Far-right groups with ties to Neo-Nazis known as the “Proud Boys” and the “Three Percenters” are planning to attend a rally in Philadelphia on November 17th called “We the People”. They provoke and attack people on the streets who they deem to be unworthy of their far-right, fascist vision of the country. The Proud Boys were present in Charlottesville, terrorize residents in the cities of Portland, New York, and Providence, and have been listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The residents and allies of Philadelphia must stand in opposition to this escalation of the far-right’s push into the city’s culture and politics.
We are urging people recognize the seriousness and danger of this situation, and come out to oppose them on November 17th at Washington Square in Center City Philadelphia. There is safety in numbers, so to ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals and communities, it is imperative that as many people as possible show up in opposition.
What to bring: Noise makers, signs, water, warm clothing and comfortable shoes, your friends and neighbors.
We hope that the info we’ve collected is helpful to comrades around Pennsylvania and elsewhere. We will be copying all the Keystone United Exposed articles to a stand-alone blog so, as time passes and new content is published here, that info remains easy to find.
Keystone United Exposed effectively identified the major players within KSS, as well as many of its foot soldiers and supporters. It provided a start in mapping out the distribution of KU/KSS around the state and region, so we can know where they are really strong and when they are swelling numbers with out-of-town support.
From l to r: Unknown, Joe Phy, Scott Costa, Jason Cunningham, Ian McCorts, Unknown, Bob Gaus, Bryan Vanagaitis, AJ Olsen and Nunzio Pellegrino of Keystone State Skinheads. All except unknowns were profiled as part of KU Exposed.Keystone United members. From l to r: Steve Smith, Unknown, Bob Gaus, Joe Garvey, Bryan Vanagaitis, Cody Haulman, Ryan Wojtowicz, Scott Costa, Ian McCorts, Travis Cornell (rip lol), Chris Croumbley, Josh Martin and Shane Dilling. All but the one unknown were exposed during our series.
Having identified this many members and associates of KU/KSS will also lead to us identifying future associates more easily. We exposed many bones at their jobs and to people who live in their communities. However, one drawback of a project like this is such a flood of information can make it inevitable that people will begin to slip through the cracks. It’s possible that by focusing on a smaller number and really campaigning around, for example, getting Steve Smith fired from Gertrude Hawk’s Chocolates warehouse in Dunmore, we could have had a larger impact. The good news is there’s no reason why we can’t still do that.
While preparing these articles, we learned several things that had to be considered and reconciled with our subjects’ associations with a violent white supremacist gang; filled with men who glorify Hitler and Colonialism, who promise “Freedom Through Nationalism” but practice racial terror. Including the frequency that Keystone United members and associates had successfully either totally hidden or sanitized the group’s image for many people in their lives. This sort of “low-intensity,” year round outreach work (aka being fake friendly) is insidiously effective in minimizing the eventual impact once they are eventually exposed. “Oh no! Not Bob… He’s never said anything offensive to me! Well, a few jokes…” is what some will say. Nazis collect these “friends” as an insurance policy against future exposure.
KSS rallying along with their friends in the PA State Militia for anti-refugee “Overpasses Across America” protests From l to r: AJ Olsen, Joe Phy, Ryan Wojtowicz, Steve Smith, and Pat Rogers. All were profiled in KU exposed.Keystone United members attending Trump rally in Harrisburg. Jimmy Thorson is turning back towards camera. Melissa and Bob Gaus are in center. All 3 were profiled in KU exposed.
Keystone United has largely maintained their course during the Trump era. Unlike Heimbach and the TWP or the NSM, KU/KSS did not overreach early or open up the gates to any potential murderer they could slap a white polo on. Keystone United abandoned publicly using language about “Racial Holy War” (RaHoWa) or overthrowing the “Zionist Occupied Government” of the U.S. long before Trump. What has changed, though, is that now KU/KSS has a new PR tactic at their disposal, the label of “Trump Supporter.” KU/KSS uses that aforementioned outreach work to reinforce the notions being pushed by right wing media that a) anti-fascists are indiscriminately describing as nazis and attacking all trump supporters or anyone who disagrees with far left politics and b) all actions against trump supporters are being done by Antifa crews or organizations. Both of these claims are patently false. But now, with many major media outlets pushing similar narratives, they have a more receptive audience.
We know that we convey to everyone as to the level of threat KU/KSS represents. This is disheartening, both as Anti-Fascists and as people who, largely, have experienced direct violence from this group or groups allied to them. And ultimately, the conclusion is that white conservatives generally, (and some POC conservatives) don’t really dislike Nazis very much at all. It would seem, that for many of them, the biggest concern is being lumped in with them, and a frustration with nazis not being able to keep their racist rhetoric in the coded language that is popular among “white america.” That said, we hope that this series has made it clear that KSS has not gone away, and their influence and support network extends far beyond their membership.
Keystone United rallying in Harrisburg. A: Scot Costa B: Travis Cornell (rip lol) C: Shane Dilling D: Ian McCorts G: Ryan Wojtowicz H: Steve Smith I: Bob Gaus J: Bryan Vanagaitis K: Chris Croumbley L: Cody Haulman. All were profiled in KU exposed.
