Posted on 02/14/2008 6:17:13 PM PST by happinesswithoutpeace
The three men accused of painting symbols of hate on a Columbia mosque and then setting it on fire face federal charges Tuesday.
Eric Baker, Michael Golden and Jonathan Stone are charged with unlawful possession of a destructive device.
They are not charged with committing a hate crime.
Investigators said the three used Molotov cocktails to set the Islamic Center of Columbia on fire early Saturday morning.
The U.S. Attorney said the investigation is ongoing and at least one of the men belongs to a dangerous organization, aimed at spreading hate.
Stone told investigators he's a member of the Christian Identity movement...
... and that he received a promotion in that group for his participation in setting the fire.
He claimed he earned two "stripes," according to the affidavit.
He told investigators, "Stripes or promotions are earned for committing acts of violence against enemies."
According to a representative from the Anti-Defamation League, the Christian Identity movement is a hate group with an estimated 25,000 adherents throughout the country.
The ADL representative described Christian Identity as a religious sect or ideology that is racist or anti-Semitic in nature and there are adherents of Christian Identity in Ku Klux Klan groups and Christian Identity in Nazi, skinhead groups and other groups as well.
Baker told investigators, "What goes on in that building is illegal according to the Bible he went on to explain the Nazi symbols painted on the building meant freedom on the streets. We all know and the people know that the swastika is the ultimate symbol of hate in modern civilization."
Authorities would not comment on whether hate crime charges could come.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul O'Brien said the investigation is ongoing.
"Any time a house of worship is vandalized or burned, the individuals responsible are going to meet the full force of the federal government,” he said.
There are two known Christian Identity affiliated churches in Tennessee.
Both are located in east Tennessee; the Christian Separatist Church Society in Kodak, and the House of Yahweh in New Tazewell.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, a group that tracks hate organizations of all kinds, said there are 35 active hate groups with offices across the state.
From the article:
“with an estimated 25,000 adherents”
IMO those numbers seem high.
Are they talking about the guys who threw the firebombs or the members of the mosque?
nazi scum
question is: if there were people inside who had to jump out windows instead of being burned alive, would American msm news outlets show it? of course, in this case, the victims would be of a protected class...
Maybe they don't have to look very hard to find one.
The "Aryan Brotherhood" prison gang is part of Christian Identity. If you're white in a mostly black/hispanic prison, you align with a gang or you die. The number might be low
I believe Christian Identity are very white power/anti Jewish types. I would have guessed them to be allies of the muzzies.
I am no expert on them but there is a lot of stuff out there on the internets.
I recall a series of Chistian Churches being burned in Alabama a year or so back. They caught them and I would bet they were not charged with any Federal crimes. Does anyone know for sure?
What do you expect, it came from the ADL, that wonderful organization that tried with all its power and political pull to stop the production of "The Passion of Christ". Not defending this radical group of low lifes that tossed molotov cocktails at a mosque, but Islam is the most radical and dangerous group of people on God's green earth.
I’ll look that one up. You thinking around 2006?
Yes probably around that time. There was plenty of coverage until they caught them then the story seemed to just evaporate from the news.
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