Since the election of Donald Trump, we have seen a rise in alternative right groups, alt-right for short. The alt-right movement is nothing new to the US, but seems to have a newfound energy following the 2016 election.
The alt-right movement takes its cues from “paleoconservatives” like Pat Buchanan. These groups are typically confrontational and exist far outside of the bounds of conventional conservative feelings. They are also often offensive, and not afraid to show that. Trump’s nomination for strategist, Steve Bannon, is a forefront member of the movement and former writer for alt-right publication Breitbart. From the Neo-Nazi movement to the reemergence of the KKK, the alt-right promotes hate in masses.
Recently, we have seen several members of alt-right groups appearing in the spotlight, and as we move closer to President-Elect Trump’s inauguration, we see more and more alt-right events taking place.
Perhaps the most surprising upcoming alt-right event is the Neo-Nazi March in Whitehead, Montana. Andrew Anglin, notable Neo-Nazi and writer for The Daily Stormer, announced last month that he and other Nazis would be participating in an armed, anti-Semitic march in response to fellow notable Nazi, Richard Spencer’s mother being “harassed by Jews” due to her son’s political ideals. The march is set to occur on January 15, the same day Americans celebrate Martin Luther King Day. However, Montana officials have said that Anglin and his supporters will find no safe haven in Montana, and there is no immediate threat to the government. If this situation does fall through, there is already talk of other White Supremacist gatherings on the same day. White Supremacist website Stormfront has said that there will be “Anti MLK Day” literature distributed and that “Several Klans and other individual White Nationalists are on board.”
These White Nationalist have spread the empowerment to the media driven youth by way of social media. What used to be a celebration for equality, MLK day is being called "Communist Adulter MLK Day." The Annual Peace Walk in D.C is now being overshadowed by Klans promoting Robert E. Lee Day. In my own home county, named for Robert E. Lee, our Unity Day and Journey For Justice Parades are being threatened by local Klans. It is not a matter of the white race being threatened, as they claim it is, it's the fact that the people who believe that the white race is the only race that should exist is constantly growing and are willing to take action to ensure their dominance.
Anglin and Spencer are not the only Neo-Nazi’s making headlines recently. Tim Treadstone, known as Baked Alaska on Twitter, was banned from the Inaugural ‘Deploraball’ after posting anti-Jewish tweets.The Deploraball was created by alt-right Trump supporters, the title is a jab at comments made by Hilary Clinton, calling Trump supporters “a basket of deplorables.” The cocktail event has sold nearly 1,000 tickets thus far, with prices ranging from $99-$2,500. It is scheduled to be held January 20th in honor of Trump’s inauguration. Treadstone was originally on the planning committee until the rift. Mike Cernovich, also prominent alt-right figure known for his misogynist comments, posted then promptly deleted a Periscope video explaining why Treadstone was disinvited from the event. In it, he called Treadstone a “druggie” and a “disgruntled employee” who had a “meltdown online.”
Treadstone replied with a lengthy twitter rant and a 45-minute long periscope
Taking Treadstone's spot at the ball will be Milo Yiannopolous, technology editor and leader of the racist, misogynist, far-right movement.
We have also seen more alt-right groups and individuals being publicized by the media. A&E recently dropped a documentary series called “Escaping the KKK” after allegations of the members of the KKK getting cash payouts from the field producers. Whether or not some of the events in the documentary were fabricated, the KKK seems to have become more active in correlation with the rise of Trump. Former ‘Grand Wizard,’ David Duke, said that Fascist groups played a “huge role” in helping Trump win the election.
Also, Simon & Schuster, a prominent publishing house, is under fire after giving Milo Yiannopolous a book deal with a reported advance of $250,000. Progressives responded with outrage when the deal was announced. This deal is giving money to someone who has declared their birthday as “World Patriarchy Day,” and who was banned from Twitter for hateful, racist, misogynist tweets directed at Saturday Night Live and Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones. Threshold Editions, the imprint of Simon & Schuster that will be publishing Yiannopolous’s book, “Dangerous,” is known for publishing other right-leaning figures such as Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and President-Elect Trump. “Dangerous” has already become a best seller on Amazon more than two months before its release date. While we cannot completely blame Simon & Schuster for the book deal, since the house as a whole is not completely responsible, by publicizing people like Yiannopolous we are normalizing hate.
The rise in hate groups due to Trump’s election is frightening. Not only do we see headlines every day about these groups, but we also see a whole new wave of young people on social media supporting the movement with their own hateful vernacular and close-minded opinions. While he may not directly support the alternative right, Trump’s poor choice in nominees, extreme campaign promises and blatant racism has given these groups the energy they need to reemerge.
From large marches and Deploraballs to alt-right trolls flooding the internet, it is clear that the age of the alt-right is upon us.
