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Last edited by Jimboson (talk | contribs) 53 days ago. (Update) |
| Abbreviation | NYF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2014 |
| Dissolved | 2016 |
| Type | White nationalist organization |
| Headquarters | United States |
Founder | Nathan Damigo |
| Affiliations | American Freedom Party |
The National Youth Front (NYF) was a neo-Nazi organization in the United States, formed in 2014 as the youth wing of the American Freedom Party. The NYF was primarily active on college campuses, where it sought to recruit young people into the white nationalist movement through provocative propaganda and public demonstrations.
History
editThe NYF was founded in 2014 by Nathan Damigo, a former U.S. Marine and convicted felon, and a leading figure in the American neo-Nazi movement.[1] The organization quickly gained notoriety for its aggressive tactics on college campuses, including distributing flyers with anti-immigrant and white nationalist messages, and organizing protests against perceived "anti-white" bias in higher education.[2]
NYF's propaganda often mirrored that of European far-right groups like Generation Identitaire, focusing on themes of white identity and opposition to immigration.[3] The group's activities included posting flyers and holding rallies, which often sparked controversy and led to counter-protests by anti-racist and anti-fascist groups.[2]
Leadership and organizational structure
editNathan Damigo, the founder of NYF, was a significant figure in the broader neo-Nazi movement. In 2007, while serving as a U.S. Marine, Damigo attacked a man he believed to be of Iraqi descent, holding him at gunpoint and robbing him of $43. The assault resulted in his arrest and conviction for armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to six years in prison.[1][2]
Damigo’s time in prison became a pivotal period in his life, during which he became increasingly radicalized. He began reading the works of white nationalist and former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, particularly “My Awakening”, which Damigo credited with solidifying his ethno-nationalist beliefs. This period of incarceration allowed him to internalize and expand upon the extremist views that would later inform his leadership of the National Youth Front and Identity Evropa.[2][1]
In 2015, Caleb Shumaker briefly took over as chairman of NYF but resigned due to backlash over his interracial marriage.[3] Following Shumaker's departure, Angelo John Gage, a veteran with a history of racist and anti-Semitic rhetoric, assumed leadership of the organization.[2]
Activities and tactics
editNYF's activities were characterized by a combination of online and offline tactics designed to promote white nationalist and neo-Nazi ideology. The group used social media platforms to spread its message and organize events, often framing its rhetoric in terms of identity politics to appeal to disaffected white youth.[2]
One of the group's most notable tactics was the distribution of flyers on college campuses, which included messages opposing immigration and promoting white supremacy. These activities often led to tensions with university administrations and other student groups, resulting in a number of high-profile controversies.[3]
In 2015, the NYF made headlines at Arizona State University (ASU) when members of the group distributed flyers and hung posters around the campus that proclaimed, “America is ours, and we are tomorrow.” These materials were intended to rally white students against immigration and promote a message of white nationalism. The flyers used the imagery of the Charlie Hebdo covers to draw attention to their cause, which sparked significant controversy on campus. The incident led to widespread condemnation from both the university administration and student organizations, who decried the NYF’s actions as hate speech and an attack on the university’s diverse student body.[2][3]
Nathan Damigo, the founder of the NYF, was involved in multiple high-profile incidents that brought further attention to the group. One of the most notorious was his involvement in the “Battle of Berkeley” on April 15, 2017. During a clash between supporters of then-President Donald Trump and counter-protesters, including members of the anti-fascist movement (Antifa), Damigo was caught on video punching a female protester in the face. This act of violence was widely condemned and became a symbol of the increasing militancy of the neo-Nazi movement in the United States. Damigo’s actions during the Berkeley event were emblematic of the confrontational and violent tactics that the NYF and its successor organizations often employed.[1][4]
Dissolution
editBy 2016, the National Youth Front had largely disbanded. The organization struggled with internal conflicts and leadership changes, leading to its rebranding as Identity Evropa under the leadership of Nathan Damigo.[1] Identity Evropa continued many of the same activities as its predecessor, focusing on recruiting young white men and promoting neo-Nazi ideologies. It operated until 2019, when it rebranded as the American Identity Movement.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Nathan Damigo". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Meet the National Youth Front: The New Racists on Campus". Southern Poverty Law Center. February 6, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Group Formerly Known as National Youth Front in Disarray". Southern Poverty Law Center. October 15, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ^ "Fight Extremism". Twitter. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
Category:Neo-Nazi organizations in the United States Category:Alt-right organizations Category:Identity politics in the United States Category:White nationalism in the United States Category:White nationalist groups Category:White supremacist groups in the United States Category:White supremacy in the United States Category:American conspiracy theorists Category:American fascist movements Category:Anti-black racism in the United States