Day: March 29, 2010

Stormfront Forum Member Daniel Cowart Pleads Guilty to Terrorist Plot Against Black Americans

Stormfront forum member Daniel Cowart pleaded guilty on March 29, 2010 “to eight counts in a federal indictment charging him with crimes related to a racially-motivated plot to murder dozens of people.”   Daniel Cowart could get between 10 to 75 years in prison for this terrorist plot.  According to the Associated Press, “Under a plea deal, lawyers on both sides agreed to recommend that Cowart serve between 12 and 18 years in prison. However, terms of the agreement allow U.S. Dist. Judge J. Daniel Breen to ignore the request and sentence Cowart to considerably more time. But if the judge ignores the recommendations, Cowart would have the option of withdrawing his plea.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has been reporting on this racist terrorist plot. The October 24, 2008 federal affidavit stated that Daniel Cowart and his co-conspirator Paul Schlesselman planned to kill 102 individuals and Barack Obama.

According to the October 24, 2008 federal affidavit in this case, “Each individual  claims to have very strong beliefs and views regarding ‘White Power’ and ‘Skinhead’ views. The individuals began discussing going on a ‘killing spree’ that included killing 88 people and beheading 14 African Americans.”  The number 88 is significant for Nazi white supremacists as representing the symbols HH, as H is the 8th letter of the alphabet.  It is their code for “Heil Hitler.”   The number 14 has a similar significance for two white supremacist 14-word slogans (ADL, additional reports).

The affidavit also states “while driving around Cowart and Schlesselman observed a church and decide to shoot a window out.”  The affidavit identifies the target as the Beech Grove Church of Christ in Brownsville, Tennessee.

Daniel Cowart - CBS News reports he was a member of Stormfront
Daniel Cowart -Pleads Guilty to Racial Terrorist Plot

On March 29, 2010, the Department of Justice stated that:

“Daniel Cowart pleaded guilty today to eight counts in a federal indictment charging him with crimes related to a racially-motivated plot to murder dozens of people, the Justice Department announced.”

“Cowart pleaded guilty to threatening to kill and inflict bodily harm upon a major candidate for the office of President of the United States, conspiracy, interstate transportation of a short-barreled shotgun, interstate transportation of a firearm for the purpose of committing a felony, unlicensed transportation of an unauthorized short-barreled shotgun, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, intentional damage to religious real property, and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.”

“Cowart, 21, of Bells, Tenn., admitted to conspiring with Paul Schlesselman of West Helena, Ark., to engage in a killing spree specifically targeting African-Americans. He further acknowledged that he intended to culminate these attacks by assassinating President Obama, a U.S. Senator and a presidential candidate at the time of the planned attacks. Cowart also admitted to shooting the window of the Allen Baptist Church in Brownsville, Tenn. Under the plea agreement, Cowart faces a sentence of at least 10 years and could face up to 75 years in prison. ‘Despite great civil rights progress, this unthinkable conspiracy serves as a reminder that hate-fueled violence remains all too common in our country,’ said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. ‘Tragedy was averted thanks to the capable work of the Crockett County Sheriff’s Department and their willingness to work with the ATF, the Secret Service and the FBI.’  ‘Crimes committed against individuals because of their race will not be tolerated,’ said Lawrence J. Laurenzi, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. ‘I commend the work of the investigative agencies in thwarting what could have been a series of tragic events.'”

Daniel Cowart has been linked to the Nazi organization “Supreme White Alliance (SWA),” and has been photographed at an “Adolf Hitler Birthday Party” with SWA members, and has also been reported as a forum member of Stormfront.

