Keystone United Exposed – Bob Gaus

Note: This will be a regular feature. Check back for more updates about scum operating in our area.

Bob Gaus, KSS co-founder. Lives in Harrisburg.
Bob Gaus at 2013 Leif Erikson Day Celebration

Robert Gaus has been a Neo-Nazi bonehead since the late 80’s. He co-founded the Keystone State Skinheads (KSS), also known as Keystone United (KU) or the Be Active Front (BAF). We have written extensively on here about KSS and their members’ history of assault, rape and murder all while publically representing themselves as a non-violent organization.

Gaus is an alcoholic who was in court recently for his 3rd DUI charge. He was facing up to two years in prison but was still out as of October 25th’s secretly-organized “Leif Erikson Day Celebration” event in Philadelphia. Gaus pled guilty alongside fellow Nazis Doug Sonier and Joseph Hoesch for assault for a 2002 assault in a Diner in Feasterville, PA after a man asked them to stop throwing food at his table. Gaus is always at the Leif Ericson Day celebrations in Philly and almost any other Neo-Nazi event in PA.

“In 2001, Gaus was arrested on charges that he was in possession of a firearm with its serial number altered. He was arrested again on a simple assault charge that was dismissed. In 2011, he was arrested on his first drunk driving infraction.”

Gaus runs a clothing company called Brutal Force Athletics. He registered the company as a trademark, listing his address as 5970 LINGLESTOWN RD HARRISBURG, PA 17112-1126.

Gaus works as a bouncer at a Savanah’s on Hannah strip club located at 1000 Hannah St., Harrisburg PA. We would like to encourage our readers to call the club at 717-233-1100 and register your complaint that they would have a founder and leader of a Neo-Nazi organization with a history of rape, murder and assaults around their dancers and patrons. We would also like to ask our readers help us in exposing Brutal Force Athletics as being run by a Neo-Nazi scumbag.

Brutal Force athletics has a public (for now) facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/272495446179838/

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Be aware that the page has a good amount of Neo-Nazis on it, which is not a surprise. It also has people who seem to have no knowledge of Gaus’ affiliations or past. This is information that should interest them.

Gaus is reportedly engaged to Valerie Simmons, another longtime Neo-Nazi who was previously in a relationship with Owen Carr of the Atlantic City “Skinheads” (ACS) before Carr’s untimely death.

Valierie Sessions and bob gause kss invitees

According to sources within KSS, Gaus’ ex-wife left him citing repeated infidelity and neglect among other reasons and took their two daughters to Hawaii. Gaus has another two children from a former partner who is now deceased.

UPDATED: Victory: KSS Quietly Cancels Leif Erikson Day Event, Rallies Against Immigration in Suburbs

Antifa Arrows 1
Update 10/28/2014: Predictably and pathetically, the day after this post a group of around 15-20 Boneheads associated with KSS from as far as Indiana showed up in Fairmount Park and posed for photos. DLJ has the full story at One People’s Project, but we got news for you boneheads: holding a secret celebration on October 25th for a Holiday that is October 9th may be a good way to avoid opposition, but it isn’t an effective way to grow your movement. With that in mind, we are not going to change the headline or body of text of this article.

The Leif Erikson Day Celebration was an event held in Philadelphia every year since 2007 that brought Neo-Nazis from all over the country to our city under the guise of celebrating a Nordic Explorer.   It was, in reality, an attempt by the Keystone State “Skinheads” to hold a public presence in Philadelphia, if only for one day a year, while pushing their “family friendly” brand of Neo-Nazism.

Antifa Philadelphia is pleased to announce that, following their embarrassing defeat last year, KSS did not hold their Leif Erikson Day event in 2014, choosing instead to rally against illegal immigration in Mossic, PA alongside local republicans and militia members. Daryl from One People’s Project has more info about that event and a grassroots opposition already developing out there to KSS.

This is a significant victory. This event was a feather in the cap of KSS. In previous years it drew upwards of 75 hardcore Nazi Boneheads and some years it drew little to no opposition at all. Groups that had attended the event in the past included the Vinlanders Social Club, Blood and Honour, Advanced White Society, The Hated Skins, The Aryan Terror Brigade, Volksfront the Blood and Honour. Unlike most public events organized by Nazis, KSS was able to avoid large opposition to Leif Ericson Day by carefully hiding their real affiliations and goals. Until last year.

Antifa Philadelphia made it a goal to put a stop to Leif Erikson Day for good. We participated in a coalition of groups known as Residents Against Racism who rallied over 200 people to protest KSS. A blockade of Antifascists stopped the Nazis from holding their traditional “march” down Lemon Hill, forcing them to break ranks and be marched down hand in hand by Philly PD.  Sources within KSS tell us the event was considered a huge embarrassment and waste of resources by most of the Nazis who attended. But that was only the beginning.

Following LED, Antifa Philadelphia launched “Operation: Full Consequences.” We exposed almost every person who attended the event. We outed the band that played the after-party and who are Nazis themselves, Norsewind, and got them removed from at least one show, with more to come. We took the fight to KSS where they live and exposed them to their neighbors, driving one of their members to renounce the group entirely and another 2 members to move out of the city. It’s no surprise that when October rolled around again this year, KSS would quietly post a “Happy Leif Erikson Day” message on their blog with no mention of the event having ever existed.

It is worth noting that in one previous year KSS did not hold their event, and then threw together a quick photo op in Fairmount Park after Antifascists called them out.  It is irrelevant whether a handful of Nazis manage to secretly converge at a statue for a half an hour.  The fact that KSS is not able to openly organize or rally and are forced to maneuver in secret is in itself a victory that makes it clear that Philly will not be safe territory for fascists.

