HEATHENS UNITED AGAINST RACISM STATEMENT OPPOSING THE NEO-NAZI LEIF ERICSON DAY EVENT

When neo-Nazis converge on Philadelphia for their “Leif Ericson Day Celebration” this Saturday, one group wanted to make it clear just how much they will misrepresent everything they claim to stand for. UPDATE: Addendum added.

Heathens United Against Racism

The pre-Christian religion of ancient Germanic civilizations is known by many names, but is most commonly referred to as Heathenry or Asatru. This religion is a polytheistic one that believes in gods and goddesses such as Odin, Thor, Frey, Frigga, and Freya who are known through the famous Viking sagas. There is also a belief that our ancestors play a part in our lives, and a belief that spirits of the dead dwell in the earth, the forests, and the lakes and rivers. We celebrate spiritual traditions from Northern Europe, this is not a religion of hate.

Unfortunately members of White Nationalist organizations seek to misrepresent our culture and our spiritual heritage to disguise and gain acceptance among more mainstream demographics. The Leif Erikson Day celebration in Philadelphia is one such occasion in which a White Nationalist group is attempting to do this. This celebration is being organized by the Keystone State Skinheads, a group with a long track record of White Supremacist hate crimes among their members. Philadelphia Leif Erikson Day is not about Viking explorers, it’s not about a cultural history that the Scandinavian-American community can get behind, and it is certainly not about Asatru.

As members of the Asatru and Heathen community, we openly reject any attempt by the Keystone State Skinheads and members of other White Nationalist hate groups to appropriate and misrepresent this Holiday. We will not stand silently by as these racists misrepresent our history as one of hate.

Addendum from Heathens Against Hate

Leif Erikson Day in Philly is becoming an annual struggle between opposing racial and political groups, leaving the average citizen stuck in the middle. In October 2008, the Thorfinn Karlsefni statue was vandalized with red paint by groups and individuals opposed to the actions of the Keystone State Skinheads. Some of the participants in that action are  just as racist and hateful as the Skinheads. Hate cuts in many directions. The Thorfinn Karlsefni statue represents a Scandinavian contribution to world history. It is owned by the Philadelphia community, not by the racist extremists of any racial or ethnic group or by the extremists at either end of the political spectrum. To use the statue either as a rallying point or a target for the advancement of racist causes is offensive and intolerable.