Supremacist groups to meet in East TN

David Duke, former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, will lead 'an informal nature walk.' / File / Associated Press


A Caucasian heritage and $75 are the price of entry into next week’s international conference for white supremacists in East Tennessee organized by Stormfront, the oldest and best-known website devoted to the “white pride, white power” movement.

Like a Facebook for white supremacists, Stormfront is the virtual gathering space for like-minded people to meet, post and respond to messages, tell jokes and offer political commentary in a variety of labeled discussion groups that range from “fighting white genocide” to poetry.

The Tennessee conference represents a rare offline gathering for Stormfront members. The two-day agenda includes a luncheon and workshops on immigration, political organizing and communications by some of the movement’s best-known contemporary leaders.

“This will be a national conference, drawing people from around the United States and Canada,” said Mark Pitcavage, director of investigative research for the Anti-Defamation League, which monitors hate groups. But the 150-mile radius surrounding the meeting includes concentrations of active supremacist groups most likely to attend, he said.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120908/NEWS21/309070109/Supremacist-groups-meet-East-TN?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE