Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

douglas9

(4,474 posts)
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 07:26 AM Jun 2023

HOW A WHITES-ONLY GROUP PLANS TO TURN RURAL TENNESSEE INTO ITS HOMELAND

Members of a whites-only group with extensive ties to the white power movement have purchased a nearly 70-acre property in central Tennessee that they intend to use as a self-described “headquarters,” a Hatewatch investigation found.

Kira Barber, 39, acting as an apparent representative for the Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA), purchased the tract of land, located in a rural area of Jackson County, Tennessee, in December 2022 for $250,000, according to public records. Group leaders have described the property, located roughly 80 miles outside of Nashville, as the AFA “capital” and the group’s “corporate and ecclesiastical headquarters.” In newsletters and fundraising materials intended to raise money for improving the plot of land on the group’s website, the AFA has stated it intends to construct a hof (temple) and school for young people.

Members of the Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA) practice an exclusively white form of pre-Christian Norse and Germanic religions that the Southern Poverty Law Center refers to as neo-Völkisch, with 31 chapters in the U.S. as of 2022. Founded by Stephen McNallen in Northern California in the late 1960s, the group has described its core demographic as “Ethnic European Folk,” which it has defined as “white people.” Group representatives have stated that AFA would deny admission to Black people “because they’re not of northern European descent,” as well as LGBTQ+ people.

https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2023/06/15/how-whites-only-group-plans-turn-rural-tennessee-its-homeland

20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
HOW A WHITES-ONLY GROUP PLANS TO TURN RURAL TENNESSEE INTO ITS HOMELAND (Original Post) douglas9 Jun 2023 OP
Welcome to Methburg. Where are your valuables? marble falls Jun 2023 #1
I don't think this will survive a court challenge. Baitball Blogger Jun 2023 #2
Branch Davidians 2.0. They won't be hard to find now. brush Jun 2023 #3
Cults need property no_hypocrisy Jun 2023 #4
A scant 20 years ago, this county was about 98% white EYESORE 9001 Jun 2023 #5
Check your facts snowybirdie Jun 2023 #9
... EYESORE 9001 Jun 2023 #10
Sorry snowybirdie Jun 2023 #12
You're looking at Jackson County, Tennessee, right? EYESORE 9001 Jun 2023 #13
i believe Eyesore was talking about the county flying rabbit Jun 2023 #14
Cue Emily Litella EYESORE 9001 Jun 2023 #16
... flying rabbit Jun 2023 #19
Not going to happen...................... Lovie777 Jun 2023 #6
I'll chip in another 70 acres. Enough land and we can herd them, put a fence around them all! Alexander Of Assyria Jun 2023 #7
Lots of evangelical churches do this. Jirel Jun 2023 #8
And the blond "Jesus" they worship is Odin in disguise. raging moderate Jun 2023 #11
Certainly. Do it. Duppers Jun 2023 #15
Other Heathen/Asatru/Norse Pagan Groups Have Strongly Condemned Them Deep State Witch Jun 2023 #17
I am glad to hear that EYESORE 9001 Jun 2023 #18
During my time as a Pagan I ran into Asatru. Whatthe_Firetruck Jun 2023 #20

Baitball Blogger

(48,024 posts)
2. I don't think this will survive a court challenge.
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 07:41 AM
Jun 2023

But, if it is entirely a private group that does not intend to sell real estate to its members, then there is the sticky situation of having to pay for its own water and sewage, right? The minute they take a dime of public money, they become vulnerable to the laws that require equality.

brush

(57,471 posts)
3. Branch Davidians 2.0. They won't be hard to find now.
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 07:42 AM
Jun 2023

And believe me, they don't have to worry about Black people trying to join the bunch of racist kooks.

EYESORE 9001

(27,514 posts)
5. A scant 20 years ago, this county was about 98% white
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 07:45 AM
Jun 2023

It’s down to about 92% now, which means…wut. Higher influx of people from other minorities? Natural attrition due to age-related death? I haven’t had time to research this particular slice of peckerwood pie.

I just hope that enough people in that area can come together and prevent a takeover of local government by straight up white supremacists with ties to RW domestic terror…most likely IMO. If they succeed, it’ll provide a template for takeover elsewhere.