Stormfront Member Daniel Cowart with Swastika Tattoo and Rifle (Photo: Inquister)
Stormfront Forum Member Daniel Cowart with Swastika Tattoo and Rifle (Photo: Inquister)

In October 2008, CBS reported that “CBS News traced Cowart’s email and discovered that he is a forum member of the website StormFront.org, reportedly the nation’s largest website for white supremacists known as ‘white-power.'”  Stormfront is identified as a “white nationalist hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

Stormfront forum member Daniel Cowart’s case is not the only instance of this groups’ supporters links to hate, threats, and violence.   Other Stormfront forum members have been reported making threats against Barack Obama, murders of police officers, praising the efforts of U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum terrorist James Von Brunn and calling for similar acts, and praising the 9/11 attackers.  Other Stormfront members have also praised the February 18, 2010 terrorist attack on the IRS building in Austin, Texas by Joseph Stack and called for additional attacks on Washington DC, banks, and the media, and other Stormfront members have praised John Patrick Bedell’s March 4, 2010 attack on the Pentagon.

In November 2009 and January 2010, Stormfront forum members posted articles on Daniel Cowart’s case as someone “in our ranks,” and were concerned about the legal outcome of his trial.  One of the Stormfront forum members, Saxoness90, who lists her location as the Confederate States of America (“C.S.A.”), believed that Stormfront forum member Daniel Cowart was either “secretly prosecuted” or was “found innocent and equited [sic], and the media is all hushed up hoping no one will ever find out.”  The Stormfront forum member goes on to praise Daniel Cowart’s attorney for allegedly objecting that their were not enough whites in the grand jury.  (See screen shots of postings.)  The Stormfront forum members go on to promote former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

===================================

Update: The day after Stormfront forum member Daniel Cowart pleaded guilty to this racial terrorist plot, on the March 30, 2010 Stormfront co-leader Derek Black radio show on WPBR-AM, a caller came on the show to promote Holocaust Denial, and Derek Black promoted the “good calls” that he was getting.  Stormfront leader Don Black used the radio show to also praise “race realism” and to condemn the “Jewish view of America.”

————————————

Resources:

– October 24, 2008 – Federal Affadavit (PDF)

– Other R.E.A.L. Postings on Stormfront

– Other R.E.A.L. Postings on Cowart and Schlesselman

Nigeria: Boko Haram Text Messages of Threats in Maiduguri

The Associated Press reports on new threats by “Boko Haram” sent by text messages to police in Maiduguri threatening violence:

AP reports:

Nigerian police and immigration services are on high alert after officials said Monday they received text messages threatening new religious violence by a radical Islamic sect.

Officers set up checkpoints in armored tanks around Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state where rioting by the Islamic sect Boko Haram and an ensuing police crackdown left 700 people dead. Immigration agents in the state that borders Chad, Niger and Cameroon also are watching for Boko Haram members who may cross the border to spark new violence in the area, said Adamu Isa Azare, an assistant superintendent of police in Borno.

Azare said the increased security presence comes after police received text messages that promised the group would rise again and attack around Maiduguri. Violence between Christians and Muslims in central Nigeria has left more than 500 people dead since the start of the year, sparking recent calls from an al-Qaida-affiliated Web site for a Muslim uprising against Christians.

“We are not (sure) if it is Boko Haram per se, because some people we are yet to identify were just sending text messages to people that there was going to be attacks,” Azare said. “For this reason, we stepped up our security apparatus as proactive measures to ensure we were not caught unaware. We want to ensure the people are well-policed. We don’t want to take anything for granted.”

Azare also asked the public to call authorities if they saw large groups of unfamiliar people moving into the region.

Boko Haram — which means “Western education is sacrilege” in the local Hausa language — has campaigned for the implementation of strict Shariah law. Its members rioted and attacked police stations and private homes in late July, sparking the police crackdown. Authorities have been accused of killing Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf while he was in custody. Police officials said he was killed while trying to escape, but army officials said he was alive when he was arrested.

The group largely went underground after Yusuf’s death. In early March, police arrested 17 officers suspected of taking part in filmed executions that later aired on international news channel Al-Jazeera.

Nigeria: Boko Haram Militants (Photo: NeoRepublica)
Nigeria: Boko Haram Militants (Photo: NeoRepublica)

Egypt: Open letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Voice of the Copts issued the following open letter to the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:

We are concerned with the sovereignty of the United States as it pertains to the infiltration of the Egyptian regime within the U.S.

