Creators Of Hate
DANIEL KURTZMAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
he white supremacist who allegedly went on
a shooting spree against minorities over the
weekend belonged to an overtly racist and
anti-Semitic group that advocates a racial
"holy" war.
It is also a group whose leader found some unlikely
Jewish supporters earlier this year in his battle to gain a
license to practice law.
Matthew Hale, an unabashed anti-Semite who heads
the World Church of the Creator, has twice been
denied a license by an Illinois state panel that evaluates
the "character and fitness" of prospective attorneys. He
was denied because he espouses racial hatred.
But Alan Dershowitz, a prominent Jewish attorney,
came to Hale's defense after the initial denial, arguing
Hale had a right to free speech and a right to practice
law, no matter how objectionable his views.
The Anti-Defamation League, while calling Hale's
views "abhorrent," said that denying him a law license
sets a dangerous precedent.
"At another time, in another place," the ADL said in
a statement last February, "we could envision a circum-
stance in which another Committee on Character and
Fitness could follow this lead to reject a candidate
because that candidate has expressed support for abor-
tion, opposition to school prayer or other moral views
contrary to the majority of his or her community."
The controversy gained Hale nationwide attention
and launched him onto the talk-show circuit.
Dershowitz offered to represent Hale, but Hale later -\
declined, saying that Dershowitz's association with his
cause had already given him the publicity he sought
and aided his widespread recruiting drive.
Under Hale's leadership, the World Church of the
Creator, founded in 1973 in Florida, has had a resur-
gence in recent years. Law enforcement and other offi-
cials call it one of the fastest-growing hate groups in
the country.
The group teaches that Jews and non-whites are sub-
human "mud people" who threaten the survival of the
"white race." It sees a "racial holy war" as inevitable in
its quest to build "a whiter and brighter world."
The group's Web site, which Hale runs, proclaims,
among other things, that Hitler had the right idea, but
should have promoted the supremacy of all whites,
rather than just Germans.
Although the group claims not to condone violence,
the July 2 shooting spree allegedly carried out by
Benjamin Nathaniel Smith, a 21-year-old follower of
Hale's, was only the latest in a string of violent attacks
associated with the group.
Smith's rampage, which left two men dead and at
least seven others — including six Jews — injured,
ended late Sunday night when the alleged gunman took
his own life.
Federal agents are still investigating the World Church
of the Creator in connection with last month's bombing
((
ZPRI
a M
»
a NUMMI
'AV 0 CO
s3
,
ammo
z; 2E
?X, WnEn
$s V
7/9
1999-
18 Detroit Jewish News
,O
The ADL and a Jewish law professor
defended the hate group's right to speak.
But Benjamin Smith spoke with bullets.