When members of the Golden State Skinheads (a crew allied with KSS), wearing TWP shirts, attacked and stabbed anti-fascists in Sacramento in 2016 before being driven off the streets, TWP spokesman Matt Parott attempted to frame it to the media as a fight between “pro and anti-trump groups.” Because of the spiteful mentality of Trump supporters in the face of ever-increasing evidence of his incompetence, narcissism, and corruption, they will defend anyone willing to still publicly identify as a pro Trump. Anti-Fascists need to be aware of this dynamic and begin formulating new strategies to wedge groups like KSS and Blood and Honour from the GOP base. The evidence of what happens if we fail is in the increasingly Fascist rhetoric and tactics being used by pro-trump sectors of government and law enforcement, not to mention all the recent dog whistles to nazism coming out of those sectors.
Pat Rogers of KU/KSS repping support for Golden State Skinheads after word of possible charges for their members stabbing several Anti-Fascists in Sacramento in 2016.
Exposing a nazi is crucial. It can largely neutralize their crossover political organizing, add a tremendous social cost, and makes them think twice about attacking someone, knowing that they will be identified immediately by Anti-Fascists. For KU/KSS, public exposure also undermines the generous amount of effort they put in to distancing their group from its more openly neo-nazi past. However, it is the follow-up that gets the goods. The people who contacted workplaces, passed out flyers around the homes of KSS members, pushed for their expulsion from social clubs and sports teams, and took other actions have done just as much as us to make this a success.
One area we did not touch on during this series as much as we’d like is KU/KSS’ involvement in the “Anti-Antifa movement.” Anti-Antifa Pennsylvania shirts are printed and sold by KSS members, and they are involved in running an Anti-Antifa blog and website that publishes information on Anti-Racists and Anti-Fascists. KU nazis are very encouraging of the Anti-Antifa label as a stand in for more openly nazi imagery and as a unifying point between white nationalists and other far right nationalists who conflict with antifa because of our left and anarchist politics. Pushing Anti-Antifa as a brand within the larger pro-trump right is likely to be a strategy for KU/KSS over the next few years, and the groundwork has already been laid by media outlets, Trump, and 4chan.
Several members of KU/KSS can be seen wearing Anti-Antifa t-shirts in this pic from LED 2017.
We have successfully identified almost all of the attendees of last year’s Leif Erikson Day event in Philly. Only those who hid their faces or stayed away from Fairmount Park have escaped detection so far. So while ultimately our goal is to stop KU from holding Leif Erikson Day at all, the information we gather from it’s continuation is a nice consolation prize. Thanks to last year’s LED, we were able to identify Joe Garvey, Chris Croumbley, Anthony Marcink, and Travis Cornell (rip lol), all previously unknown to us, as Keystone United associates. We were also able to confirm the continued involvement of several individuals who had not been sighted at public KU events for several years, including Shane Dilling and Liam Schaff.
Some of those KSS nazis wore masks because they have something to lose from being exposed by us. Help us identify the “unknowns.” If anyone has information about the any of the unidentified nazis picture in this series, please send it our way.
It is common to end on a note acknowledging that white supremacy and racism are much larger than neo-nazi bonehead crews or their more media-friendly iterations. While this is true, attempts to compartmentalize groups like Keystone United from the larger “mainstream” right seem rooted more in wishful thinking and denial than reality. KU has synthesized American libertarian conservatism with national socialist “race science” to make both more palatable to the other. Two Keystone United leaders are Luzerne County GOP officials. In the process of this article, we exposed KU members/associates as working for city governments, in large unions, and for international software firms. Keystone United associates are/were active in biker clubs, veterans groups, roller derby leagues, music scenes and local government. Tired tropes and finger pointing about “living in mom’s basement” on both sides of this conflict are generally inaccurate, Daniel “Jack Corbin” McMahon excepted. Anti-Fascists in this state should not discount how embedded Keystone United are in their communities.
Steve Smith and Ryan Wojtowicz of Keystone United. Both are Luzerne County GOP committeemen.
When Bob Gaus and several other KU members attended Trump’s rally in Harrisburg, they did not sit in some special section. When they (likely) went out to get a drink afterwards, they did not go to a nazis-only bar. When they talk politics at the bar with people belonging to “the mainstream right,” those people are most likely left with the impression that they have more in common than difference with the KU members. If we learn nothing else from Trump’s ascension, it should be that the distance between a “non racist” republican (or democrat/independent for that matter) and a neo-nazi is much smaller than we like to believe, and the unifying of those forces is a very real threat.
Nazis have embedded themselves in groups like The Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer or started multi-racial pan-right groups like Vinlanders Social Club founder Brien James’ American Guard.
Republicans have utilized dog whistle and crypto-fascist talking points to retain supporters among the racist right, while not alienating POC and non-racist conservatives. Anti-Fascists have relied too heavily on accusations of racism as a panacea solution to the far right, and the far right has adapted. They have dozens of strategies in place to undermine those accusations before they are even made. We have to take the more difficult path of dissecting the full contents of the ideologies of the far right and conveying why they should be opposed on a plethora of grounds, including cis hetero-sexist positions, militarism and colonialism, and supporting capitalist exploitation of the working class, in addition to white supremacy and racism. Otherwise we will continue to hand groups like Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer and American Guard an easy way to insulate themselves from association with orthodox fascist groups, and an easy way to portray us as hysterical or dishonest.
We would like to thank all those who took action this month based on the articles we’ve released. As we mentioned, actions have already begun and are likely to continue for some time. As this is being written, it is unclear when or if Keystone United will hold their Leif Erikson Day event in Philly. It is possible they’ve even held it already in secret. Should they do so, we have the tools to hold them accountable long after they scurry out of Fairmount, back to their homes in Philly or elsewhere in the state. It is a point of pride for us to put a stop to this demonstration, but not only have we effectively neutralized it as a source of recruitment or propaganda for KU, we have purposed it as an intelligence trove for ourselves. So stay home or come on out, boys. Either way, we’ll use it to our advantage and to further our ultimate goal of destroying Keystone United for good.
