This Saturday afternoon in Portland’s southeast Lents Park, anti-racist activists held a rally in response to the gathering of white-power skinheads (and their hardcore bands) known as Hammerfest 2007. (See this week’s WW story.) After the rally, a diverse group of about 50 people, including a number of anti-racist skinheads, spontaneously arranged a caravan to a nearby neighborhood to leaflet. The fliers warned residents that one of their neighbors is neo-Nazi Randall Krager, who lives with his partner and fellow “racialist” Abbie Chelf on Southeast 70th Avenue near Johnson Creek Boulevard. The white power leader is one of the founding members of Volksfront, an Oregon-based white power group that helped sponsor Hammerfest 2007. Krager and three others founded Volksfront in 1994 while Krager was serving a sentence for nearly beating to death an African-American father of four and leaving him paralyzed.
Most of the people who were handed fliers by the motley parade of anti-racist activists were concerned and somewhat horrified to learn that a neo-Nazi leader lives steps away from their own homes. Standing in Harney Park at Southeast 70th Avenue and Harney Street, a crew of soccer moms read the fliers and called their kids in from the field, expressing plans to talk to other moms in the area about Krager’s presence. After about 20 minutes of walking around the area, the action dispersed and leafletters went their separate ways without incident.
At the time of the rally, members of the organizing group The Ad-Hoc Committee Against Racism and Fascism still didn’t know the location of Hammerfest. Then around 6 pm, anti-racist organizers were tipped off that the Aryan moshpit was taking place at the Sherwood Elks Lodge at 22770 SW Elwert Road in Sherwood, Ore. They immediately posted their findings to activist newswire portland.indymedia.org, with hopes that Portland area residents might pressure the Elks Lodge to shut down Hammerfest by calling the venue’s booking agent at (503) 625-5977. A look at the Sherwood Elks Lodge website revealed that the club’s motto is “charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity,” which raises the question of whether the lodge members are aware that they are hosting an anniversary party for a crew of neo-Nazis with a violent history of assault convictions. Both Volksfront and the Hammerskins have been historically linked to the 1988 Portland killing of 28 year-old Ethiopian college student Mulugeta Seraw, who was beaten to death by racist skins on Southeast 31st Avenue.
The Ad-Hoc Committee’s Indymedia post says they spoke with the Elks Lodge booker, and paraphrased his opinion that the gathering was “just a bunch of guys playing music.” Check back on WWire for Elks response and more updates.
Ad-Hoc Committee Against Racism and Fascism: fight_them_back at riseup dot net
UPDATE, noon Sunday 10/7: Tony Baker, who’s listed on the Sherwood Elks Lodge website as Exalted Ruler, posted a comment on last night’s Indymedia post:
The event was shut down
As one of the leaders of the leaders of the Sherwood Elks Lodge, I wanted to let everyone know that we were duped.
This group identified themselves as a “rock group reunion of friends” when arranging to use our facility. I can assure everyone that when they arrived, there was no indication who they were… no banners, no literature, no slogans, no out of order clothing, no racist conversations, only music and a gathering… nothing to indicate that this gathering was anything more than a reunion of a rock group. I know it’s hard to believe, but to any of the several dozen members of our organization who were in attendance last night, the gathering looked exactly as stated, a rock group reunion.
Once we received received indication that the hammerskin nation was using our facility, we worked to confirm as quickly as possible (this was a bit difficult for us because again, there was no outward sign in this gathering that these people were a racist group, so we couldn’t initially whether the group was racist or whether the folks calling to complain were prank callers. After all, what’s the odds of a racist organization holding a meeting right under your nose without any indication of who they are?). We talked directly to the organizers, who denied involvement in the racist group and reiterated their story that they were a rock group reunion.
In spite of outward appearances, the evidence soon indicated that we had been very badly misled, and the guests in our facility indeed were an organization whose beliefs we can neither condone or support. They had also misrepresentated themselves in renting the facility, and continued to misrepresent themselves in the evening. We shut down the event as quickly and as safely as possible after that and the group left before 8:00. None of the guests ever did admit who they were and their organizational affiliation.
The members of our organization are both shocked and embarrassed by this event, and thank everyone for quickly bringing the true identity of these folks to our attention.
[Image from Hammerskins website] 
The Sherwood Elks Lodge DID NOT know that these people were the Hammerskin nation. They came across to the Lodge Officers and members as a Rock group who was having a reunion. The HSN FALSELY ID themselves to the ELKS and therefore the Officers of the lodge closed the event down as soon as they found out they had been lied to by these people. The Elks in NO WAY supports the HSN or any other kind of organization like the HSN.
Get off the Elks Club’s back…you actually think these freaks went in there and told them who they,,,,dont be assinine….
