Kathleen Belew Knihy

The white power movement in America seeks revolution, declaring war against the federal government and executing a campaign of terror against the public. Its members are not isolated individuals but organized groups driven by a troubling ideology of white supremacy, anticommunism, and apocalyptic beliefs. The movement, which consolidated in the 1970s and 1980s, emerged from a sense of betrayal following the Vietnam War and gained notoriety with the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. A motivated faction of veterans, active-duty personnel, and civilian supporters believed that waging war on their own country was justified. They united various militant groups, including Klansmen, neo-Nazis, skinheads, radical tax protesters, and white separatists. Operating with discipline, the movement engaged in assassinations, mercenary activities, armed robbery, counterfeiting, and weapons trafficking. Notably, women played a significant role in forging intergroup alliances and recruiting new members. This history underscores how the impacts of war extend beyond their immediate context, intensifying grievances and leading some to view violence as a rational response. It highlights the urgent need for awareness of the potential for paramilitarism in a contemporary landscape shaped by ongoing conflict.