to her as a “fat
skank”.
Charlottesville, GoDaddy terminated its web-hosting services for Daily Stormer,
citing an article mocking Heyer’s death and referring to her as a “fat
skank”.
Daily
Stormer has since been booted from several web-hosting services, forcing it to
operate in the dark web at times.
Stormer has since been booted from several web-hosting services, forcing it to
operate in the dark web at times.
Meanwhile,
Anglin, whose unknown whereabouts are a focal point in the suit filed by Gersh
and the SPLC, was hit with more legal challenges.
Anglin, whose unknown whereabouts are a focal point in the suit filed by Gersh
and the SPLC, was hit with more legal challenges.
After
Anglin wrote a post accusing Gersh, who is Jewish, of “extorting”
leading alt-right figure Richard Spencer’s mother, she received numerous
threats and anti-Semitic messages. The alt-right refers to a loosely knit
coalition of white supremacists and neo-Nazis.
Anglin wrote a post accusing Gersh, who is Jewish, of “extorting”
leading alt-right figure Richard Spencer’s mother, she received numerous
threats and anti-Semitic messages. The alt-right refers to a loosely knit
coalition of white supremacists and neo-Nazis.
On
Thursday, a US magistrate judge recommended
that Gersh’s suit against Anglin be allowed to move forward following the
defendant’s request to have the case dismissed.
Thursday, a US magistrate judge recommended
that Gersh’s suit against Anglin be allowed to move forward following the
defendant’s request to have the case dismissed.
Speaking
to Al Jazeera by email, Marc Randazza, one of Anglin’s lawyers in that suit,
said: “We respectfully disagree with the magistrate’s legal analysis,
and we intend to present an objection to the judge.”
to Al Jazeera by email, Marc Randazza, one of Anglin’s lawyers in that suit,
said: “We respectfully disagree with the magistrate’s legal analysis,
and we intend to present an objection to the judge.”
According
to the SPLC, the magistrate judge’s recommendation must still be reviewed by US
District Judge Dana Christensen, who will make a final decision on whether the
suit will proceed.
to the SPLC, the magistrate judge’s recommendation must still be reviewed by US
District Judge Dana Christensen, who will make a final decision on whether the
suit will proceed.
In August
2017, Muslim American comedian and writer Dean Obeidallah filed a lawsuit
against Anglin for falsely describing him as the “mastermind” of a
deadly bombing in the UK.
2017, Muslim American comedian and writer Dean Obeidallah filed a lawsuit
against Anglin for falsely describing him as the “mastermind” of a
deadly bombing in the UK.
‘Not
tolerated in our democracy’
tolerated in our democracy’
Daily
Stormer is considered one of the largest neo-Nazi websites in the US and an
influential platform for the alt-right.
Stormer is considered one of the largest neo-Nazi websites in the US and an
influential platform for the alt-right.
The alt-right
became a household name because of its vocal
support for Trump’s presidential campaign and electoral victory.
became a household name because of its vocal
support for Trump’s presidential campaign and electoral victory.
The
movement was energised by Trump’s election, largely owing to his anti-immigrant
rhetoric, promises to build a wall
on the US-Mexico border and efforts to ban
travellers from Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.
movement was energised by Trump’s election, largely owing to his anti-immigrant
rhetoric, promises to build a wall
on the US-Mexico border and efforts to ban
travellers from Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.
Amid
growing internal rifts, the US far right has struggled to
maintain its online platforms, including those used for fundraising.
growing internal rifts, the US far right has struggled to
maintain its online platforms, including those used for fundraising.
Since
Charlottesville, the alt-right has been unable to produce similar numbers of people
in the streets, rendering it mostly confined to the ever-shrinking fringes of
the internet.
Charlottesville, the alt-right has been unable to produce similar numbers of people
in the streets, rendering it mostly confined to the ever-shrinking fringes of
the internet.
On
Thursday, alt-right leader Richard
Spencer‘s website was pulled by GoDaddy less than two weeks after
the Lawyers’ Committee wrote a letter to the web-hosting service asking it to
remove the website.
Thursday, alt-right leader Richard
Spencer‘s website was pulled by GoDaddy less than two weeks after
the Lawyers’ Committee wrote a letter to the web-hosting service asking it to
remove the website.
“[This
move] sent a message to Richard Spencer and his disciples, that the kind of violence
they seek to incite through the alt-right platform will not be tolerated in our
modern democracy,” Clarke of the Lawyers’ Committee said.
move] sent a message to Richard Spencer and his disciples, that the kind of violence
they seek to incite through the alt-right platform will not be tolerated in our
modern democracy,” Clarke of the Lawyers’ Committee said.
Along
with the growing
number of lawsuits targeting influential figures in the US far
right, including suits against Spencer and Anglin, the far-right movement has
grown increasingly isolated.
with the growing
number of lawsuits targeting influential figures in the US far
right, including suits against Spencer and Anglin, the far-right movement has
grown increasingly isolated.
Jared
Holt, a researcher for the Right-Wing Watch website, explained that the loss of
online platforms and escalating legal dilemmas have put “right-wing
extremists on their heels”.
Holt, a researcher for the Right-Wing Watch website, explained that the loss of
online platforms and escalating legal dilemmas have put “right-wing
extremists on their heels”.
“These
activists are still working hard to influence politics and shift discourse into
the fringe, but their work is getting much more difficult,” he told Al
Jazeera.
activists are still working hard to influence politics and shift discourse into
the fringe, but their work is getting much more difficult,” he told Al
Jazeera.
“Although
the lawsuits have begun to disarm many prominent extremists, they do not erase
the far-right audience, which will seek new leaders in the absence of people
like Spencer and Anglin.”
the lawsuits have begun to disarm many prominent extremists, they do not erase
the far-right audience, which will seek new leaders in the absence of people
like Spencer and Anglin.”