I wouldn’t be surprised if the hsn falsely ID’ed themselves to the BPOE; still, if the ‘bunch of guys playing music’ had been blacks, hispanics or asians, I’ll bet that the BPOE would have done a harder and more thorough background check on them than they did on the members of hsn. Any organization knows how do do background checks, especially one as old as the BPOE…
It’s a shame that a decent genre of music has been hijacked for years by the lunatic fringe – here are a couple of links to websites that denounce ‘hatecore’ music.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=204938152&MyToken=3006f7c8-4671-4a6c-9aa5-92d8e56af175
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=152440709&MyToken=fb44ec26-0863-4026-892e-ffd024eeab5c
…and a couple of websites for the SHARPS, Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice.
http://sharpskins.co.uk/
http://droplegs.tripod.com/SHARP.html
http://sharp-co.8m.com/
I have read the statemnt from Tony Baker from the Sherwood Elks Lodge. I think they should be applauded for stepping up and doing the right thing and sutting the event down once they realized it was a neo-nazi gathering.
Hmm, I wonder if the Elks Lodge would have shut down the show if the rock groups promoted drugs or if they were punks? Most likely not. So much for freedom of speech. Who cares what this band promoted. If they kept to themselves then it should be nobodys business. I remember in the early punk scene, late 70s-early 80s, when do gooders tried shutting down punk shows, no the punks are the do gooders… what hypocrisy.
The issue is that the Elks Lodge can rent the use of their private facility to anyone they like or dont like, its not a matter of free speech..do your homework spider…
klaatu,
I am well aware that the 1st Amendment applies to the government. What I was refering to was the fact that punks used to get banned from clubs, halls etc… by do gooders, and what was it those punks cried about?? I believe it was their rights being violated. Now we have a group of punx/sharps conducting the banning. Those are the ones that I call hypocrites. As for the Elks do you honestly think they would have shut down the show had it been an all pro-black or all pro-hispanic venue? I think not, for if they did they would be called racist.
I’m curious why the media isn’t as concerned when illegal aliens (criminals) march in the streets promoting ATZLAN and chanting for that racial purification.
I find it interesting that those that choose to violate the constitutional rights of one group are the same people that scream so loudly in defense of the rights of others. It is truly a shame to see this "one law for them" mentality. If we are to protect the rights of all we can not trample on the rights of a few.
1st Amendment rights only apply to the government regulation of speech. As a private organization the Sherwood Elks Lodge is free to rent or not rent their space to whomever they wish. Closing down the concert is their own prerogative. Free speech protection is in place to protect citizens from tyranny and oppression from the government. It is up to private individuals and organizations to police themselves and those that would use them as platforms for their own ideas. In this case the rights of the few that were "trampled on" are not actually rights at all.
I want to thank Willamette Week for updating the article with my post from the IndyMedia website last night. We appreciate your coverage of the story, in at least recognizing that a possibility existed that we were duped. You were much more fair than many of those that called our lodge to complain, who seem to believe we were waiting at the door saying "hey, you’re from the Skinheads? Glad to have you! Put the swastika over to the right and the human sacrifice alter is straight ahead!". Nothing could have been farther from the truth.
I have to admit we were shocked to learn the background of our guests. As mentioned in the Indy post, those in attendance were polite and well behaved and gave us no indication of their organizational affiliation.
While our organization strongly believes in the Constitutional right of free speech (including the rights of the Hammerskin Nation to have and vocalize their own opinions), our organization does not condone prejudice with regard to race, sex, sexual orientation or any other discrimination. We do not permit such prejudice within our facilies or within our organization. We would not knowingly open our facility to any organization that violates our stance against prejudice. It is that simple. Some of the posters (and those who have emailed me privately) disagree with our stand, but this is our belief and our right as Americans to hold and practice the belief.
We also don’t take kindly to being misled in the way we were on Saturday.
Don’t sweat unjustified criticism, Tony. Once you had accurate information you did the right thing. Beyond that, you’ve done good by letting the Hammerskins/Volksfront know that a demure demeanor is not sufficient cover.
I appreciate local media covering the Hammerskin convention. As a person of color, it is useful for me to know when white supremacists descend on the city in double digit numbers.
Also, let me take a moment to confirm there is no freedom of speech issue involved. The innkeepers the Hammerskins/Volksfront deceptively sought lodging from are not government entities.
I can’t say that I condone racism, but I do support freedom of speech even speech with which I disagree. The Sherwood Elks Lodge may have actually put themselves into a legal quagmire because they apparently had a legally binding contract with this organization that the Elks violated by kicking the group out without providing them a new place to meet. Let’s hope the Elks have their liability insurance paid up.
This is not a free speech issue. At all. This is about stopping violent oafs from celebrating their idiot racism and organizing to completely destroy anyone who is not straight and white. We make choices every day, and when folks choose to give groups like Hammerskin Nation a venue, they are helping to crush already oppressed people of color, queer people, etc.
