Photos: El Paso massacre upends white nationalists’ normalisation strategy

By HT Correspondent

Updated On Aug 15, 2019 11:12 am IST

Two years ago, America’s white nationalist movement stunned the country. Neo-Nazi demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, had turned deadly when a far-right protester drove a car through a crowd, killing one and injuring dozens. Some movement leaders regrouped. Instead of stoking outrage, they set out to build support with another tack: Looking normal. They are now trying to ‘normalise’ these attacks and bring them to the mainstream, in order to further their propaganda.

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Members of the ShieldWall Network, a white nationalist group, burn a swastika and cross during a party outside Atkins, Arkansas, US. After a number of attacks on minorities, the white supremacists in the US are trying to ‘normalise’ these attacks. The normalization effort includes softened rhetoric and social gatherings that, for many groups, would increasingly replace confrontational rallies. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 15, 2019 11:12 am IST

Members of the ShieldWall Network, a white nationalist group, burn a swastika and cross during a party outside Atkins, Arkansas, US. After a number of attacks on minorities, the white supremacists in the US are trying to ‘normalise’ these attacks. The normalization effort includes softened rhetoric and social gatherings that, for many groups, would increasingly replace confrontational rallies. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

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Members of the ShieldWall Network hold up balloons decorated as the face of Adolf Hitler and give a white-power hand signal as they celebrate the German fascist's birthday outside Atkins. Two years ago, America’s white nationalist movement stunned the country. Neo-Nazi demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, had turned deadly when a far-right protester drove a car through a crowd, killing one and injuring dozens. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 15, 2019 11:12 am IST

Members of the ShieldWall Network hold up balloons decorated as the face of Adolf Hitler and give a white-power hand signal as they celebrate the German fascist's birthday outside Atkins. Two years ago, America’s white nationalist movement stunned the country. Neo-Nazi demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, had turned deadly when a far-right protester drove a car through a crowd, killing one and injuring dozens. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

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Jeff Schoep, former chairman of the National Socialist Movement, speaks during a rally at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas. The larger goal was what many white nationalists call “Phase 2” — gaining mainstream acceptance for far-right ideas widely rejected as repugnant and getting white nationalists into positions of influence. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 15, 2019 11:12 am IST

Jeff Schoep, former chairman of the National Socialist Movement, speaks during a rally at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas. The larger goal was what many white nationalists call “Phase 2” — gaining mainstream acceptance for far-right ideas widely rejected as repugnant and getting white nationalists into positions of influence. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

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Billy Roper of the ShieldWall Network, a white nationalist group, attends a party at a home outside Atkins. The group primarily operates in Arkansas and includes three other members who were recently charged with assault in connection with the beating of a gay man, according to police reports. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 15, 2019 11:12 am IST

Billy Roper of the ShieldWall Network, a white nationalist group, attends a party at a home outside Atkins. The group primarily operates in Arkansas and includes three other members who were recently charged with assault in connection with the beating of a gay man, according to police reports. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

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Symbols of white nationalism are displayed on the jacket of a member of the National Socialist Movement as they gather in a parking lot before attending a rally at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas. On Saturday, authorities say, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius shot and killed 22 people and wounded two dozen more shortly after a manifesto appeared online explaining his motivation and decrying a “Hispanic invasion” of the United States. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 15, 2019 11:12 am IST

Symbols of white nationalism are displayed on the jacket of a member of the National Socialist Movement as they gather in a parking lot before attending a rally at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas. On Saturday, authorities say, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius shot and killed 22 people and wounded two dozen more shortly after a manifesto appeared online explaining his motivation and decrying a “Hispanic invasion” of the United States. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

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Artwork depicting a Ku Klux Klan member resting on a hammock made of two lynched black corpses, tied at the feet, is seen on a menu at the Georgia Peach Oyster Bar in Draketown, Georgia, US. After Charlottesville, the lie-low approach was seen as a necessity by some in the movement. Many white nationalist groups were sued and lost access to social media, which has caused them to avoid public confrontations. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 15, 2019 11:12 am IST

Artwork depicting a Ku Klux Klan member resting on a hammock made of two lynched black corpses, tied at the feet, is seen on a menu at the Georgia Peach Oyster Bar in Draketown, Georgia, US. After Charlottesville, the lie-low approach was seen as a necessity by some in the movement. Many white nationalist groups were sued and lost access to social media, which has caused them to avoid public confrontations. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

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High chairs are seen in a building owned by The Knights Party, a white nationalist group formerly named the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, outside Harrison, Arkansas. The organisation is opening an education centre for the children of white nationalists. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 15, 2019 11:12 am IST

High chairs are seen in a building owned by The Knights Party, a white nationalist group formerly named the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, outside Harrison, Arkansas. The organisation is opening an education centre for the children of white nationalists. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

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John Carollo, a member of the ShieldWall Network, holds up a photo montage of (clockwise from top left) Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, Adolf Hitler, founder of the American Nazi Party George Lincoln Rockwell, Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof and Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess, while attending a party at a home outside Atkins, Arkansas. Carollo was recently charged with assault in connection with the beating of a gay man, according to police reports. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 15, 2019 11:12 am IST

John Carollo, a member of the ShieldWall Network, holds up a photo montage of (clockwise from top left) Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, Adolf Hitler, founder of the American Nazi Party George Lincoln Rockwell, Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof and Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess, while attending a party at a home outside Atkins, Arkansas. Carollo was recently charged with assault in connection with the beating of a gay man, according to police reports. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

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Shortly after being initiated into the ShieldWall Network, new member Nicholas Holloway watches as a swastika is burned to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s birthday. Two months later, Holloway and two other ShieldWall members were arrested for allegedly beating a gay man and holding a gun to his head after luring him to another member’s home with a false dating advertisement. Each is charged with third-degree battery, first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree criminal mischief. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 15, 2019 11:12 am IST

Shortly after being initiated into the ShieldWall Network, new member Nicholas Holloway watches as a swastika is burned to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s birthday. Two months later, Holloway and two other ShieldWall members were arrested for allegedly beating a gay man and holding a gun to his head after luring him to another member’s home with a false dating advertisement. Each is charged with third-degree battery, first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree criminal mischief. (Jim Urquhart / REUTERS)

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