,

of representation in the
Jewish community," said Brass
Roots media liaison Barbara-
Goushaw, explaining the reason
for choosing the JCC for Mon-
day's program. "We wanted
them to see [the Holocaust
Memorial Center.] It's an im-
portant part of our message."
She emphasized that Brass
JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER
Roots is nonpartisan, despite
the high number of Libertarian
ith camouflage on the ir food or offered books on slaugh-
Party members at the program.
backs and governme n- tering one's own cattle.
Republican state Rep. Dave
tal conspiracy on the ir
Jaye, known for his anti-femi-
But while the vast majority of
minds, hundreds of the information could be used to
nist positions and his pro-gun
members
of
paramilitary
org
stance, introduced Mr. Zelman
a- sustain one's self in the wilder-
nizations and other intereste d ness following a nuclear holo-
to the audience. Ms. Goushaw
acknowledged that some of parties flocked to the Novi Exp o caust or other tragic event, a
Center last weekend to atten
Brass Roots' members may be
small number of tables with a
the Preparedness and Self Re d - smattering
part of militia groups.
of anti-Semitic tracts
liance
Expo.
Leonard Ashley, a Jew in the
—
including
some literature from
Alone, in pairs or with familie s the Christian Identity
audience who donned a worn
movement,
in tow, the participants listene d an openly anti-Semitic entity —
"X-Files" T-shirt, said he learned
to lectures titled "My Search fo
about Mr. Zelman's group after
sandwiched in with the
the Truth in Oklahoma City, r " were
a friend gave him a newsletter
anti-government information.
"TWA Flight 800 and the UFO
published by Jews for the
Some of the literature, while
Connection" and "Healing With
Preservation of Firearms Own-
not
overtly anti-Semitic, con-
Weeds."
ership.
tained references to the "New
Afterward, they visited display
"I'm kind of in favor of gun
after display laden with hunting World Order" and a conspiracy
ownership, and I wanted to hear
among "International Bankers,"
and paramilitary gear, like cam - both
it from a Jewish perspective,"
veiled references to Jews.
ouflage clothing for the whole
he said. "I don't trust the
Don
Cohen, director of the
family (starting with forest gear Anti-Defamation
government. We're losing a lot for
League-Michi-
1 2-month-olds), night vision
of our rights. If they take away
goggles, bullets and recipes on gan Region, said the literature is
our guns, it leaves room for
proof that the militias or para-
making meals out of dandelions. military organizations have not
tyrants like Hitler, Stalin and
Other exhibitors explained the
Clinton." ❑
changed in their character. While
art and purpose of freeze-drying most members join the
groups

Militant Opposition

A local exposition features materials on self-reliance
in the face of conspiracy, with a little anti-Semitism
thrown in.

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because of growing distrust of
government, others with racist
or anti-Semitic strains also find
havens in the movement.
"The militia movement con-
tinues to be a linkage point for
anti-Semites," said Mr. Cohen.
But John Trochman, co-
founder of the Militia of Montana
and a speaker at the mini-con-
vention, said the membership of
militias represents a cross-sec-
tion ofAmerica. While the hearty
portion of the membership is
made up of "everyday folk," a few
people with hateful leanings
make their way into the groups.

A little hate
literature mixed in.

"We still have the First
Amendment," he said, referring
to the U.S. Constitution's guar-
antee of freedom of speech. But
anti-Semitism and racism "is to-
tally counterproductive."
He added that a number of
people left the militia following
the bombing of the federal build-
ing in Oklahoma City two years
ago. Timothy McVeigh, a militia
sympathizer, was convicted in
the crime and is facing a possible
death sentence for the bombing.
"There were some people who

left," he acknowledged. "There is
a lot of hard work involved in be-
ing in the militia; there is a lot of
scorn" that comes from the me-
dia and other sources, he said.
Mr. Cohen agreed that the
militia members have splintered
in the wake of the bombing in
Oklahoma City. The effect of the
tragedy forced some people to shy
away from the movement alto-
gether; others, suggesting the
bombing was the work of the gov-
ernment and Timothy McVeigh
was a scapegoat, formed a hard-
er core.
What troubles Mr. Cohen
more than the small number of
anti-Semitic materials found at
the expo is the general leaning of
the militia movement toward
subverting democracy.
"Not all of them are overtly
anti-Semitic," he said. "But they
are preparing for armed conflict
that would basically result in an-
archy and the overthrow of the
rule of law.
"The Jewish community's se-
curity is predicated on the rule of
the law and a just system which
enforces equal opportunity and
liberty," he said. 'This wholesale
retreat to county autonomy and
the undoing of the legal system
is a direct threat to the strength
of our society and the strength of
the Jewish community."

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