All of these crimes by Hammerskins leaders meet the definition of terrorism for the following reasons: the violence was repeated; the violence was criminally and politically motivated (the crimes were committed against groups like gays and blacks that the Hammerskins politically oppose); and the victims were targets of opportunity or symbolic, such as black or gay people who happened to be using a park or having a drink at a pub at the wrong time. Further, the acts of terrorism committed by Hammerskins leaders have the effect of encouraging terrorism among rank-and-file members. The average member would be right to deduce that those who practiced violence would be protected by the group and perhaps even advance within it. In short, there was an institutional condoning of violence - if it was right for the leadership, it was right for the members.

And, as one might expect, there have been plenty of violent crimes committed by ordinary members that would be rightly classified as terrorist. One California member has claimed that his chapter had a rule that required black citizens to be assaulted if they ever walked through a neighborhood where Hammerskins lived (Miner, 2003). Clearly, these victims were targets of opportunity designed to further the Hammerskins message of race separation. Additional hate crimes have been committed by Hammerskins members in Arizona, California, Texas and Massachusetts, and Illinois police believe they may have halted more serious crimes when they made a major illegal-gun bust that netted several Hammerskins' automatic weapons and handguns in 2004 (Corcoran, 2004).

In short, it is easy to establish that the crimes committed by Hammerskins' leaders were terrorist in nature, but it also can be demonstrated that the hate crimes of regular Hammerskins' members should be classified as terrorism. By recruiting from prisons,...

Moreover, this violence does meet the definition of terrorism, because the victims have been targets of opportunity, who were often symbolic in nature, such as Jewish or gay people, or people of color. And the crimes were definitely intended to advance the political agenda of the Hammerskins, which is focused on white dominance over other races and homosexuals - a dominance that is established physically, through violence.
The Hammerskins are, quite simply, a terrorist group and their message and tactics are great dangers to American society. Although the group may currently be enduring a period of transition, it has shown the ability to be a major force in the white-power movement, and America has likely not seen the last terrorist act committed by this group.

Works Cited

Corcoran, P. (2004, April 3). Hammerskin Nation member arrested. Pioneer Press, p. B-4.

Gibbs, J. (2006, July 27). Jury convicts Rowlett carjacker on 8 federal offenses. The Courier-Gazette, p. 1.

Hall, J. (2001, November 22). Two found guilty in 1999 hate crime attack. North Country Times, p. 1.

Lejtenyi, P. (2003, January 30). Hate under the sleeve. The Montreal Mirror.

Miner, K. (2005, November 3). Reformed new-Nazi speaks to Southern. Southern News, p. 14.

Reynolds, M. (1999). Hammerskin Nation. Montgomery, AL: Southern Poverty Law Center.

Reynolds, M. (2002, February).Virtual Reich. Playboy, p. 3.

Southern Poverty Law Center (1999). Intelligence Report. Montgomery, AL: Southern Poverty Law Center.

Ten who terrify (2007). Montgomery, AL: Southern Poverty Law Center.

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