 

The Honorable
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Madam Secretary

 

On behalf of Voice of the Copts, a human rights organization working to free the oppressed and persecuted Coptic Christians of Egypt, please allow me to express a few concerns. These concerns are based on an incident that occurred recently in the United States diplomat’s office in Egypt within the office for US entry visa for non immigrants in the U.S. Consulate in Cairo.

 

We are concerned with the sovereignty of the United States as it pertains to the infiltration of the Egyptian regime within the U.S. Consulate, in particular, the interference by the Egyptian regime with the issuance of a visa to Mr. Ashraf Edward, an Egyptian attorney for human rights based in Cairo.

Mr. Edward was scheduled to speak at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on February 25th and again on March 12th as an attorney for a human rights case recently coordinated and filed on January 22nd by Voice of the Copts before the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Religious Freedom and Belief, the first of its kind — Mr. Mohamed Hegazy (Egyptian-Muslim converted to Christianity) vs. Egyptian Government.

Below we have outlined the unfolding of this episode. Ashraf Ramelah, President of VOTC, was in daily contact with Mr. Edward as he filed his visa application on time only to discover his visa withheld and granted a day too late to attend our press conference. The timeline below demonstrates how this was no accident, but rather a contrivance on the part of those serving Mr. Edward.

These facts show that each waiting period for Mr. Edward was extended beyond the normal length of time and each of his interview dates were delayed. At that time, the U.S. Consulate had knowledge of Mr. Edward’s agenda and scheduled speaking engagement at the National Press Club where he was to report on the Hegazy case, as well as the Nag Hammadi massacre of eight Copts.

Below is the dialogue which took place between the U.S. Consulate employee (M.R.) and Mr. Edward during his second interview — 48 hours prior to our press conference — and reveals intent on the part of this person to keep Mr. Edward from attending our event.

Furthermore, we believe that the facts justify serious questions regarding the integrity of our U.S. Consulate, and we hope you will agree with us that this incident deserves a full investigation in order to remove any doubt concerning employees at the American facility in Egypt.

The following is an outline of the details as they happened:

– On January 22nd, 2010 our organization along with Mr. Ashraf Edward (an Egyptian attorney and human rights activist) submitted an application to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief.

– The application was on behalf of an Egyptian-Muslim, Mr. Mohamed Hegazy, who converted to Christianity.

– Dr. Grégor Puppinck, Director of European Center for Law and Justice, is our international attorney handling this matter.

– Our organization planned a press conference at the National Press Club. The event was first scheduled to take place on February 25th, 2010.

– Mr. Ashraf Edward was invited to participate.

– Voice of the Copts made certain the U.S. Consulate in Cairo had knowledge (date/time) of our event in Washington, and also VOTC informed officers of the State Department in contact with our organization.

– On January 29th, 2010, Mr. Edward submitted his application for an entry visa electronically as per U.S. Consulate in Cairo. He was granted an interview on February 21st, 2010, just four days prior to the event.

– On February 21st, Mr. Edward arrived to the consulate carrying various documents proving his involvement in the Hegazy case as well as other human rights cases in Egypt.

– Mr. Edward submitted his papers to an employee of the consulate. The employee was a woman with the initials M.R., who later would not give her name when asked. M.R. informed him that due to an administrative issue she could not give him any information related to his visa request, and he had to wait for seven days.

– On February 22nd, 2010 our office received a phone call from an employee of the consulate in Cairo asking verification. All his questions were answered.

– Due to the winter storm, we were forced to schedule another date.

– The U.S. Consulate was informed about the cancellation as well as the new date, time and location.

– The new date was March 12th, same location mentioned above.

– In and about February 28th, 2010 an email from the U.S. Consulate section signed with initials, E.S., asked Mr. Edward to send his passport via DHL. Mr. Edward sent his passport as per consulate instruction.

