THREAD: The last two defendants from "The Base" murder conspiracy in GA were sentenced today, to six and thirteen years respectively. A third defendant was sentenced to twenty years on Wednesday.
Here's some background on the neo-Nazi murder conspiracy.
Here's some background on the neo-Nazi murder conspiracy.
https://twitter.com/afainatl/status/1461807228948819976
Luke Austin Lane, the leader of the Georgia cell, believed that the couple he was targeting for murder were "affiliated" with Atlanta Antifascists.
Murdering the couple was meant as punishment for antifascists identifying neo-Nazis.
(Text: from affidavit in support of arrests.)
Murdering the couple was meant as punishment for antifascists identifying neo-Nazis.
(Text: from affidavit in support of arrests.)
Neither of the targets were members of our group.
However, one of them was listed a series on Brad Griffin's racist Occidental Dissent website purporting to expose "Georgia Antifa[scists]". The series heavily suggested those listed were part of our org.
However, one of them was listed a series on Brad Griffin's racist Occidental Dissent website purporting to expose "Georgia Antifa[scists]". The series heavily suggested those listed were part of our org.
https://twitter.com/afainatl/status/1222550779166220288
By the way, @bluehost (owned by @NewfoldDigital) continues to host Brad Griffin's white power website. They've been receiving complaints for years.
We are still unhappy that this company almost got people murdered. @bluehostsupport
We are still unhappy that this company almost got people murdered. @bluehostsupport
https://twitter.com/afainatl/status/1461122504601313288
So what made The Base's cell in Georgia so upset about Atlanta Antifascists?
The GA cases not going to trial means that there's a lot of info we will never have.
However, we can talk about what we were doing in 2019 and how that connects to The Base.
The GA cases not going to trial means that there's a lot of info we will never have.
However, we can talk about what we were doing in 2019 and how that connects to The Base.
https://twitter.com/FFRAFAction/status/1264916563053903872
In December 2018, we exposed Joshua Bates -- who had passed through several other racist groups -- as having been involved with The Base.
Soon after, Bates announced that he was completely leaving the racist movement. He has kept his word on this.
Soon after, Bates announced that he was completely leaving the racist movement. He has kept his word on this.
https://twitter.com/afainatl/status/1072208378485706753
In 2019, a new set of people centered around Luke Austin Lane ("Draugr"/"TMB"/"TheMilitantBuddhist") established a Georgia cell of The Base.
By May 2019, the group was sharing propaganda images from one of their training sessions. They also placed posters in Rome GA.
By May 2019, the group was sharing propaganda images from one of their training sessions. They also placed posters in Rome GA.
At the time, we were cautious not to hype The Base in our online posts, since they aimed for notoriety which they could use to recruit.
However, through our other work we were coming close to their circles and -- we believe -- stepping on their toes.
However, through our other work we were coming close to their circles and -- we believe -- stepping on their toes.
In April 2019 -- the month before The Base's presence became more visible in our state -- we exposed Dalton Woodward and Brandon Trent East of the Asatru Folk Assembly, a whites-only heathen group overlapping with organized white nationalism & neo-Nazism.
https://twitter.com/afainatl/status/1115612542871777280
Dalton Woodward was in Afghanistan with the National Guard at the time. He was eventually kicked out after @ajc took an interest in the story.
Interestingly, Woodward's family home is in Silver Creek, about 15 min away from Lane's land used by The Base.
Interestingly, Woodward's family home is in Silver Creek, about 15 min away from Lane's land used by The Base.
https://twitter.com/nickmartin/status/1210368042707734528
Dalton Woodward was connected online to Corwyn Carver, an ideologist of the neo-Nazi "Atomwaffen Division". Trent East, the other "Ravensblood Kindred" member we exposed, was also tied to Carver.
Atomwaffen, like The Base, were accelerationist neo-Nazis.
Atomwaffen, like The Base, were accelerationist neo-Nazis.
https://twitter.com/afainatl/status/1139214599398592512
At a minimum, Dalton Woodward was moving in very similar political circles to The Base's cell in Georgia, and they would have heard what happened to Woodward.
Woodward was in contact with Luke Austin Lane after Lane's arrest over the murder conspiracy.
Woodward was in contact with Luke Austin Lane after Lane's arrest over the murder conspiracy.
https://twitter.com/afainatl/status/1373376198076723203
The other member of Asatru Folk Assembly's "Ravensblood Kindred" who we exposed in April '19 was Brandon Trent East. East was working as a jailer at the time.
The Haralson Co. Sheriff at first supported East, but later changed his position after outcry.
The Haralson Co. Sheriff at first supported East, but later changed his position after outcry.
https://twitter.com/afainatl/status/1118903149304188929
It was through researching East that our organization found Matthew Ryan Burchfield, who we exposed in May 2019... around the same time The Base's Georgia cell was getting more active.
Here are a couple of pics of East and Burchfield together.
Here are a couple of pics of East and Burchfield together.
https://twitter.com/afainatl/status/1125768355124842496
We knew that Burchfield was part of the accelerationist neo-Nazi scene. For example, in April 2019 he joined the "Fascist Forge" forum as "Alpers". Burchfield followed the account of The Base cell leader "TMB", later revealed as Luke Austin Lane.
Later, reporters for Vice revealed the Burchfield traveled to Ukraine in Fall 2019 with the hope of gaining combat experience.
The same article revealed that Burchfield was a member of The Base and part of its encrypted chat room until November 2019.
The same article revealed that Burchfield was a member of The Base and part of its encrypted chat room until November 2019.
https://twitter.com/BMakuch/status/1225420582218539010
According to the affidavit supporting the arrest of the three cell members of The Base in Georgia, the plot to murder anti-fascists began in October 2019.
It should be clear why The Base wanted to target Atlanta Antifascists specifically: we had exposed people in their milieu.
It should be clear why The Base wanted to target Atlanta Antifascists specifically: we had exposed people in their milieu.
At his sentencing today, Luke Austin Lane claimed that his neo-Nazi associates being labeled as neo-Nazis, left Lane few options but to go full Murder Nazi. 🙄
https://twitter.com/BMakuch/status/1461798041736863756
The Georgia cell was not actually targeting members of our org in the murder plot.
However a shoddily-compiled list of GA "antifa" published on Brad Griffin's Occidental Dissent in 2018, suggested that those named were with our group. One of the targeted people was named there.
However a shoddily-compiled list of GA "antifa" published on Brad Griffin's Occidental Dissent in 2018, suggested that those named were with our group. One of the targeted people was named there.
In Nazis' twisted logic, they're somehow forced to violence and murder by people seeing them for who they are.
In reality, white supremacy *is* brutal violence.
Exposing neo-Nazis & white supremacists carries real risks, but helps keep communities safe. We proudly do our part.
In reality, white supremacy *is* brutal violence.
Exposing neo-Nazis & white supremacists carries real risks, but helps keep communities safe. We proudly do our part.
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