Finally, predictably, there has been some blow back from KU/KSS/BNH regarding this series. Threats and harassment has been sent from KU members and supporters in all directions, including to non-involved persons and former members. Sometimes for something as simple as sharing an article. We send our respect and solidarity to the folks facing any sort of harassment as a result of the series. Threats against ourselves have also been levied, both of legal action and assault. For our part, we refuse to be intimidated by a group of coward liars. Two-faced scumbags who have the nerve to call others “degenerates.” Who attack brutally in swarms and talk tough behind police but who cower in our city, coming unannounced and bitterly unwelcome, staying briefly and leaving quickly. Every flash demo and rally, every threat and assault, every rape and murder, creates more of us. It reinforces our resolve. This is the city of gritty, fuckers, and we’re just getting started.
Here’s a list of more (but not all) Keystone United and Keystone State Skinheads members, supporters and associates from our intel files, in no particular order:
Keystone United supporter Blake Luca. Luca runs a neo-nazi podcast called “Revenge of the Cis.”Brandon Minor is a Keystone United and Blood and Honour supporter living in Lebanon, IN.Cody Haulman is a Keystone State Skinheads and Keystone United member living in Lancaster, PA. Haulman rallied with KSS in Harrisburg last year and has attended members-only functions.“Damon Backwoods,” Keystone State Skinheads associate.Andrew Boyle, former KSS member who is still friendly with them and now associates with Atlantic City Skinheads.Gary Robinson, Blood and Honour member living in Virginia. Robinson owns Hardline Tattoo in Richmond.Heather Brewer (r), Keystone United member and Keystone State Skinheads supporter. Pictured with her recently deceased partner, Travis Cornell, who died within a day or 2 of being charged for the bias attack in Avalon, PA alongside other KSS members and associates. Brewer remains a vocal KSS supporter and helped organize their Blue Eyed Devils show in central PA on Sept. 15th.“Jesse R. Hesse,” Blood and Honour member living in Fircrest, WA.Jordan Shull, Keystone United supporter.Josh Patton, KSS supporter living in Coatesville, PA.Rob Julason, longtime KSS associate living in Aston, PA. Julason was present with KSS in 2006 when they attempted to harass a Pride event in Philly.Shizelle Kurtz, Keystone United supporter living in Atlantic City, NJ. Kurtz works as a waitress at Harrah’s Atlantic City.Paul Augustson of he band Norsewind. Norsewind attended and played the after party for several Leif Erikson Day events, even after being made aware of KSS’ real politics. Augustson maintains friendly relations with KSS.Keystone United supporter Chad Richardson.
Christian Nell, Keystone United supporter living in Harrisburg. Nell works for Faulkner Honda.
Keystone United supporter Christopher Beatty. Lives in Belcamp, MDScot Costa (l), Keystone State Skinheads member. Possibly living in Carlisle or Camp Hill, PA.Dani Riccio, Keystone State Skinheads supporter.Keystone United supporter Dave AlthouseBlood and Honour associate and Keystone United supporter Justin Gloseck. Gloseck is involved in running “New Nation Productions,” which puts on neo-nazi shows in Pennsylvania. Gloseck also runs “Peace Metal Productions,” which he uses as to do non-white power shows.Vinlanders Social Club member and KSS supporter Don Hansard. Hansard was present at Leif Erikson Day in Philly in 2013.Blood and Honour member Donald Palmer.The band Final Verdict. The woman on the left’s name is Elizabeth and the man’s name is Liam Schaff. Schaff is a KSS member. The band opened for the Blue Eyed Devils at a Keystone United organized show in Central PA on Sept. 15th. Schaff also rallied with KSS at Leif Erikson Day in 2017.Keystone United supporter Gabe Bracale. Lives in PA.
Grainne Feeley, member of Keystone United front group European American Action Coalition and KSS supporter.
“Jack Knipe,” Keystone United supporter living in York, PA.
Jason Augustus, Traditionalist Worker’s Party member and Keystone United supporter.Keystone United supporter Jay Fuchs.Keystone United supporter Jed BothelhoKeystone United supporter Jesse Clime (l)Keystone State Skinheads and Blood and Honour affiliate Jimmy Conway.Keystone United supporter “Joey Idol”Hammerskin and Keystone United supporter Johnny Tod Kopko (l)Blood and Honour affiliate “Kass Anova”
Keystone United supporter Kevin Marburger.Keystone United supporter Kimberly McGeary.Keystone United supporter Kyle Thomas. Thomas also hangs with AC Skins. He lives in Philly.Keystone United supporter Lisa Burns.Keystone United affiliate and Keystone State Skinheads supporter Lorie Monahan.Keystone United supporter Mark McGarry (r)Keystone United supporter Michael InnokentiiKeystone United affiliate Michael Sokoloski.Keystone United supporter Michelle Bell.Blood and Honour member and Keystone United affiliate Moe Sandeqski. Sandeqski is also involved in New Nations productions.Keystone United supporter Micco Malick (r).Keystone United supporter Nicholas Gervasio.Keystone United supporter Paul Spohn.Keystone United supporters Ron and Tiffany Shirley.Keystone United supporter Ryan Reidell.Keystone United supporter Sandro Botticelli.