It is important to recognize and savor these victories. However, this was just one battle in a war against racism and fascism. Antifa Philadelphia will continue to expose, oppose and confront these groups and their supporters. This fight can be won, and we intend to win.

Love,

Antifa Philadelphia

What They Mean When They Say Community: Reportback from March Against Racists and Rapists

On September 6th, Antifa Philadelphia held a small demonstration and March in the Tacony section of North Philly. The motivation and call can be read here.

When we arrived, we were greeted by some opposition. “Wait,” you say… “How could anyone oppose something called ‘The March Against Racists and Rapists?’”

Enter Keystone United, also known as the Keystone State “Skinheads.”

090614KSS

KSS was so terrified of this event that they called every person they could to get them to come back them up. All in all, they called out about 10-20 boneheads who proceeded to threaten and harass protestors as they arrived. They were joined by one family, who has produced to date at least 2 Neo-Nazi scum spawn, and the head of the Tacony town watch, who was mad about being trolled by an Antifa Philadelphia member online after calling on us to cancel our march in the name of “maintaining the peace.” A member who told him exactly how we feel about groups like his. He had also alerted the police and must have told him something pretty wild because they were out in force that day.

A few days ago, KSS released their take on the events on their blog. Typical for Fascists, it was laughably inaccurate.

First, they referenced an incident a week earlier when a 9 year old boy was grazed by a bullet at the same intersection, and criticized Antifascists for not being out there to protest against gun violence; members of a Neo-Nazi gang of assaulters, rapists and murderers.

Ah, yes, "Stop the Violence"
I think we all remember KSS’ classic “Stop the Gun Violence” campaign.

The Nazis claimed that the only people at the march were a handful of Antifa Philadelphia members while they received community support from “many locals of every race and color.”

In sum, KSS’ report back was another example of KSS tying to paint adversaries as “outside agitators.”

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For a group that isn’t the Klan, KSS sure is the Klan.

Forgetting even for a moment that we don’t need anyone’s permission to protest against Nazis and Rapists, KSS is just lying.

Here is the entire opposition to the March Against Racists and Rapists, minus at most 1-3 people.

090614KSSholes

We know these faces. They came from Harrisburg. Scranton. Mechanicsburg. Altoona. New Jersey. KSS was so scared by this march they rang the alarm to their entire network of members and supporters. Those are the people who came out in Tacony against us to accuse us of being “outside agitators.”

This is what KSS means when it says “community.” It means their community of White Fascists. That’s who counts in their mind. The people that came out to support Antifa Philadelphia, the people who we spoke with while flyering that neighborhood during the lead up for the march who expressed sympathy for our goals, the people of color and GLBT and anti-racists could never be from “their” community.

Here are some of the Nazis who opposed Antifa Philadelphia and our supporters.

Anthony James Olsen, Director of Philly KSS. Lives at 2913 Knorr street in Mayfair.
Anthony James Olsen, Director of Philly KSS. Lives at 2913 Knorr street in Mayfair.
Joseph Phy, KSS - 4383 Salmon St., Philadelphia PA
Joseph Phy, Philly KSS member – 4383 Salmon St. in Bridesburg.
Steve Smith (l), KSS Chairman. Steve's dancing partner is Blood and Honour Nazi and convicted murderer Charles Marovskis
Steve Smith (l), KSS Chairman. Lives in Luzerne County. Steve’s dancing partner is Blood and Honour Nazi and convicted murderer Charles Marovskis
Pat Rodgers, KSS supporter who we last heard was being indicted for Child Endangerment. Hope KSS is as concerned about those kids as they are about the one who got grazed by that stray bullet.
Pat Rodgers, KSS supporter who we last heard was being indicted for Child Endangerment. Hope KSS is as concerned about those kids as they are about the one who got grazed by that stray bullet. Also not from Philly.
Ron Sheehy, member of Advance White Society  from Linden, NJ.
Ron Sheehy, member of Advanced White Society from Linden, NJ.
Bob Gaus, KSS co-founder. Lives in Harrisburg.
Bob Gaus, KSS co-founder. Lives in Harrisburg.
Joseph Hoesch KSS invitee
Joseph Hoesch, KSS Co-Founder. Lives in Abington

Our crowd was almost entirely Philadelphia residents, with the majority being from Tacony. And not only Philly residents, but ones willing to stand out in the pouring rain surrounded by police while Neo-Nazis snarled and screamed at them. And give it back to them. A crowd of people who feel that a situation where Klansman and Nazis are recruiting youth and assaulting women in the street is unacceptable. People interested in little things like freedom and equality. That’s a community. Not a bunch of guys on a phone tree who live hours away from you.

It was inevitable that KSS would try and claim this as a victory. We see it more as the beginning of the end for them in the last neighborhood in Philly they felt safe.

Antifa Philadelphia

P.S. – Daryle at OPP was in attendance and has his take as well.

UPDATED: White Nationalist Band and KSS Associates Norsewind Kicked off Philly Pagan Pride Day

UPDATED 9/15/14: The controversy around Norsewind prompted an excellent article on “The Wild Hunt,” a Neo-Pagan website by guest author Ryan Smith of Heathens United Against Racism. We highly recommend reading it.