I had a dream awhile back about neonazis taking over an area with a sizable population of old order Amish. At least I think it was a dream. The Amish are never far away from where I’m living. Perhaps that influenced my dream-thinking.

snowybirdie

(5,627 posts)
9. Check your facts
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 08:15 AM
Jun 2023

White alone 1790–2020
Year Population % of
the U.S. % change
(10 yr) Year Population % of
the U.S. % change
(10 yr)
1790 3,172,006 80.7 Steady 1910 81,731,957 88.9 Increase22.3%
1800 4,306,446 81.1 Increase35.8% 1920 94,820,915 89.7 Increase16.0%
1810 5,862,073 81.0 Increase36.1% 1930 110,286,740 89.8 Increase16.3%
1820 7,866,797 81.6 Increase34.2% 1940 118,214,870 89.8 (highest) Increase7.2%
1830 10,532,060 81.9 Increase33.9% 1950 134,942,028 89.5 Increase14.1%
1840 14,189,705 83.2 Increase34.7% 1960 158,831,732 88.6 Increase17.7%
1850 19,553,068 84.3 Increase37.8% 1970 178,119,221 87.5 Increase12.1%
1860 26,922,537 85.6 Increase37.7% 1980 188,371,622 83.1 Increase5.8%
1870 33,589,377 87.1 Increase24.8% 1990 199,686,070 80.3 Increase6.0%
1880 43,402,970 86.5 Increase29.2% 2000 211,460,626 75.1 Increase5.9%
1890 55,101,258 87.5 Increase26.9% 2010 223,553,265 72.4 Increase5.7%
1900 66,809,196 87.9 Increase21.2% 2020 204,277,273 61.6 (lowest) Decrease – 8.6%
Source: United States census bureau.[54][55][56

snowybirdie

(5,627 posts)
12. Sorry
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 08:28 AM
Jun 2023

Official Census data 1790-2020 chart. It shows
87% in 1900 identifying white
64% in 2020 identifying white
No where 98% as you stated.

 

Alexander Of Assyria

(7,839 posts)
7. I'll chip in another 70 acres. Enough land and we can herd them, put a fence around them all!
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 07:55 AM
Jun 2023

Anyone else contribute to this noble cause?

Lots of cheap land in the interior of Florida I hear…bit soggy, but cheap!

Jirel

(2,259 posts)
8. Lots of evangelical churches do this.
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 08:10 AM
Jun 2023

Just as culty, just as racist, just as crazy. Can we call out every single one of them, too?

raging moderate

(4,502 posts)
11. And the blond "Jesus" they worship is Odin in disguise.
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 08:22 AM
Jun 2023

Every time I see one of their depictions, I am reminded of the ancient Norse god Odin. He is said to have originally been a king in the Northern European region. I remember the author of "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" (Edward Gibbon) wrote that he had met some people there who claimed to know that they were distant descendants of Odin. And they were tall and blond. Maybe some tall, blond people from Northern Europe could help these people to achieve some sanity by acting as missionaries? Maybe be very tactful and just drop a few subtle hints here and there among them?

Deep State Witch

(11,248 posts)
17. Other Heathen/Asatru/Norse Pagan Groups Have Strongly Condemned Them
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 09:38 AM
Jun 2023

While I'm not part of the Norse Pagan scene, I have a lot of friends who are. Their organizations have strongly condemned this group under the umbrella of "Heathens Against Hate".

EYESORE 9001

(27,514 posts)
18. I am glad to hear that
Fri Jun 16, 2023, 09:48 AM
Jun 2023

I’ve made the acquaintance of some Norse pagans, who impressed me as decent people - certainly no white supremacist tendencies that I could discern. This was some time back, however.

Whatthe_Firetruck

(605 posts)
20. During my time as a Pagan I ran into Asatru.
Fri Jun 23, 2023, 12:54 AM
Jun 2023

Most neopagans are pretty mellow get-along folks, but Asatru.... Weren't.

They imagined they were the descendants of viking warriors, with their nose in the air and everything. I ran an ecumenical bulletin board system before the world wide web took off, and there were two groups I had to watch closely - - evangelical bible thumpers, and snobby Asatru, for being aggressive, dismissive, and insulting to everyone else on my board. Especially each other. They were the Karen's of the neopagan set, before we knew to call them that.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Tennessee»HOW A WHITES-ONLY GROUP P...