Citing "constitutional rights" has often been a convenient excuse for racists and their (perhaps) unconsciously racist apologists.
Don’t be afraid to have a spine and take a stand against ignorant killers. They aren’t afraid to exploit liberals’ blind worship of constitutional rights that contradict any shred of reason.
Supporting them is oppressing most other people on this planet.
Wow, Hammerskin Nation, Skinheads, hate, violence and intolerance: Kind of reminds be of the Democrates/Liberals last time President Bush came to town.
WAY TO GO TONY!!! The way you and your lodge handled the situation was PERFECT!!
You let all of us know out there that your lodge DID NOT know who these people were and yet you stressed that these people even though they duped your lodge they were polite and well behaved, thus showing that they were not at the lodge to cause trouble to the Elks. If indeed the HSN would have told you folks upfront who they were, I doubt that we would have known that there was even a Elks lodge in Sherwood.
Is there anywhere or any way to contact the Elks Lodge and thank them for handling the situation with the integrity that they did? They could have simply pled ignorance or turned a blind eye to the group; that they didn’t speaks highly of both the individuals running this chapter, and the organization as a whole.
A phone number is in the post: (503) 625-5977. And Tony posted his Elks email over at Indymedia, so I’m sure he won’t mind our sharing it here: elktony@elks2342.net
Yea, it does sound like you guys were duped….by the media and the police. This event started at noon and was shut down at 8 and it took the media to come in and tell you that there were evil nazi’s and evil skinheads in there. A whole 8 hours and not one situation, not one problem, not one media stereo-type to be seen? It’s a good thing to know that the Elks Lodge will bow down and be a tool so easily for the authorities who dislike people’s beliefs. Very American.
It was a rock show, it was a reunion, would they have done this for a rap concert, a gay pride fest, or an irish heritage fest? I think not. Sounds like you guys are all close minded and very intolerable of other people’s beliefs. p.s. the event went on at another location without a hitch and the venue owners knew who we were just like the elks lodge did and said we were welcome back ANY time. Free your minds, stop being so intolerant of other people you hypocrites.
Did you seriously just say "stop being so intolerant of other people?" Do you know who you are? You are a nazi punk. Fuck off
The Elks pointed out that the skinheads left peacefully with no problems. We all should see that the Elks WERE NOT the problem here. And no where did I hear or read any thing negative that the Elks said about the Skinheads.
I bet the Elks were pressured by their bosses to close the event down, and not by the media or police. The Elks DON"T LIKE NEGATIVE PUBLICITY. Thats NOT what they are known for.
The Elks should have let the show go on, despite the pressure. Why the hell shouldn’t white people get together and celebrate their unity. Every other race does so without incident. And to all you unbathed anti-racist hippies, get a real cause! It’s funny how a bunch of sensitive white kids feel like they have to go out and defend the honor of other racial groups just to make themselves feel like they have a reason to exist. Why don’t you take a walk through the hood tonight and see how much these people care about what you do. Freedom of Speech and the freedom to assemble is slowly being dismantled by all you people who would rather trade it for security. What a pack of hypocrites.
the same ‘anti-racist’ organizers have proven links to criminal activity, criminal anti-American and terroristic shit other shady shit that would have had the same soccer mom’s applying for VolksFront membership had they know the facts. I know some folks from both political camps and here’s one fact for ya, as much as i think some of thier views are out their, VF and their type of people mind their fucking business (yes i know a few)and most likely have better relations with and more respect for other cultures than the ‘anti-racists’ who have not done one fucking thing since i’ve known any of them to lift a finger to help the oppressed or disenfranchised other than seek personal glory and suck each others dicks on what good socialists they are. As a union Ironworker in Portland I got a real wondering whose the fucking nazis in this town
You’ve got to be kidding me! Were Washington State Volksfront members (including washington "unit leader" Kurtis Monschke) "minding their own business" when they beat a homeless man to death on the streets of Tacoma with baseball bats in 2003?
How about the Volskfront members who threw rocks with swastikas on them through the windows of a synagog in Eugene in 2002, and then tried to hire a hitman to kill the witness who were going to testify against them?
Again Spider: do gooders or not, its THEIR private property…they can ban Jesus Christ if they want…
FREE SPEECH APPLIES TO ALL: free speech does apply to all, but not to everywhere…private property is excluded. how many times and how many ways can this be stated to get it thru your thick heads….and no legal quagmire..they misrepresented themselves, contract null and void…
hows is it misrepresentation to say they they are having a concert, no asked the politics of the muscians or attendees and no where did the contract forbid it, if that happened to me i’d sure sue the hell out of the elks for all my costs
How do you knkow the details of the rental contract Jay? Are you a "hammerskin" or "volksfront" member? You smell like one.
thats akin to implying every crime committed by democrats, republicans, communists etc is sanctioned by their political parties