by PATRICK LEJTENYI

On January 17, Daniel Laverdière was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault following the stabbing of Evens Marseille last June outside of an East End bar. The fact that Marseille is black, and Laverdière, already on probation for mischief, and his friend Rémi Chabot taunted Marseille with Nazi salutes before attacking him outside the bar, had a direct effect on the sentencing. Quebec Court Judge Louise Bourdeau cited hate crimes provisions in the Criminal Code when handing down the sentences on the two men. (Chabot was given a conditional sentence of one year, to be served at home).

In a twist on the story, however, the investigating police officer, Constable Thierry Peano, was called in as an expert witness to testify on the accuseds’ tattoos. By examining and explaining their significance, Peano was able to convince the court that the two were indeed racist skinheads and the attack was racially motivated. This was a first in Quebec.

While the use of expert testimony in this case was generally applauded by anti-racism activists, some were questioning the need for it - not whether the testimony was valuable, but why a judicially-recognized expert was needed to identify symbols of hatred. As any street-level activist will tell you, a swastika tattooed on the back of a bald head is a pretty good indicator that the wearer is a neo-Nazi. But some symbols may be a bit more confusing. Some tattoos are of course more obvious in their meaning, but a good number of others draw on mythology, pagan runes, organizational logos and acronyms. Below are some tattoos that you may spot on a racist near you.

The gods of the Norsemen

The Othala Rune Representing belief in Odinism, this symbol, like many others, was co-opted by racists to represent their belief in the ancient religion of northern European “Aryans.” There are many variations on the rune. It was adopted by the Nazis to represent a pure, non-Semitic religion practiced by their ancestors. It generally means cultural pride and/or Aryan heritage.

Yggdrasil, the Life Rune closely associated with the National Alliance, the Life Rune signifies birth, creation, rebirth and renewal. It represents the Tree of the World in Norse mythology. The Nazis used it on the tombstones of dead SS men next to their date of birth, and reversed it next to their date of death. Today, it is often used to represent women as “givers of life” among white supremacists.

The National Alliance, according to the Anti-Defamation League, is the biggest and most active neo-Nazi group in the States. Its leader, William Pierce, wrote the infamous white-supremacist bible The Turner Diaries - said to be the inspiration for Timothy McVeigh’s Oklahoma bombing.

Mjölnir, Thor’s Hammer A kind of mix between a hammer and an anchor, Mjölnir is the weapon of the Norse god of thunder and shoots lightning. Often decorated with a depiction of Thor’s face and scrollwork, the hammer represents the strength and purity of the white race.

Wolfsangel Also called the Wolf’s Hook, this was another symbol co-opted by the Nazis and is meant to ward off wolves - its use extended into the modern day, and appears on the coats of arms of some German towns. During the war it was used by the 2nd Waffen-SS “Das Reich” Panzer Division. A variant of it is used on the Aryan Nations logo (see below).

Groups and organizations

White Aryan Resistance (W.A.R.) This California-based group, using the familiar skull-and-crossbones insignia, is led by Tom Metzger. Metzger’s philosophy is a weird mix of atheism, left-wing anti-capitalism and a virulent hatred of Jews, blacks and Hispanics. A former Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan of California, Metzger has been to jail twice, and in 1990 was fined $12.5-million (U.S.) for inciting the murder of an Ethiopian immigrant in Oregon. As “Terrible Tommy,” he continues to run his organization and Web site, newsletter and telephone hotline from his home. He is considered one of the principal guides for the emerging racist skinhead culture during the 1980s.

World Church of the Creator Based in Illinois, the WCOTC is run by “Pontificus Maximus” Matt Hale, who espouses an all-white America and, someday, an all-white world. The Church’s prime goal is the “survival, expansion and advancement of the White Race.” On Jan. 8, Hale was arrested for allegedly soliciting murder, and the Church is currently looking for donations for his defence fund. Hale is the author of The Truth About 9-11: How Jewish Manipulation Killed Thousands.

Crosstar Based on the Arrow Cross, a war-era Hungarian fascist movement, the symbol came to America when it was popularized by infantrymen serving in Vietnam and is used as the insignia for the Nationalist Movement. Its members are not as violently anti-government as some other groups are, and claim to support democracy, but are nevertheless white supremacist, anti-immigration and anti-gay. It is based in Mississippi and its “first officer” is Richard Barrett.

Aryan Nation/Church of Jesus Christ Christian Members are followers of Christian Identity, a white supremacist interpretation of the Bible that claims white Europeans are, in fact, the Lost Tribe of Israel and therefore God’s Chosen People. Even though this would, one would think, make them Jewish, they despise Jews as descendants of Satan and believe non-whites are soulless “mud people.” They believe the Jews control the U.S. government (see “ZOG” below) and are out to destroy the Aryan race. Aryan Nations is run by Richard Butler out of Hayden Lake, Idaho.

Hammerskins Born in Dallas, Texas, in the late 1980s, the Hammerskins are one of the largest and most organized racist skinhead organizations in the U.S. Borrowing the fascist imagery of crossed hammers from Pink Floyd: The Wall, the Hammerskins have forged bonds with other groups across the States and started cells of their own throughout the country. Each cell has its own regional variant insignia, and is often accompanied by the letters “HFFH” (Hammerskins forever, forever Hammerskins).

Numbers and acronyms

5
“I have nothing to say,” Tom Metzger’s motto, in reference to his repeated interviews by the FBI. It is also attributed to Alex Curtis, a white supremacist based in San Diego. Generally, it refers to the code of silence that white supremacists should adhere to in refusing all cooperation with the government.

14
“We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” These 14 words, the battle cry for many white supremacists, is accredited to David Lane, once a member of The Order and now in prison. The Order is considered a far-right revolutionary group based in the U.S. northwest and was responsible for a string of bank robberies, a synagogue bombing and the murder of Denver radio talk show host Alan Berg.

18
“Adolf Hitler.” The first letter of the alphabet (“A”) and the eighth letter (“H”).

83
“Heil Christ.” Eighth letter and third letter, used as a greeting between racist Christians.

88
“Heil Hitler.” Often seen at the bottom of emails, newsgroup postings, flyers, posters etc.

4/19
April 19, a date of special significance to assorted anti-government racists for two reasons. The first was in 1993, when federal agents descended on the compound of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, killing cult leader David Koresh and dozens of his followers. The second is 1995, when Timothy McVeigh destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma.

4/20
April 20, Hitler’s birthday.

311
Three times the eleventh letter of the alphabet - K - makes “KKK,” a reference to the Ku Klux Klan.

33/6
Three times 11 makes 33, representing the KKK, while the six refers to the sixth and current era of the Klan.

100
Used by racists to depict themselves as 100 per cent pure Aryan, and their belief for the need for a white race uncorrupted by interracial mixing.

ZOG
“Zionist Occupied Government,” the belief that Jews control the U.S. government and media, and are out to oppress the white race. Often seen in a circle with a slash through it.

RAHOWA
“Racial Holy War,” both a band started by then-racist George Burdi in Windsor, Ontario, and the belief that an inevitable showdown between whites and other races is coming.

WPWW
“White Pride World Wide,” a greeting used between racists.

There are literally dozens, if not hundreds, of variations and combinations of tattoos. Others include intricate depictions of Viking warriors, crucified skinheads, Celtic crosses, masked men giving the Nazi salute and so on. The above are only some of the more common tattoos and symbols used by white supremacists. The number of variations is limited only by their own imagination. :