Blood and Honour affiliate Scott William.Keystone united suppoter Scott Barton (r).Keystone United supporter Steve Dilks (l) with his son, who he describes as “total white power.”Keystone State Skinheads affiliate “Thor Farabaugh.”Keystone United supporter Travis Condor.Keystone United supporter Venita Harlan.Keystone United supporter William Reardon.
Check in tomorrow for our wrap up article for this series.
NOTE: Today, Leif Erikson Day, is Day 30 of our month-long series “Keystone United Exposed.” Before we get to today’s article, we wanted to let everyone know to check back tomorrow for a BONUS DAY of Keystone United exposed. You didn’t think we were done… did you?
Keystone State Skinheads member Jason Cunningham.
Jason Cunningham is a neo-nazi and longtime Keystone State Skinheads member. He has been in attendance at several of the Leif Erikson Day events in Philly as well as other KSS protests and actions around PA. He grew up in New Jersey, at different times attending Pitman High School and Arthur P. Schalick HS in Gloucester County and Elmer, respectively, and then lived in Lancaster for a while, during his time with KSS. Cunningham left PA at some point, so we are unsure his activities currently, but he is still a nazi and KSS member.
A more recent pic of Cunningham with his wife. Anti-Communism is a common obsession for KSS members.Cunningham (l) with Philly Keystone State Skinheads members. Note the KSS sticker and book “White Power” by influential american nazi George Lincoln Rockwell.Cunningham marching with KSS at the 2012 Leif Erikson Day.Jason Cunningham in his KSS shirt.Cunningham with fellow KSS members. Cunningham is 4th from the left.
Cunningham’s last known address was 1190 Norwood Road, Mansfield, TN. He lives with his wife, Danielle King. We are asking our readers to help us with any other verifiable information they can gather on Cunningham.
Cunningham (r) with KSS members and polish neo-nazis in Jersey City, NJ.
Name: Jason Cunningham
Last known address: 1190 Norwood Road, Mansfield, TN
Associations: Keystone State Skinheads, Keystone United
Joe Garvey is a neo-nazi member of Keystone United and supporter of Keystone State Skinheads. Garvey was at the Leif Erikson Day event in Philly this past year, as well as KU’s Yule Celebration and several other KU events.
Garvey (2nd row left) with Keystone State Skinheads members at their Leif Erikson Day even in Fairmount Park in 2017.Garvey (center back behind Steve Smith) at Keystone United’s yule party.
Joe Garvey’s last known address is 86 Gilligan St., Wilkes Barre, PA. We are asking our readers to help us find more info on this nazi, especially related to employment.
Name: Joseph J. Garvey, Jr.
Last Known Address: 86 Gilligan St., Wilkes Barre, PA
Aaron Klinger, neo-nazi and Keystone State Skinheads probate member. Klinger is wearing a shirt for KSS’ 2013 Leif Erikson Day event in Philly.
Aaron Paul Klinger is a 44 year-old (DOB 9/26/74) neo-nazi and a probationary member of Keystone State Skinheads. Klinger has attended Leif Erikson Day events in Philly as well as KSS and Keystone United social events.
Aaron Klinger (center rear in front of PA flag) with Keystone State Skinheads at their annual member BBQ.
Klinger’s last known address is 62 Fellowship Dr., Halifax PA.
Klinger a few years ago.Klinger repping Keystone United on social media.
Clinger celebrating his probate status with KSS.
We are asking our readers to help us find out what Klinger is doing for work and send that info our way.
Name: Aaron Klinger
Last Known address: 62 Fellowship Dr., Halifax, PA
Affiliations: Keystone State Skinheads Probationary Member, Keystone United Supporter
Blood and Honour nazi Michael Rohrich not-so-subtly hinting at his Keystone State Skinheads affiliations.
Michael S. Rearich is a 32 year old (DOB 8/27/86) neo-nazi member of Blood and Honour’s Club 28 and affiliate of Keystone State Skinheads/Keystone United.
Rearich posting a disguised swastika. One of the commentators, Jay Cunningham, is a KSS member.
Rearich lives in York, PA., though he was in Tucson, AZ last month and may still be there.
Rearich is close with Mikey Marcink, also of Blood and Honour, and lived with Marcink in Indiana for a time.
Rearich (r) with Mikey Marcink, another blood and honour nazi. Lots of nazi imagery present in this pic, including numerical code 88 for HH or heil hitler and the black sun.
Rearich was with Marcink and other neo-nazis at the disastrous Leif Erikson Day in 2013 when Keystone United and Blood and Honour were dwarfed and drowned out by counter protesters.
Rearich pled guilty to corruption of minors in 2008 and received 2 years probation with 65 hours of community service.
Rearich at Leif Erikson Day 2013.
Rearich (2nd from right) with Marcink of Blood and Honour, Joe Phy of KSS and Matthew Heimbach of TWP (and now NSM).Rearich wearing a Blood and Honour USA t-shirt.Rearich (in the back left side) attending Keystone United’s yule party.
Rearich’s last known address is 27 Maple Road, York, PA. We are asking our readers to send us any more info they can find on Rearich, especially related to employment.
Name: Michael Rearich
Last Known Address: 27 Maple Road, York, PA
Affiliations: Blood and Honour Club 28, Keystone State Skinheads supporter.
Amy Strong and Rick Haught, Keystone United supporters and neo-nazis.
Clemie Richard (Rick) Haught is a 42 year-old (DOB 11/12/75) member of Maryland Skinheads and longtime neo-nazi. Haught runs the music label “Label 56” out of Baltimore, MD. Since the apparent demise of Micetrap Records, Label 56 would be the premier white power label in this region.