Our favorite part:

The greater patterns of misogyny, racism, fundamentalism, homophobic and transphobic words and deeds do not solely exist in the mainstream. Many of these assumptions are at work in our communities and in our movement. If we dig out the organized, most egregious examples of these toxins by root, stem, and branch, but leave undisturbed the soil in which their seeds first took root, then we will be passing this terrible burden on to the next generation of Heathens. Without decisively removing the ubiquitous influence of systemic prejudices against the marginalized in our society, then any immediate success over organized hate groups will be at best a fleeting victory. – See more at: http://wildhunt.org/2014/09/guest-post-ending-silence-to-end-the-bigotry.html#sthash.OUfLevjS.dpuf
White Nationalist Band Norswind. From left to right: Anna Hagalaz, Daniel Norris and Paul Fredericks
White Nationalist Band Norsewind. From L to R: Anna Hagalaz, Daniel Norris and Paul Fredericks

Tomorrow, Saturday 8/30 in Clark Park, is The Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day.  This event will bring together pagans, heathens and other adherents of non-Abrahamic faiths. Unfortunately, a band with strong ties to the Keystone State “Skinheads” was scheduled to play at this family-friendly event.  Fortunately, after the organizers of the event were alerted by Philly Antifa and supporters in the philly pagan community, Norsewind was removed from the bill.

A statement from the organizers of Philly Pagan Pride Day:

PRESS RELEASE August 23rd, 2014

The mission of the Pagan Pride Project is to foster pride in Pagan identity through education, activism, charity and community. In keeping with that mission, Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day is intended to bring together Heathens and Pagans of all traditions to advance understanding, communication, and fellowship among the various communities.

Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day is an open, public, family-friendly harvest event. We welcome anyone to participate who supports our mission and/or wishes to learn more about the Pagan community and our beliefs. An important facet of the mission is to build community among Pagans, Heathens and adherents of non-traditional faith systems and to educate the greater community about those beliefs. The event is designed as a celebration of life and of a community that contains diverse elements. That being said, we also find hate and intolerance in any form abhorrent and counterproductive to our mission.

We on the board of Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day are committed to our stated mission as part of the greater Pagan Pride Project. The integrity of the PPPD and its mission and the safety of the participants are our primary obligations as organizers of the event.

Any decisions made regarding changes to the schedule of events are based solely on the effort to fulfill our mission and to provide an enjoyable and meaningful event for our community. The views, opinions, and outside affiliations of the participants and attendees of Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization, its board, or event volunteers.

In love and light, bright blessings,

The Board of Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day

———————————————-

That’s really as simple as it was. Despite claims by the band’s drummer Paul Fredericks (aka “Poul Augustsson”) that Antifa Philadelphia had threatened the band, event and organizers, the reality is that a brief e-mail exchange with some pictures made it perfectly clear that Norsewind and the people they were inviting to Pagan Pride Day were not in synch with their stated mission. We would like to commend the organizers for taking action as soon as they learned of Norsewind’s affiliations.

Antifascists first heard about Norsewind in 2009.  Two of their members, Daniel Norris (aka “Danjul Norse”) and Daniel Riegel (who has since died and been replaced by Hagalaz) attended KSS’ Leif Ericson Day Celebration in Fairmount Park.  Daryle from One People’s Project was there to show opposition and filmed the event. Riegel was very vocal and came up to argue with Daryle at the end of the video. Because the extent of their ties to KSS were not known at the time, people gave them the benefit of the doubt that they were just duped viking nerds.

All that's missing is the longboats. Also, both these guys are wearing Leif Ericson Day shirts in this picture.
All that’s missing are the long-ships. Also, both these guys are wearing Leif Ericson Day shirts in this picture.

Recently, however, it was discovered not only that Norris had been in attendance at the Leif Ericson Day celebration in 2009, but that Norsewind had become something of the KSS house band, playing parties, wakes and even THIS YEAR’S Leif Ericson Day celebration after party.

The band even appears on a Stormfront (the world’s largest neo-nazi message board) thread about “Your Favorite White Nationalist Bands.” The poster, Tremley, is none other than KSS associate Ron Sheehy, a NJ Neo-Nazi and internet troll who Antifa smashed in Harrisburg a while back.

For more info on the band’s connections to KSS and other Nazis: http://antifa-joe.tumblr.com/post/96074016471/norsewind

You want to be the soundtrack to the slow death of the white nationalist movement? Then a lot of promoters and venues won’t any anything to do with you or your core of Nazi fans.

MARCH AGAINST RACISTS AND RAPISTS – PHILADELPHIA

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Drive the Ku Klux Klan and Nazis Out of Philly

Neo-Nazis and members of the KKK are living and organizing in Tacony, and Philadelphia in general.  KKK grand dragon William Walters, who lives at 7111Torresdale, infiltrated a local neighborhood watch until he was discovered and expelled.  Following his expulsion, Walters and several other Klansmen staged a demonstration outside the Tacony library.  With almost no notice, a protest was called and many people from Tacony who happened to just be passing by joined with Anti-Racists to oppose the Klan.

Photos: The KKK Showed Up at the Free Library on Saturday Afternoon

Tacony Ku Klux Klan Rally Shouted-Down by Community Members

Since the rally, Walters has been giving interviews to media advocating for a return to the racism, segregation and sexism of 1860’s America. Walters is also attempting to start his own Klan-run neighborhood watch in Tacony.

