Thread by @Jbloeffler

Day 7 of Charlottesville Trial begins w/ judge rebuke of defense for excessive cross-exams:

"You’ve ... a right to show these plaintiffs have a different view from you" but not to try "to convince the other.. they are right & the other side is wrong."

Then on to devastating testimony from former Alt-Rightist Sam. Froelich on codewords:

"Another word they use for the Jewish people is “globalist.” Globalist means Jewish person. Communist means Jewish person. These are dog whistles that you would use in everyday conversation"

Then on "Zionist"

"Zionist, that’s another... well that’s not really a dog whistle, that’s really out there. ZOG stands for Jewish propaganda in that you know, you’re fighting a war b/c of Jewish people”

The use of humor, she says, is to desensitize and create "plausible deniability"

They say, “It’s just a joke...They are not jokes. It’s a cover. It’s how you get away by saying what you actually think by using a light tone.”

After recess, plaintiffs have now called defendant Matthew Heimbach, the first defendant to testify in court.

A deep walk through his National Socialist views, networks & claim that "Nazi" is a slur. His own Trad. Workers Party "was inspired" by many sources, including "Baathist parties"

“So when people say that the US fought the Nazis in WW2, you would consider that a slur?”
"Yes."

Under questioning he admits his 2017 views that he hates Jews & "Jewish "vermin... are waging total war against us" and must be exterminated.

Tries to qualify that this was "political speech with a specific purpose" & referring only to ""the organized Jewish community"

At the heart of this case is question: Do violent words and plans on social media = "an unlawful conspiracy to commit racially-motivated violence"?

Plaintiff atty. uses Heimbach's soc. media to show how discussions on riot equipment, offensive uses for it, plans to "remove Commies" etc ... led to beating of DeAndre Harris.

One tantalizing comment surfacing in this context, suggesting foreknowledge of potential conspiracy:

“Best to leave sensitive planning to voice whenever possible”

Now sparring over his tweet, in which he claims was about self-defense and nothing to do with fantasies of car-ramming.

“Leftist protesters blocking the road with weapons, threats and violence while making you fear for your life? #HitTheGas”

As evidence mounts in this trial, it's impossible not to register how profoundly central antisemitism is to White Supremacy. Aligns with the famous @BulldogShadow argument in the now classic "Skin in the Game: How Antisemitism Animates White Nationalism"

politicalresearch.org/2017/06/29/ski…

The day is winding up with Spencer examining Heimbach, now discussing the ideological origins of the concept of the "ethno-state."

Heimbach defines ethnostate as a political goal of “self-determination in line with international law”

Court ends for today with Heimbach still on stand, and an announcement. Plaintiffs hope to put expert witness @deborahlipstadt on the stand tomorrow.