Rick Haught wearing his Label 56 hoodie.
Haught is in a relationship with Amy Strong, who once worked for a Ron Paul campaign before her nazi ties were exposed. Strong now works with Confederate “flagger” groups and the Oath Keepers. Two groups that vehemently deny having nazi connections, and yet here we are. Strong also has previously worked with Council of Conservative Citizens, an anti-black hate group.
Strong (r) with Ron Paul while working for one of his presidential campaigns.Strong (center) at a pro-confederate rally.
Label 56 sells releases by bands such as Brutal Attack, Bound for Glory, and Empire Falls as well as a large collection of National Socialist Black Metal and racist country western music. The clothing section has a considerable amount dedicated to hating Anti-Fascists and leftists, and the DVD’s section has only 2 items, one of which is the last speech of William Pierce, longtime leader of the National Alliance. Pierce was the author of “The Turner Diaries,” a novel about Nazi revolution within the united states that has inspired scores of acts of violence including the Oklahoma City Bombing.
Only $6.50, eh?Haught and Strong with Maryland Skinheads member Jason Tankersley.
Label 56 was in the news briefly in 2012 after they were discovered selling items by bands linked to Sikh Temple shooter and Hammerskin Wade Michael Page. Label 56 issued a statement decrying the shooting and removed the items, but continued selling other items just as inflammatory and offensive.
Haught runs the Label 56 blog, which features such luminary thoughts as “They’re gonna have a black actress play Samantha in a bewitched remake?! That’s the same as having Ryan Gossling play Martin Luther King!”
No we aren’t exaggerating.
It is also used to promote Keystone United related projects such as the European American Action Coalition. Label 56 puts out podcasts arbitrarily to promote their bands and politics.
Rick Haught promoting a Keystone United led coalition group European American Action Coalition on Label 56’s website.Haught (with checkered shirt on right side) attending Keystone United’s yule party.
Haught was present with MDS in 2006 when they attacked Anti-Racists on the way to protest the Klan in West Virginia near the border of Maryland. He was also present with KSS when they harassed Philly Pride in 2006.
Rick Haught (in rear with sunglasses) with KSS and MDS nazis harassing a Pride event in Philly in 2006.
Haught is also a regular at Keystone United and KSS events, and KU in turn fills their St. Patrick’s Day event, which it isn’t getting shut down by MD Antifa. Haught has also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge in the past.
Strong (with red hair) with Oath Keepers at a demonstration of some sort.Strong (in black) with Pennsylvania Council of Conservative Citizens, including KU members Steve Smith, Jason Honeywell and Ryan Wojtowicz.
Haught and Strong’s last known address is 1604 Inverness Ave., Baltimore MD. It is unknown if Haught has any other income, or what Strong is doing for work, and we are asking our comrades in that area to look into it and let us know.
Names: Clemie Richard Haught (goes by Rick) and Amy Strong
Last known address: 1604 Inverness Ave, Baltimore, MD
Affiliations: Maryland Skinheads, Label 56, Keystone State Skinheads, Keystone United, Oath Keepers, Virginia Flaggers, Veterans for Ron Paul, Council of Conservative Citizens
Ryan Wojtowicz, Keystone United member and neo-nazi living in Nanticoke, PA.
Ryan F. Wojtowicz is a longtime nazi, white nationalist organizer, and very active member of Keystone United. Wojtowitcz has attended most, if not all, Leif Erikson Day events.
Wojtowicz models himself after KSS co-founder Steve Smith, and has followed him into the Luzerne County GOP as a committeeman.
Wojtowicz attended Hanover Area Junior-Senior High School and Luzerne County Community College.
Wojtowicz (r) with fellow Keystone United members. Wojtowicz is licking the nipple of Keystone State Skinheads member Steve Smith.
Wojtowicz (rear next to Steve Smith) at Leif Erikson Day 2012 after-party in Philly.Wojtowicz (with hat) with Keystone United and Traditionalist Worker’s Party at the Traditionalist Youth Network’s conference in Philly in 2016.
Wojtowicz (left in Keystone United hoodie) at the KU Yule party.
Wojtowicz attends almost every Keystone United event in the area and has written content for their blog. Wojtowicz is also active in the Pennsylvania Council of Conservative Citizens, the European American Action Coalition, and the American Freedom Party. All projects Steve Smith is involved in as well (Smith and Wojtowicz founded the EAAC). Despite being only 28, he has been involved in White Nationalist organizing for nearly 10 years. Wojtowiczs’ last known address is 418 E. Noble St., Nanticoke, PA.
Wojtowicz (center) alongside Keystone United members participating in an “Overpasses Across America” anti-refugee protest as “European American Action Coalition.”Keystone State Skinheads at Leif Erikson Day 2017 on Lemon Hill. Wojtowicz is holding the banner.Wojtowicz (center next to Bob Gaus) with Keystone United and Tradtionalist Worker’s Party at Leif Erikson Day 2015. Hilariously bad photoshop courtesy of the nazis.Wojtowicz with PA chapter of hate group Council of Conservative Citizens. Fellow Keystone United members Steve Smith and Jason Honeywell are present, as is National Vanguard nazi Erick Wiegel.Ryan Wojitowicz (l) and Jason Honeywell (r), KU and Council of Conservative Citizens members.Ryan Wojtowicz at Leif Erikson Day 2013 in Fairmount Park.
We are asking our readers to help us ascertain where Wojtowicz is working and send that, and any other info about him, our way.