Another Racist and Fascist organization operating in the area is the Keystone State Skinheads (KSS), also known as Keystone United (KU) and/or the Be Active Front USA (BAF).  Several members and supporters of KSS live in Philadelphia, some of them in Tacony.  KSS organizes a march and rally in Fairmount Park annually (billed as a “Leif Ericson Day” celebration) and has recently been spotted putting up racist and fascist graffiti around North Philly, some of which has been covered up by
Anti-Fascists.

http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2013/10/21/keystone-state-skinheads-hold-annual-leif-erikson-rally/

http://leifericsondayprotest.wordpress.com/

http://phillyantifa.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/racist-graffiti-in-port-richmond-and-kensington-covered-up-by-antifa/

Like Walters’ Klan group, KSS claims to not be racist or violent.  But like the KKK, members of KSS have been involved in assault, rape and murder, often purely because of the victims race. In fact, the head (and co-founder) of KSS, Steve Smith, is a former Klansman himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_state_skinheads

In May, a supporter of KSS and former attendee at their Leif Ericson Day event, Vincent Pellegrino, raped a woman in Kensington before driving his car into a wall, killing himself.

http://articles.philly.com/2014-05-22/news/50005035_1_kensington-section-400-block-26-year-old-woman

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/dncrime/Alleged-rapist-fleeing-crime-crashes-car-dies.html?c=r

http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2014/05/28/keystone-state-skins-associate-dies-in-car-crash-after-fleeing-scene-of-reported-rape/

Vincent’s brother, Nunzio, is a KSS member who as been putting up Nazi and Racist graffiti around Philadelphia. He lives at 6403 Ditman street.

The Philadelphia director of KSS, Anthony James (A.J.) Olsen, lives at 2913 Knorr Street with his girlfriend and KSS Supporter Briana Pietropaula.

Philly KSS member Joseph Phy lives with his partner and fellow Nazi Stacey Sautner at 4383 Salmon Street in Bridesburg.

In good news, shortly after a demonstration by a small group of Tacony residents and Philly Antifa, 2 key organizers for KSS who were also living in Tacony moved out of the city.

Antifa Philadelphia thinks enough is enough.  We are calling on all Anti-Racists, Anti-Fascists, Feminists, GLBT and anyone else opposed to the KKK and KSS organizing and living in our city to join us for a March Against Racists and Rapists through Tacony.

We will gather at the Tacony Library at 6:00pm.

A better world is possible, but not if we have to be dealing with these assholes for the rest of our lives. Be part of the solution to inequality. Be Anti-Fascist.

In Solidarity,
Antifa Philadelphia

WHERE: TACONY LIBRARY, 6742 TORRESDALE AVE, PHILADELPHIA

WHEN: 6:00 PM SHARP September 6th, 2014

Philly Antifa Marches in Solidarity with Ferguson Insurrection

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A few members of Antifa Philadelphia participated in Tonight’s (8/20) Rally and March in Solidarity with the people of Ferguson resisting the police and national guard called by the Travon Martin Organizing Committee.

From the call:

Another Black man dead. This would be just another day like every other day in America, if it weren’t for one simple fact: Ferguson turned out, stood up, and has refused to get back on its knees.

Mike Brown was days away from college? Don’t care.

Didn’t he steal some cigars? Don’t care.

What about the looters? Don’t care.

Mike Brown was black, guilty of only this, which made him guilty of all else: (jay)walking while black, (back)talking while black, breathing while black. Black like Oscar Grant, black like Kathryn Johnson, black like Renisha Mcbride, black like Eric Garner, like Rodney King, like Emmett Till. All black, and all guilty.

Mike Brown’s life was of value–is of value. Full stop. No college degree makes that so; no robbery takes that away. The people of Ferguson recognize this. White supremacy’s subtle baiting of thievery, college degrees and saggy pants and talking back does not.

We talk back. We turn up. We stand tall. With Ferguson–for Mike, for every black body in America robbed of its right to live–for every injustice that we are growing sick and tired of. We are done with your police/media slander campaigns. We are sick with anger.

It is too late for containing it.

Not another. Not another. Not one more.

 

Turnup for Ferguson in Philly
Turnup for Ferguson in Philly

Former ELF/Green Scare Prisoner “Exile” Now a Fascist

Sad news out of the Pacific Northwest. Already Exile’s fascist tendencies and affiliations are garnering resistance, though. A show scheduled in the Bay area on August 2nd was cancelled after one of the bands promoted themselves as “Nathan Block’s neofolk project Ekstasis” and concerned parties alerted the promoter to Block’s shadiness.

A statement about the show being cancelled was posted on Anarchist News in the comments to this article and is also worth reading:

The show scheduled for Saturday, August 2 was being promoted by a person who runs a black metal label in the Bay Area. The band was being promoted as “Nathan Block’s neofolk project Ekstasis” (verbatim). If this is not Nathan Block’s band, then it is unfortunate that it was being promoted that way. Concerned parties would be well-advised to talk with the people responsible for the show’s promotion.

In regard to the response written by a band member, it is by no stretch of the imagination appropriate to call concerned people “fascists” for simply talking with the owner of the venue. The essence of fascism is not predicated on a foundation of neofolk show cancellations.
The insistence that it is “fascist” for people to talk to a venue about the nature of a show suggests that there is a fundamental problem with people alerting show spaces about problematic bands. This sentiment insinuates that regardless of a band’s racial politics it is wrong to contact a show space about concerns. In no way should people feel compelled to be silent about these situations.

If this situation was merely the result of confusion about the band’s membership, it is odd that this is mentioned nowhere in the response. It is especially strange given the fact that the band informed the owner of the venue that they did not know a “Nathan Block”. Instead of a clear explanation, we are presented with a long-winded, self-important rant riddled with great leaps of logic that leave more questions than answers.