– On March 3rd, 2010 an email signed by M.R., the same employee that interviewed Mr. Edward in the first place, requested that Mr. Edward’s new interview be scheduled for March 10th, 2010, just two days prior to our press conference.

The following is the conversation that took place on March 10th between the U.S. Consulate employee, M.R., and Mr. Edward:

MR: Hi Mr. Ashraf, I think that you missed the event.
Edward: Good morning Madam, no, the event was canceled; the new date is 03/12/10. I know that Voice of the
Copts kept you informed. I know that they sent the cancelation and the new date to your office.
MR: I do not know why you guys have to do certain events outside the country. I think it could be better to
do those events here in Egypt.
Edward: We already had a press conference in Cairo and Voice of the Copts wants to do another one in theUSA.
MR: Ok, in three days you will have your visa.
Edward: But in three days the conference will be over.
MR: Sorry, but I cannot do it faster.

What occurred in the United States diplomat’s office in Cairo, Egypt is very disturbing and damaging to the sovereignty of this country and its institutions. This incident is not only offensive to the State Department which you head, but offensive to all Americans.

Voice of the Copts kindly requests an investigation into this incident in order to clear any doubt concerning the integrity and loyalty of employees working inside the U.S. diplomatic facility.

 

 

Voice of the Martyrs on Arrest of Hutaree Militia Group

The Oklahoma-based Voice of the Martyrs group (VOM) refutes any connections to the Hutaree militia group.  This has been reported by Charisma magazine in its report “Christian Ministry Refutes Any Connection to Militia Group,” and also in the VOM’s statement to Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) below.

R.E.A.L. received the following statement from the Voice of the Martyrs on the Michigan Arrest of Hutaree Militia Group members.

STATEMENT FROM VOM

“Just three weeks ago near Jos, Nigeria, hundreds of Christian villagers — including many women and children — were killed in coordinated attacks. VOM staff wondered why religious leaders — people who claim to be emissaries of peace — did not loudly and boldly denounce such violence and bloodshed.”

“Now, in light of recent arrests in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, VOM has found itself the subject of media inquiry. While we understand that all are innocent until proven guilty and wait for results of the legal process, we want to clearly state that violence is not an acceptable response to religious differences.”

“Our Christian brothers and sisters who have suffered persecution in Jos and other places do not advocate a violent response; they are not calling us to take up arms or to provide them with weapons. Instead they offer love and forgiveness to those who attack them, in the hopes of representing Christ’s love and living out the gospel message.”

“The Voice of the Martyrs does not now, and never has, advocated violence against Muslims or people of any other faith.”

“The Voice of the Martyrs exists to provide practical and spiritual support to persecuted Christians in restricted nations, while inviting Christians in the free world into fellowship with them. One of the ways we invite Christians in the free world into that fellowship is through our web site, www.persecution.com.  VOM web policy allows any person or group to place a link to persecution.com on their web site if they would like to inform others about the persecution of Christians. Such a link does not imply that VOM has any direct contact or partnership with the owners of the site. VOM policy is that the ministry does not link to outside ministries or organizations on persecution.com; we do not ‘trade links.'”

“To the best of our knowledge, no VOM personnel were aware of Hutaree’s existence or the fact that it had a link to VOM on its web site. VOM has not had any direct contact or partnership with the organization.”

“Our philosophy of how to respond to persecution is based in Christ’s example of forgiveness as He said on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ That philosophy was also lived out by VOM’s founder, Richard Wurmbrand, during 14 years in Communist Romanian prisons, during which time he endured torture and great suffering. Often in the years that followed, Pastor Wurmbrand would make the statement, ‘I hate Communism… but I LOVE communists.’ He encouraged Christians to love everyone — even our ‘enemies’ — with the hope that by doing so their hearts might be softened toward the gospel message of Christ.”

“VOM actively supports ministry work in Muslim nations that equips believers to lovingly share the gospel with Muslims, including printing Bibles and sponsoring Christian broadcasts.”