Name: Ryan Wojtowicz
Age: 28
Last Known Address: 418 E. Noble St., Nanticoke, PA
Affiliations: Keystone United, Council on Conservative Citizens, European American Action Coalition, American Freedom Party, Luzerne County GOP
A 12,000-pound, century-old statue of a Viking explorer along the Schuylkill River that some white supremacists group treat as a totem of their ideology is under repair after it was knocked down overnight. The 7-foot-4-inch tall bronze statue depicting Thorfinn Karlsefni is located next to the lighthouse at the end of Boathouse Row, beside Kelly Drive.
Around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, police were called to the scene based on reports that the statue was missing. They found it in the river nearby.
“This statue was essentially toppled,” said Margot Berg, Public Art Director for Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE).”It was an act of vandalism. There aren’t really any cameras around there that we can see, so we’re hoping if anybody driving by saw anything, that they can help and share it with the police.”
The Schuylkill is not too shallow at that location, so the statue was clearly visible submerged in the water nearby. The pedestal was partly broken into two pieces. On Tuesday evening, it was lifted from the river and sent to a conservators. Workers found the statue decapitated in the river after being knocked over, but were also able to recover the head.
Police have not made any arrests or speculated on a motive for the statue being knocked down. Some have noticed that with an Eagles-Vikings game scheduled for Oct. 7, maybe a passionate football fan wanted to make a statement against the rival team.
But it’s not hard to connect the dots for those who know the statue’s history.
Viking statue appropriated by skinheads
The 98-year-old sculpture by artist Einar Jónsson memorializes the millennia-old journey to North America of Icelandic sailor Thorfinn Karlsefni, made around the year 1010 A.D.. But in recent years, the statue’s story has been perverted by white supremacists who have made it their rendezvous point for annual gatherings.
Specifically, the Keystone State Skinheads (KSS), now sometimes called Keystone United, have held annual meetings in Philadelphia on “Leif Erikson Day” by the statue for years, purportedly because they see the Vikings who visited North America as vindicating their white-supremacist ideology. The official date for that holiday is Oct. 9 – next week.
“If this was due to somebody on the left, on our side, it was based on the frustration people have about the non-actions against KSS every year when this happens, not talking about this, not talking about stopping it,” Daryle Lamont Jenkins, the activist who tracks white supremacist activities and founder of OnePeoplesProject.org, said of the statue’s toppling. “Let’s be fair. It’s just a statue of a Viking explorer. There really wasn’t any white supremacist connotation to it until KSS came along. … There should be a response. They should condemn it. Just say they [KSS] have no place in Philly. That’s all anybody really wants folks to do.”
Berg declined to comment on possible ideological or political motivations of the vandals who knocked down the Viking, which she called a beloved landmark for rowers and other Schuylkill River Trail users.
“The sculpture has been a flashpoint between different groups in the past, but I certainly can’t surmise why they did this last night,” Berg said. “It is a sculpture that has stood there for 100 years, and it is one of the parts of our collection which belongs to everyone. I’m just always really disappointed when people do these unnecessary and costly acts of vandalism.”
Antifa and skinheads face off by the statue on Leif Erikson Day 2017. Credit: phillyantifa.org
How a Viking statue became a neo-Nazi meeting place
Jenkins said he doesn’t know who took the statue down, but has heard others speculate it was vandals aligned with left-wing, anarchist or Antifa movements. One year ago, just ahead of last year’s Leif Erikson Day, the Viking statue was covered with paint and tagged with anti-Nazi slogans and an Anarchy symbol. Intentional or no, Jenkins said, it’s become a magnet for white supremacists, and should be removed.
“One Peoples Project or Antifa, in general, should not be the only ones getting angry about the fact that for the past decade, neo-Nazis have been coming to this statue … What neo-Nazis do, what fascists do impacts everyone,” he said. “Move it somewhere else, so A. It’s not a gathering spot for Nazis and B. You can keep it clean.”
KSS rallies at the statue peaked in numbers in 2013, which also drew the largest crowd of anti-fascist protesters, estimated at around 200. In 2017 small groups of Antifa and skinheads faced off under the statue. (KSS could not be reached for comment).
“Ever since 2013, they’ve been trying to come up with ways to avoid us,” Jenkins said. “They would not announce the rallies publicly. Unfortunately, every year since then, the statue has been getting vandalized, and now it’s in the river.”
The Philly Antifa group earlier this year began a campaign of publicly outing KSS members online, ahead of the planned rally, but none of their online postings reference attacking the statue. (Philly Antifa could not be reached for comment). Both Philly Antifa and Jenkins says KSS members have faced charges in the past for crimes like assaults and even murder, some of which they say were racially motivated.
Joeseph Hoesch. Neo- nazi, former Keystone State Skinheads member, and current Atlantic City Skins associate living in Philadelphia.
Joseph Hoesch was a founding member of Keystone State Skinheads, who is no longer a member but is still a neo-nazi (though he lacks the courage to admit it in the street) and has been spotted around the city harassing leftist events, including demonstrations against the Trump Administration by larger, more liberal groups, and the #OccupyICEPHL encampment.
Joe Hoesch wearing a Waffen SS t-shirt and harassing the #occupyICEPHL encampment in Philly with a few fellow nazis.
Joseph Hoesch was involved in forming KSS in 2001, and was present with them the following year in York, PA, when Nazis rallying with the National Alliance and Creativity Movement were routed and sent fleeing the city by locals and Anti-Fascists. Hoesch was injured at some point in the melee.