It is unclear why this response states that anyone has declared what people can or cannot read. A few people calling a venue does not equate to a book ban. To be clear, there is no logical comparison to be made between Senator Joseph McCarthy’s state-supported campaign against the American Left and a handful of marginalized people calling a venue about a scheduled show believed to have white nationalist ties. The owners of the venue made their own decision based on what they saw and heard, at no point were they threatened or intimidated.
Conversations that people have had with some members of the band have obviously left them very concerned. It seems that the statement released directly conflicts with some of these conversations, leaving people unsure of what is really going on.

To be clear, we are not convinced that the faith of a white American exempts them from the possibility of being racist, nor are we partial to the “black friend” lineage of dialectics. If the band members are not associated with white nationalist politics, then this situation is unfortunate. We hope this is the case, yet this would conflict with conversations people have had with the band in the past.

Perhaps this situation should be better contextualized.

The old fascist forms have, for the most part, been superseded by contemporary reactionary movements in the social, cultural, and political spheres. It goes without saying that America of 2014 is not Germany of 1933, and that the character of white nationalism is always specific to the terrain. The handful of idiots still goose stepping through the streets with Swastika armbands have been marginalized even by the larger white supremacist movement. In Germany, the new fascist is a vegan hipster. In Russia, fascists run the streets in black blocs.

Today, racist movements around the world have used much of the theory of anarchism and imagery of punk rock to make themselves more appealing and relevant. This is the so-called “third-positionist” tendency. The reactionary movements of this decade will not look like the tendencies of years past.

Paradoxically, there are few 21st century racist formations in America who do not claim to oppose racism. The Minuteman Project, Keystone State Skinheads, Vinlanders’ Social Club, Bay Area National Anarchists, and Youth For Western Civilization all claim to oppose the oppression of other races and state they exist for the defense of their own people. Across the world, reactionary groups now hide their racism behind the facade of cultural preservation and “separate but equal” politics.

In the United States as in Europe, white supremacy has developed a political following in the cultural realm. The neofolk scene, tracing its roots to Death in June and Current 93, has always had a clear yet unfortunate association with white nationalism. Blood Axis, Changes, Fire and Ice, Waldteufel, Die Weisse Rose, Of The Wand and Moon, and Blood and Sun are among the bands in the white nationalist current of neofolk. Even Stella Natura, the giant neofolk festival held in the Tahoe National Forest, is sponsored by the white nationalist Asatru Folk Assembly. The racist Viking Brotherhood does security for the festival. The fascist publisher Counter-Currents tables the event.

As members of Ekstasis attend and play this festival, they are certainly well aware of the racial dynamics of that scene. In this context, it is not surprising that, when it is announced that a neofolk band with white nationalist ties is coming to play in Oakland, people would be concerned.

The presence of racism in the ecological movement is as old as the word “ecology” itself. The white nationalist tendencies within the neofolk scene are documented and well known. Conversation around these disconcerting issues is important and will continue.

-Some Bay Area Anarchists.

KSS Hates Immigrant Children, Wants Your Praise For Not Being In KKK (Anymore)

On June 21st Philly Antifa and others organized a last-minute protest against a KKK rally in the Tacony section of Phildelphia. After the Klan had come and gone, a contingent of the protest went and held a demonstation outside the home of Patricia and Bryan Vanagaitis, two organizers for Keystone State “Skinheads” (KSS).

KSS released a statement on their blog following the demo, trying very diplomatically to distance themselves from the Klan. They repeatedly state that none of their members or supporters were at the Klan rally that day. They could not, however, bring themselves to say anything negative about the Klan’s 150+ year history of racism, murder, misogyny, rape, and intimidation. Nor did they take that opportunity to apologize for their head and co-founder, Steve Smith, being the in Klan years back. They instead choose to speak about how “outdated” the Klan’s imagery and messaging was.

See, for KSS the only problem with the Klan is they aren’t effective right now. If this country took a bad turn quickly and Klan membership was booming, you can bet these very same KSS boneheads would be marching side by side with them. They were quick to point out that they weren’t rallying with the Klan in front of the Tacony library. Well, they also weren’t out there to show any sort of opposition to them.

Shortly after their statement was released, KSS (under the banner of one of their front groups, the European American Action Coalition or EAAC) participated in a protest against Illegal Immigration in Mossic, PA. The protest was specifically in response to the recent arrival of unaccompanied minors fleeing conditions in their home nations (mostly Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala) directly related to years of hostile American foreign policy and espionage.

KSS/EAAC (from l to r): Anthony James Olsen, Joey Phy, Ryan Wojtowicz, Steve Smith and Pat Rogers.
KSS/EAAC (from l to r): Anthony James Olsen, Joey Phy, Ryan Wojtowicz, Steve Smith and Pat Rogers.

As repulsive as the usual arguments against the free movement of people are, they are even more disgusting when directed against children who have traveled thousands of miles in some cases to end up in the hands of the state and as the target of racist vitriol by nationalist schmucks who seem to think that they are dignified for protesting against caring for children who aren’t from around here. I guess it’s no surprise to see Neo-Nazi scumbags like KSS pushing for deportation for the children, seeing as how Pat Rogers was arrested for child endangerment a few months ago so he may have certain distance requirements to maintain when it comes to kids.

Every time they get a chance, KSS harps on how they aren’t your everyday Nazis. They talk about how “Keystone United is a group whose purpose is to enlighten our fellow white men and women while putting them back in touch with their racial identity, which we hope will eventually bring about a much needed unity and sense of common purpose between all white ethnic groups living within this country.” They are quick to talk about how they are against Domestic Violence (like anyone has ever claimed to be for it) and Drug Abuse. What a crock of shit.

