The Order (group)

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For other uses, see The Order.

The Order, also known as the Brüder Schweigen or Silent Brotherhood, was a terrorist organization active in the United States between 1983 and 1984. The Order described themselves as a white nationalist revolutionary group, and are probably best known for the 1984 murder of radio talk show host Alan Berg.

Contents

[edit] History

The Order was founded by Robert Jay Mathews in late September 1983 at Mathews' farm near Metaline Falls, Washington.[1] A fundamental goal of The Order was revolution against the government of the United States, which was seen by members of The Order and other white supremacist groups as being controlled by a cabal of prominent Jews. The group was partly modeled on, and was named after, a fictional group in William Luther Pierce's novel The Turner Diaries.[2] The Order's goals included the establishment of a homeland (now the Northwest Homeland) where Jews and non-whites would be barred. They often referred to the United States federal government as ZOG, an acronym for Zionist Occupied Government. Members of the order included Randy Evans, Gary Yarborough, Bruce Pierce, Denver Parmenter, Frank Silva, Richard Scutari, David Lane, Randy Duey, and David Tate, among others.

In order to fund their goals, the Mathews-led Order committed a series of violent crimes. Their first criminal effort was unspectacular: the robbery of a sex shop, which netted them less than $400. Afterwards, the Order's attacks were much more effective, committing several lucrative bank robberies, as well as bombing a theater and a synagogue. The Order ran a large counterfeiting operation, and executed a series of armored car robberies, including one near Ukiah, California that netted $3.8 million.[3]

After being arrested on counterfeiting charges, one member of The Order, Tom Martinez, informed Federal Bureau of Investigation agents of the group's membership roll and its methods. Based on this information, authorities were able to track down Mathews in December 1984.[2] He was staying in a house on Whidbey Island and he refused to surrender to the FBI. During a shootout, the house became engulfed in flames and Mathews was killed.[2] Currently Mathews is held in high esteem by some within the white nationalist subculture.[4][5]

The Order drew up a hit list of enemies, and on June 18, 1984 radio talk show host Alan Berg was murdered in front of his home by Bruce Pierce, assisted by other members of The Order.[6] Berg was number two on The Order's list.[7] Berg's murder and the subsequent trial formed the basis of Steven Dietz's 1988 play God's Country, and also loosely inspired Eric Bogosian's play Talk Radio (later adapted into a film by Oliver Stone) and the film Betrayed. A fictional version of the story was also the subject of the movie Brotherhood of Murder.

[edit] Convictions

Ten members of The Order were tried and convicted under Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) statutes. In a separate trial, three other members of The Order were tried and convicted of violating the civil rights of Alan Berg, a Denver, Colorado liberal, Jewish radio talk show host who was assassinated on the evening of June 18, 1984 in front of his home.[8] No one has been charged in the actual shooting death of Berg. However, David Lane, the getaway driver for Berg's assailants, was sentenced to 190 consecutive years on the charges of racketeering, conspiracy, and violating Berg's civil rights. He died in prison in 2007.[9] Lane is regarded by many white supremacists as a hero, political prisoner and martyr. His Fourteen Words slogan, "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children", has become a prominent motto of many white nationalists.[9] In another trial, 14 men were charged with sedition, conspiracy and civil rights violations.[9] Thirteen of them were acquitted, and the judge dismissed the charges against the fourteenth man for lack of evidence.[9] Over 75 men and women were tried and convicted of various charges connected to The Order.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ "Jury Told of Plan to Kill Radio Host", The New York Times, November 8, 1987. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. 
  2. ^ a b c "The Alliance and the Law", Southern Poverty Law Center, Spring 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  3. ^ "Free the Order Rally", Southern Poverty Law Center, Spring 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  4. ^ http://www.churchoftrueisrael.com/the-order/rjm-letter.html
  5. ^ National Vanguard
  6. ^ "Death List Names Given to US Jury", New York Times, September 17, 1985. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. 
  7. ^ Morris Dees and Steve Fiffer. Hate on Trial: The Case Against America's Most Dangerous Neo-Nazi. Villard Books, 1993. page xiiv
  8. ^ "Trial Opens in Slaying of Radio Talk Show Host", New York Times, October 31, 1987. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. 
  9. ^ a b c d "Extremism in America: David Lane", Anti-Defamation League, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

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