Hoesch was married to his future ex-wife by Creativity Movement “Pontifex Maximus” Matthew Hale on the Aryan Nations compound. Hale would be imprisoned for conspiring to murder a federal judge who had ruled against the group over a copyright issue.
Joe Hoesch, former Barricada magazine “Bloody Bonehead of the Month.”
Following his ex-wife’s departure from the white power movement, Hoesch wasn’t seen around for several years, but was alongside KSS in Tacony around 4 years ago when they countered our March Against Racists and Rapists.
Hoesch was all tough talk that day, but when he was seen again last November he denied still being a Nazi. This was proven false a few weeks later when he was hanging out with AC Skins’ members when they were at a Murphy’s Law show in Philly.
Hoesch discussing nazi patches and defunct white power distro Micetrap records with AC Skins member Vinny DeFelice.
As we mentioned, Hoesch showed up at least twice at the #OccupyICEPHL encampment, once wearing a Neo-Nazi t-shirt and with another bonehead. Hoesch is no longer a member of KSS, but this is a result of him sleeping with KSS Co-Leader Bob Gaus’ fiancee, Valerie, and not a change of heart.
Hoesch works as a window cleaner, and has his own business, Hoesch Window Cleaning Service. He has it registered at his home address, 3255 Chatham Street, here in Philly.
We are asking our readers to go to the Angie’s List page for Hoesch Window Cleaning Service and leave reviews that make people aware that the business is run by a longtime neo-nazi who has a history of violence and harassing liberals and leftists, unprovoked.
Hoesch wearing the shirt of AC Skins band Aggravated Assault.
Name: Joseph Hoesch
Last known address: 3255 Chatham Street, Philadelphia
Employment: Hoesch Window Cleaning Service
Associations: Keystone State Skinheads Co-Founder and Ex-Member, Atlantic City Skins associate.
Jason Honeywell, longtime Keystone State Skinheads member and neo-nazi.
Jason Honeywell is a longtime neo-nazi and Keystone State Skinheads member who was at one time, and may still be, the leader of the Wilkes Barre unit.
Honeywell was accused of stabbing two Anti-Racist skinheads outside of Cafe Metropolis in Wilkes-Barre after he and other members of KSS provoked a confrontation by giving seig-heil salutes at the singer of the band River Side Riot, who is black, during the band’s set.
Honeywell’s younger brother eventually pled guilty to the charges, but even if you believe him (and we have doubts), Jason Honeywell was indisputably involved in the racist provocation and fight that followed.
The Honeywell brothers alongside Keystone United co-founder Steve Smith and KU member Ryan Wojtowicz.
Honeywell has attended several past Leif Erikson Day events and was present when KSS crashed an NAACP organized meeting in response to Anti-Semetic graffiti being spray painted on a local synagogue by racist teenagers who were friends of KSS members. Honeywell has also been active with the Council of Conservative Citizens, a hate group with an innocuous sounding name with origins in the White Citizen’s Councils of the Jim Crow south.
Jason Honeywell (l) with Ryan Wojtowicz of Keystone United. Honeywell’s brother is in the back right.Honeywell (r) with Pennsylvania chapter of hate group Council of Conservative Citizens. Also present are KU members Steve Smith and Ryan Wojtowicz.
In recent years, Honeywell hasn’t been spotted at many KSS events, but he may just be keeping a low profile. Honeywell maintains at least social connection to KSS, as does his fiance Sharyn Mann, and there’s no evidence he’s changed his ways.
Honeywell’s last known address is 129 Pine Street, Apt. 2, Pittston PA. We are asking our readers to help us identify what employment, if any, Honeywell has.
Name: Jason Honeywell
Last known address: 129 Pine Street, Apt. 2, Pittston PA
Affiliations: Keystone United, Keystone State Skinheads, Council of Conservative Citizens
UPDATE: According to a statement on the Bath City Roller Girls’ social media, both Marcel and Sharon Brettschnieders have been kicked off the team. We applaud BCRG for their quick and decisive action and for taking a stand against racism and nazism in Roller Derby. We have updated the article accordingly.
Sharon and Marcel Brettschnider, Keystone United members and neo-nazis living in Ferndale, MI. Marcel is wearing a “Rock Against Communism” shirt. RAC was started by the singer of neo-nazi band Skrewdriver, Ian Stuart, and is a common image on nazi clothing.
Marcel and Sharon Brettschneider are Keystone United members living in Ferndale, MI. They are both neo-nazis and Keystone State Skinheads supporters.
The Brettschneiders keep it very low profile about their white nationalist beliefs. They actually lived in Pennsylvania for several years, in Pheonixville and Philadelphia. At some point in their time in PA, Marcel joined KU, and then they moved to Michigan We later would learn of a “guy named Marcel” from KSS who had left town, but it wasn’t until doing research for KU Exposed that we discovered who Marcel was.
The Brettschneiders with Philly KSS and KSS co-founder Steve Smith. From left to right: Peggy Caterino, David Phillips, Steve Smith, The Brettschneiders, Joey and Stacey Phy. AJ Olsen kneeling in front.The Brettshneiders with Philly KSS member AJ Olsen.
Marcel is/was besties with Philly KSS leader AJ Olsen. He included AJ in his wedding party, and they interact constantly on Facebook. When Tim Wylie from KSS was imprisoned for possessing an illegal firearm as a felon, Marcel Brettschneider donated 200 dollars and had this to say:
Bob Gaus is the de-facto leader of Keystone State Skinheads.