This two-faced identity has been part of KSS almost since their inception. KSS was formally created after a a disastrous attempt by a coalition of Neo-Nazis to march through York, PA in 2002. It was in that atmosphere that KSS modeled themselves as a paramilitary organization designed to be an elite squad capable of dealing with Antifascists. They didn’t call marches like York, instead focusing on recruiting young angry fools and trying to assert a street-level presence in their cities. Fighting was fierce in cities all over the state as KSS attempted to take over Punk and Hardcore scenes and were eventually smashed by Antifascists, Punks and Hardcore Kids.

KSS, early 2000's
KSS, early 2000’s

After the decline of the National Alliance caused many Fascists to abandon the cadre structure in favor of a populist approach, as well as soften their National Socialism to “White Nationalism,” KSS began to model themselves as an activist group.

Members of KSS no longer sported inflammatory symbols or attire openly. They appealed to hot issues like immigration and gay marriage to try and win over non-racialist Nationalists and Conservatives. They threw their support behind Ron Paul (many still do) and raised money for his campaigns. They started recruiting Nazis and Racists who weren’t Skinheads and calling their group Keystone United, or KU. They still attempted to have a presence in local music scenes, but (in Philly at least) their past defeats had forced them to accept hiding their affiliations and refraining from open aggression at shows. This was also the period when they began holding their “Leif Ericson Day” celebration in Fairmount Park, an event that has drawn protests most years.

KSS, 2009 after they transmuted their rifles into flags
KSS, 2009 after they transmuted their rifles into flags

Following the departure of one of their main organizers a few years ago, KSS was inactive in the Philly area for a time. Steve Smith focused on working with the Council of Conservative Citizens and starting EAAC. In the past 3 years, KSS has recently been gyrating back and forth between their two approaches with increasing regularity. Depending on what month it is they might be KSS, EAAC, Keystone United, or one of a number of other front groups. They might be hardcore national socialists or Ron Paul supporters. This is because KSS doesn’t care about integrity or consistency. Their only interest is in trying to gain power or influence over, or acceptance by, their “fellow whites.”

Economics is a red herring. So is immigration, for that matter. What matters to KSS above all is doing anything they can to undermine the fight for race and gender equality.

Philly Antifa is a group whose purpose is to fight for liberation and equality and against Fascism in all its forms. We believe in Solidarity based on shared values and goals, not on constructed notions of whiteness that we should be destroying rather than trying to reinforce.

So, whatever they call themselves, you can bet we will be there to expose, oppose and confront them whenever possible.

Reportback: Philly Sends KKK Packing, Pays KSS a Visit

Saturday was a bad day to be a Fascist in Philly.

Thanks to One People’s Project, Philly Antifa was alerted, less than 48 hours before, to a planned rally by several sects of the Ku Klux Klan in the city.

Maturbator Race
Masturbator Race

The KKK is extremely fragmented these days, so for an explanation of those involved we turn to DLJ over at One People’s Project:

“According to some reports, the threat of a Klan rally was brewing for just over a month in the Tacony section of Philadelphia after a local Grand Dragon was kicked out of a town watch organization. According to Joe Nicoletti of the Tacony/Holmesburg Town Watch, The East Coast Knights of the True Invisible Empire have been trying to start their own town watches, and have been trying to recruit within established committees such as his. When he discovered this among his own ranks, his town watch removed the person. In response, the Klan groups wanted to come out to the neighborhood in a “show of force” to support him. There was no public call or any messages on the internet announcing the event, but a permit was filed with the city. Police officials said they could not release the name of the person who filed the permit.

The Klansmen boasted upwards (of) 80 Klansmen were to participate with a number of high profile speakers on hand, but in the end only seven stood on the steps of the Tacony Library on the corner of Torresdale and Knorr. Among them were Richard Preston, Imperial Wizard of the Confederate White Knights of Rosedale, Md., which as only been in existance for three years, The Knights of the Nordic Order, which was founded by former Aryan Brotherhood members, and other Klansmen from Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. The East Coast Knights banner was unfurled during the rally.”

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Thanks, DLJ

Despite almost no notice, over 60 people turned out to protest against the Klan. That number started as a handful but continued to grow as word spread throughout the neighborhood and people came out to join Philly Antifa, One People’s Project and their fellow Anti-Racists.

The rally was typical Klan fare these days: they had 7 people, a permit and police escort. They were slated to rally for 2 hours but were there for about 45 minutes.  No one heard a word they said over the boos and jeers.  Someone had also written a sign that said “honk if you hate the KKK” which elicited plenty of honks. The Klan left hurriedly.  They didn’t even bother to talk shit except once inside their cars speeding away. But that wasn’t the end of the day for Antifa.

Instead, about 2 dozen people from the crowd got to talking about something: the fact that local Neo-Nazi organizers Bryan and Patricia Vanagaitis lived only a few blocks away.  Together we walked over there to 6611 Ditman st. and said hello.

...hello?
Gross. Uh, we mean…hello?

The crowd chanted “DEATH DEATH DEATH TO THE NAZIS” and “THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY NAZIS OUT NAZIS OUT” out front and spoke with the Vanagaitis’ neighbors, informing those who were unaware of their affiliations.  Eventually it became clear that no one was coming out even though they answered the door when the cops knocked.

