The Aryan Freedom Network is an American neo-Nazi group that is based in Texas, and it has chapters in 25 U.S. states. AFN has kept itself active by holding private events, joining public demonstrations and distributing fliers. AFN is led by Tonia Sue Berry, Dalton Henry Stout and his father, George Bois Stout, an arms dealer who is based in De Kalb.[2][1] According to Dallas News, AFN contributed to Texas leading in white supremacist propaganda distribution.[3][4]
Ideology
According to The Forward, AFN describes itself as engaging in a "racial holy war based on the ideas of White Racial Supremacy and establishing an Aryan Homeland for our People." and "on the hunt" for communists in Texas. The group also shares videos of dozens of members engaging in armed training and shooting mannequins with stars of David painted on them.[5][1] The group's members must be "100% of White European ancestry, including: Nordic, Slavic, Mediterranean, Celtic or Germanic background”.[6]
Actions
AFN holds an annual "White Unity Conference". AFN has held multiple anti-LGBT "anti-grooming demonstrations". In 2022, AFN organized at least 12 private gatherings in multiple states, including Texas, South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Idaho and Nebraska. In January 2023, AFN announced "Aryan Fest," a white supremacist music festival. In one anti-LGBT event, armed AFN members menaced Grand Prairie drag show attendants.[1][4][7]
In 2022, AFN also organized an event in Hayden, Idaho, in the former headquarters of Aryan Nations.[8] Both AFN and Aryan Nations also share an ideological affinity for antisemitic Christian Identity.[9]
In 2023, AFN held an event and it also circulated fliers in Lexington, Kentucky. The flyers read: “You know who else was condemned for ‘hate speech?’ Jesus Christ".[10]
Leadership
AFN is led by Dalton Henry Stout (also known as "Brother Henry"), Tonia Sue Berry and his father, George Bois Stout, a De Kalb-based arms dealer.[2][1][11] According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Stout's family leads De Kalb's Ku Klux Klan chapter.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Aryan Freedom Network (AFN)". Anti-Defamation League. June 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Warszawski, Marek (June 4, 2023). "Attention, neo-Nazi white supremacists: You and your beliefs are not welcome in Fresno". Fresno Bee.
- ^ Dowd, Trone (June 4, 2023). "Someone Keeps Papering This Texas Neighborhood in Racist Flyers". Vice News.
- ^ a b Williams, Michael (June 4, 2023). "Texas leads in white supremacist propaganda distribution, Anti-Defamation League reports". Dallas News.
- ^ Kovac, Adam (June 4, 2023). "Texas neo-Nazi group ramps up talk of guns, violence on social media". Forward.
- ^ Taub, David (June 4, 2023). "Aryan Group Says It's Coming to Fresno. Police Are Aware of 'Meet and Greet.'". GV Wire.
- ^ Miller, Thaddeus (June 4, 2023). "Neo-Nazi group advertises meeting in Fresno. Police chief and sheriff say they're aware". Fresno Bee.
- ^ Hill, Kip (June 4, 2023). "Neo-Nazi group adopts legacy of past in North Idaho, prompting human rights response". Yakima Herald.
- ^ Kaur, Rania (June 4, 2023). "'We will never remain silent': North Idaho community braces for Aryan Freedom Network gathering". KXLY-TV.
- ^ Six, Taylor (August 4, 2023). "Lexington neighborhood wakes up to white supremacy flyers; police investigating". Lexington Herald-Leader.
- ^ a b Kelly, Sam González (March 21, 2022). "Heights littered with racist flyers. It's not the first time this has happened in a Houston neighborhood". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