So Marcel not only knows Tim Wylie, and AJ Olsen, but KSS co-founder Bob Gaus, and is clearly referring to KU/KSS as “his brothers.”
Once we knew Marcel was KU, we were able to spot him in some pictures of the group, including a Keystone United/KSS picnic in 2015 (right next to Gaus) and Leif Erikson Day that same year. Sharon Brettschneider is also in the picture. Both of them are trying to hide their identities.
Marcel Brettshneider at Keystone United’s annual members picnic.Marcel Brettschneider (right, in cap, with arm around nazi) with fellow Keystone United members at their yule party.Keystone United at Leif Erikson Day 2014. The Brettschneiders are on the right, turned away from the camera. We have verified through informants within KSS that they attended this LED.
The reason for hiding his identity, as well as his beliefs, is likely linked to Marcel Brettschneider’s job as a Consultant for IT company Cenit North America, Inc.
Sharon Brettscneider playing Roller Derby. Marcel is behind her in ref’s shirt. They have since been kicked out of their team.
We are asking our readers to both email and call Cenit North America’s support and lodge a complaint that they are employing a neo-nazi who is using his wages to help bail a fellow nazi out of jail for carrying an illegal gun as a felon.
Finally, anyone with additional info regarding these two should send it our way.
Back of the Brettshnedier’s car.
Marcel and Sharon Brettscneider partying with fellow Keystone United nazis.Keystone United’s Patricia Vanagaitis wishing The Brettschneider’s well when they left Philly for Michigan.Anti-Communism is an obsession among neo-nazis. Marcel Brettschneider and AJ Olsen are no exceptions.
Names: Marcel and Sharon Brettschneider
Location: Ferndale, MI
Employment: Marcel works as a Consultant for Cenit North America
Affiliations: Keystone United, Keystone State Skinheads
Heidi McCarthy (l) and Pat Rogers (center) of Keystone United attending their Leif Erikson Day 2013 event in Philly.Pat Rogers at LED 2012.
Patrick Rogers and Heidi McCarthy are neo-nazis and members of Keystone United living in Williamsport, PA.
Rogers is heavily involved with Keystone United and Keystone State Skinheads. He attends many of their demonstrations and social events. Rogers has attended pretty much every Leif Erikson Day event since at least 2012. He also writes the bulk of the content for Keystone United’s blog under his real name.
Rogers has a long criminal history, including charges for “corruption of minors,” inducing minors to buy alcohol, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.
Rogers (2nd row in Anti-Antifa shirt) at LED 2017.
Rogers posted a change.org petition in 2017 to overturn the conviction of Kayla Norton and Jose Torres, 2 anti-Black racists who terrorized a children’s birthday party with guns, confederate flags and racial slurs. Rogers was briefly involved with American Vikings, a group started by Vinlanders Social Club founder Brien James, in 2013.
Rogers (l) wearing a shirt of neo-nazi band Skrewdriver.
Heidi McCarthy has also attended several Leif Erikson days in Philly, and helped campaign for Steve Smith’s re-election in Luzerne County. She is a proud racist.
McCarty (l) at Leif Erikson Day 2013 listening to Matthew Heimbach attempt to speak over protesters. Her shirt read “Don’t shoot officer, I’m White!”Nazis Mikey Marcink, Heidi McCarthy and Pat Rogers
Rogers and McCarthy’s last known address was 815 Wilson St., Williamsport. Pat drives a very understated Hyundai Elantra (PA HKD 6201).
This car has stickers supporting AC Skins band Aggravated Assault, Maryland skinheads run Label 56, Keystone United, and the New York Yankees. Despicable.
We are asking our readers to send any additional verifiable info on these two to us.
Rogers with KSS members and supporters in Tacony countering an anti-rape, anti-racist march.Rogers (4th from right) with fellow KSS and Blood and Honour boneheads.
Names: Patrick Rogers and Heidi McCarthy
Last known address: 815 Wilson St., Williamsport
Affiliations: Keystone United, Keystone State Skinheads, American Vikings
Jimmy Thorson, neo-nazi and Keystone United member.
Jimmy E. Thorson is a neo-nazi, Keystone United member, and Keystone State Skinheads supporter living in Carlisle, PA.
Thorson has attended several Leif Erikson Day events, and also went to support an Aryan Nations rally of 12 in Gettysburg in 2010 but ended up leaving early muttering about how pathetic they were.
Thorson at Leif Erikson Day 2012.
Unfortunately, Thorson did not wise up after that and started getting involved with KSS and Keystone United. Thorson attends many Keystone United events, and was also spotted with Bob Gaus at the Trump rally in Harrisburg.
Thorson (l) with KSS members at Trump rally in Harrisburg.
Thorson attended an anti-refugee rally in Harrisburg with KU last year.
Thorson (2nd row behind Bob Gaus) with Keystone United at anti-refugee protest in Harrisburg.
Thorson’s last know address is 120 W. Willow St., Carlisle PA. We know that Thorson had been working at a grocery store in Carlisle, but do not know if his employment status has changed in recent years. Thorson has also worked for an events company as a seasonal employee and also claims to have just enrolled in Southern New Hampshire University, likely doing online courses.
Thorson working for Carlisle events.
Thorson in his Anti-Antifa hoodie.Thorson with KSS and MDS members. Apologies for size.Thorson putting up KU stickers at his work site a few years ago.
Name: Jimmy E. Thorson
Age: 30s
Last known address: 120 W. Willow St. Apt C, Carlisle, PA.
Affiliations: Keystone United Member, Keystone State Skinheads Supporter