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The Vanagaitis’ house. Hung above the porch was an Italian flag with a Fasces on it, a Fascist symbol associated with Mussolini.

Despite claims by KSS that they “prefer to be in the streets” in 2012 Greek Nazi Zine, the Vanagaitis’  passed on our invitations to come outside. In the same interview, the KSS member says that “The reds (meaning anyone who opposed fascism) in America are often times young, spoiled, suburban kids with no real desire to be face to face with us, or people of other groups…” (Omerta Terror Machine #28)

Well, guess 2012 WAS a long time ago…

Fuck a klan. In Philly we all fam.
What’s a Klan to our fuckin fam?

ALERTA: KKK IN PHILLY TOMORROW

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The KKK,(and possibly Nazis as well), are holding a rally at the Tacony Public Library, located at 6742 Torresdale Ave in Philadelphia, tomorrow from 1pm-3pm. The organizers have a permit. Exact numbers are not known, but fascists will be coming in from rural PA and Maryland. All anti-racists/anti-fascists in the Philadelphia area need to be in attendance tomorrow at a counter demo being organized by Philly Antifa and One People’s Project. The counter demo will be located on the side walk outside the Tacony Public Library, beginning at 1pm. Please forward this alert widely!

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This is really short notice, but the Klan did not announce this demonstration anywhere and we were lucky that One People’s Project was able to find out at all.

The Klan has a permit, which means they will likely be bussed in and out under police protection. We encourage everyone able to attend the protest to do so. Let the Klan and Nazis know that no one is intimidated by them, and remind them what would happen if they should ever stand on a corner in Philadelphia in Klan robes for 2 hours WITHOUT a bunch of Philly PD protecting them.

Death to the Klan

 

 

 

A DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH ANTIFASCIST PRISONER JOCK PALFREEMAN

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Taken from Torch Antifa site:

Friday, July 25, 2014

A Day of Solidarity With Antifascist Prisoner Jock Palfreeman

Who is Jock Palfreeman?

Jock Palfreeman is an Australian serving a 20-year sentence in Bulgaria. In 2007 he was travelling in Bulgaria when he defended two Roma men being attacked by soccer hooligans; in the ensuing fight, one of the attackers was killed under unclear circumstances. After a biased trial, Jock was convicted of murder, and the Bulgarian authorities refuse to transfer him from the notoriously run-down prison he is held in to Australia, without paying a huge fine. While in prison, Jock helped form the Bulgarian Prisoners Union, and has been beaten by guards in retaliation for his activism.

Take Action!

Palfreeman’s supporters are trying to have him moved to Australia to serve his sentence out closer to his family. Despite international agreements, the Bulgarian government has refused to transfer him until his family pays hundreds of thousands of dollars. He has asked supporters to pressure the head prosecutor to allow his transfer to Australia under the theme: ‘Head prosecutor Tsatsarov, stop following orders from corrupt politicians and do your job!’

Sotir Tsatsarov 2 Vitosha Boulevard Sofia, 1061

press@prb.bg

Bulgaria’s Embassy and consulates are located in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, DC:
http://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/webpage/ConsularInformation/procedur.html

Donations!

Palfreeman has asked that if money is raised, that it be sent to the Bulgarian Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Association, which he is the chairman of. www.bulgarianprisonersassociation.wordpress.com. Donation will be used for a legal aid defense fund and for lawyers to protect prisoners against punishments of the prison (for example appealable isolation punishments). Money can be sent via a wire transfer:

IBAN: BG29TEXI95451003928100 BIC: TEXIBGSF Texim Bank.

If it is easier to donate money via check or paypal, contact jockpalfreemanjuly25@gmail.com to make arrangements

Write to Jock!

Jock Palfreeman Sofia Central Prison 21 General Stoletov Boulevard Sofia 1309, BULGARIA.

(Please do not send books; for details on what to see, http://www.freejock.com/writejock.html).

For more information:

freejock.com

facebook.com/WhoIsJockPalfreeman

Philadelphia KSS Associate Sexually Assaults Woman and Steals Her Car Before Crashing It Into Wall, Killing Self

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Vincent Pellegrino on the left, pictured also on the right along with his brother Nunzio (wearing the KSS Supporter shirt in the back) and Philly KSS member Joey Phy in front of Nunzio.

As  One People’s Project has reported (as well as Philly.com and the Philadelphia Inquirer) Keystone State Skinheads (KSS) associate Vincent Pellegrino died on the morning of May 20th while fleeing the scene after sexually assaulting a woman in the 2600 Block of Collins Street.

Pellegrino crashed the car, which belonged to the woman he assaulted, into a wall along Westmoreland street and was pronounced dead at the scene minutes later. It is unknown whether he lost control of the car or intentionally crashed.

KSS (also known as Keystone United) had been trying desperately to fix their brand in recent years, changing between the two names frequently, and claiming in interviews that their acts of violence are all in the past. They would have us believe that these days they are just concerned nationalists.  This incident demonstrates once again that KSS members and supporters are the scum of the earth, and no amount of careful media planning or timid behavior in public will make people forget this.

The Pellegrino brothers are both listed on the 6400 Block of Ditman street, only a few blocks from KSS members Patricia and Bryan Vanagaitis. Nunzio was the KSS supporter who recently attended a rally against Russian intervention in Ukraine.  KSS members and other Neo-Nazis are lamenting Pellegrino’s death on social media and making absolutely no mention of the assault.

Rape and sexual assault are a global crisis. As much as we would love to blame it on Fascism, rapists (overwhelmingly but not always male) will claim to follow all sorts of political ideologies. What we can confidently say is that Fascism is and always has been a sexist and anti-woman movement.

