Latest news with #Odinists
Boston Globe
03-06-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
On the Vineyard, a federal immigration sting, a tattoo, and questions about white supremacy
'Some white supremacists, particularly racist Odinists, have appropriated the Valknot to use as a racist symbol,' the Advertisement Odinism is 'a term frequently given to a racist variant of the Norse pagan religion known as Asatru,' the ADL wrote. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. News of the officer's tattoo was The symbol, which also has an the alternative spelling Valknut, was tattooed on the face of a self-described 'white-power skinhead,' who killed a Utah corrections officer, according to an article cited by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The center said among racist pagans the Valknot signifies Advertisement Experts said the Valknot is not as easily recognized as other better known hate symbols. 'It is often associated with Odin and the willingness to die a violent death for a cause, usually Nazism/white supremacy,' Thomas Birkett, a professor at University College Cork, Ireland, who studies Norse mythology and runes. 'It's on the same continuum of swastika, black sun, othala rune, etc.' The symbol, he said, is also used by neo-pagans, often without racist connotations, so it is 'very hard to prove that it means what it probably does mean, unless accompanied by other more overtly racist symbols.' 'The problem is that neo-Nazi groups are very good at occupying this grey area which allows them deniability if challenged by an employer etc.,' he said. 'The federal agent concerned could easily claim that it is just a cool symbol, or worn because they have Scandinavian heritage, etc.' Sophie Bjork-James, a Vanderbilt University professor, agreed the symbol's meaning can be manipulated. 'Such symbols are often chosen over more recognizable racist images such as the swastika as the individual can both signal their identity to others while also denying a link to a white supremacist movement when convenient,' she said. 'This means that unlike a swastika, one needs more evidence to understand if someone with a valknut tattoo is indeed a white nationalist.' Many far-right groups have embraced Norse symbols and mythology 'because they critique Christianity as a religion influenced by Judaism,' according to Bjork-James Advertisement 'Anti-Jewish prejudice is central to white nationalism so Norse symbols can also be used as a symbol of their prejudice against Jews,' she said. Immigration raids last week on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket saw about 40 people taken into custody on the resort islands that rely on immigrant labor. Photos of the unidentified federal agent with the tattoo have circulated on the island. Photos and videos taken by a resident near the Menemsha Coast Guard Station show a man wearing a tactical vest identifying him as a 'police federal agent.' The man appears to wear a neck gaiter, which obscures the lower parts of his face, as well as sunglasses and a cap. Both of his arms appear to be heavily tattooed. Near the Valknot is a tattoo of the coiled snake of Charlie Giordona, a 58-year-old Vineyard resident, was among those to confront and film the agents during the ICE sting. 'It's all about context, man,' said Giordona over the phone on Monday. 'I would ridicule ICE for profiling brown people in their roundups. By the same token, I shouldn't profile someone for their tattoos. But again, it's all about context.' He continued, 'I don't think those guys are fans of Odin and Norse mythology. I think those guys are white supremacists.' Massachusetts has a lengthy history of white supremacy and far-right politics. At least 530 state residents signed up for the Oath Keepers, Advertisement In 2022, two days before the Fourth of July, about 100 white supremacists, Danny McDonald can be reached at
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
New 'Bridge Guy' Video Shows Panicked Last Moments of Slain Delphi Girls: 'No Path Going There'
A new video released by supporters of Richard Allen, convicted of killing Abigail 'Abby' Williams and Liberty 'Libby' German in 2017, shows the last moments of the girls, where they sound nervous and appear to be in silent panic. Libby, 14, and Abby, 13, were found slain a day after they disappeared during a hike on a trail in Delphi, Ind. in February 2017. Allen was convicted in November 2024 of four counts of murder in their killings and was sentenced to 130 years in prison. The investigation — and later Allen's conviction — hinged in part on a damning video recorded on Libby's phone showing a man following the two on an otherwise isolated trail. The shadowy "Bridge Guy," as he came to be known, was seen in a brief video released publicly showing him following the girls on a bridge. He was not identified for five years until Allen's arrest in 2022. Now, a longer video, shared by Allen's supporters, shows more of the girls' last chilling final moments. The 43-second video shows Libby pointing the camera towards Abby, who is being followed by "Bridge Guy" in the background. Abby is heard whispering at the camera "Is he?" before her voice becomes inaudible. Libby sniffles before turning the camera and walking ahead while Abby says something else, also inaudible, in the background. "See, this is the path," Libby says, her camera pointing to the ground, before her voice drops, "that we're on." Abby rushes past the camera at this point. "Umm, there's no path going there," Libby says, the camera still pointing towards the gravel on the road, "so we have to go down here." One of them is heard panting, and another one is heard sniffling amid their footsteps on the gravel. Then "Bridge Guy" is heard saying the infamous lines that became synonymous with the case: "Guys, down the hill." Then the video abruptly ends. The video was released on a website made by Allen's supporters, who claim to be working on his "post-conviction legal work" following what they say was a 'wrongful' conviction. Allen's appellate lawyer tells PEOPLE their team is not linked to the website and themselves do not have a copy of the newly released video. "[The video] doesn't change the fact that he was unable to challenge the state's case or present evidence about any other suspects," Stacy Uliana tells PEOPLE. During the trial, Allen's defense tried to argue the girls were killed in a ritualistic sacrifice by Odinists, members of a Norse pagan religion linked with White nationalism, the Associated Press and CNN previously reported, citing defense motions. The theory was not allowed in a court after a judge ruled there was a lack of evidence to support the claim, per court slain girls were best friends, Libby's grandfather Mike Patty told PEOPLE following the murders. They spent time in class together at the local middle school, Patty previously said. Outside school, the two were known to play sports together or go hiking Delphi's community trails. Read the original article on People