“Woman’s world is her husband, her family, her children and her home. We do not find it right when she presses into the world of men.” – Adolph Hitler

Fuck you, Hitler.

Antifascists must support reproductive freedom, personal autonomy, an end to rape and rape culture, and oppose patriarchy and sexism. If we ignore those things in favor of making alliances with sexists who may be Anti-Nazi, we doom our movement to destroy itself with toxic people, as happens within Fascist movements routinely.

By now most of you have heard about the Misogynist murder spree of Elliott Rodgers, a so-called “nice guy” who was in reality a murderous sexist and racist to boot. Rodgers felt entitled to murder women for the “crime” of not wanting to sleep with him.  He lamented online about how he couldn’t compete sexually with “inferior” black men.  He had weapons and choose to turn them against unsuspecting young women because he felt entitled to do so.

Philly Antifa believe that we can live in a world without men like Elliott Rodgers and Vincent Pellegrino. That racism, sexism and hetero-patriarchy were concepts not borne from nature but intentionally engineered into our social and religious institutions as forms of control that have since become “tradition” or “just the way it is.” The fights against those evils are all unique and require different analysis and tactics, but they will either all be won or all be lost.

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Shut Down Death in June in Pittsburgh

Antifascists in Pittsburgh have set up a website to try and get show by Nazi band Death in June scheduled there this Thursday, May 29th.

http://deathinjunepgh.weebly.com/

(taken from above link)

Death in June, the musical project of British white supremacist Douglas Pearce, is scheduled to perform at the Rex Theater in the South Side of Pittsburgh on May 29th as part of a US tour. Playing a mix of experimental neofolk and post-industrial music, Death in June has a long history of using fascist symbolism and of supporting and raising money for white supremacist groups. Their shows have been shut down in cities across the United States through call-in campaigns and demonstrations. Some venues, including in San Francisco and Los Angeles, have had their locks glued, windows smashed, and facades spraypainted before, during, or after recent Death in June tour dates.We are opposed to Douglas Pearce and his project for both his use of fascist symbolism and for his concrete, prolonged support of white supremacist organizing:

  •  In 1992 during Yugoslavia’s civil war, Douglas Pearce visited the front lines to meet with and show support to Croatian fascist militants and later contributed music recordings to compilation records that helped raise money for fascist military efforts.
  • That same year, Death in June canceled their appearance at the Dark X-mas festival in Hamburg after organizers issued a statement condemning recent white supremacist attacks on immigrants in Germany. DIJ also refused to play the Festival of Darkness in 1994 because the show was promoted as being against racism and neo-Nazism.
  • Death in June songs were included in a tribute to Leni Riefenstahl, a director behind some of the most well known propaganda films in Nazi Germany.
  • Douglas Pearce has repeatedly expressed support for white nationalist and white supremacist Euro-centric movements in interviews.

To disrupt the ability of Death in June and the fascist elements of their fan base to support ongoing white supremacist organizing we are planning a call-in and online campaign to pressure the Rex Theater/Grey Area Productions to shut down this show.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

The Rex Theater is managed by Grey Area Productions. We are unsure if Grey Area is aware of the white supremacist politics of Death in June, and we are encouraging people to call, email, post to their Facebook page and reach out to them on Twitter with this information and to convince them to do the right thing by canceling this show.

The Rex Theater and Grey Area Productions can both be reached by phone at:

412-381-6811

Email contacts for Grey Area:

Ben Penigar (founder): ben@greyareaprod.com

Scott Forsyth (booking): scott@greyareaprod.com

Xander Hendrickson (promotion): xander@greyareaprod.com

General: contact@greyareaprod.com

Grey Area Productions can be found on Facebook: facebook.com/GreyAreaPGH
And on Twitter: @GreyAreaPGH

The Rex Theater can be found on Facebook: facebook.com/RexTheater
And on Twitter: @RexTheater

Sample E-mail:

“I am e-mailing you to inform you that Death in June, a white supremacist band, is scheduled to play at the Rex Theater on May 29th. This band uses fascist imagery as a part of their shows and has a history of supporting white supremacist movements.

Death in June has been included on various white supremacist music compilations, has backed out of festivals that were raising money to combat neo-Nazism, and has repeatedly expressed support for white nationalist and supremacist movements.

Death in June shows have been protested, sabotaged, and even banned in certain regions for decades. Especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where they have particularly strong neo-Nazi followings.

I have no reason to believe that anyone at the Rex or at Grey Area Productions supports these kinds of politics and actions. However, I hope that Grey Area will do the right thing by canceling this show that will undoubtedly draw white supremacists from around the region as well as anti-racist activists. The Rex Theater has a long history and doesn’t deserve to let one night and one band tarnish its image.

More detailed information on Death in June’s support of white supremacist movements can be found by following these links:

http://www.whomakesthenazis.com/2012/11/james-cavanagh-death-in-june-coming-to.html

http://libcom.org/library/death-in-june-a-nazi-band

http://nycantifa.wordpress.com/2013/09/16/why-we-dont-like-death-in-june/

Thank you for your time.”

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In addition to calling the Roxy to voice their opposition to Death in June playing there, we have learned that the person responsible for bringing the show to Pittsburgh, Manny Theiner, can be reached at 412-361-2262.  In addition to booking DIJ, Theiner recently took down flyers at local businesses in the city advertising a letter writing event for Antifascist POW’s the Tinley Park 5 and then slandered the TP5 to the business owners.