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Two conservative journalists have sparked outcry on social media by making what some have interpreted as a white supremacist hand symbol at a recent visit to the White House.

Freelancejournalist Mike Cernovich and Cassandra Fairbanks, a reporter for Russian news outlet Sputnik, posed for a picture behind the podium in the White House briefing room. In the photo, they are making a hand sign that can be used to signify white power.

Just two people doing a white power hand gesture in the White House, Fusion senior reporter Emma Roller tweeted, alongside a screenshot of the picture.

Ms Fairbanks, however, claims the hand gesture was not a reference to the white power movement. She pointed to her partial Puerto Rican heritage as evidence that she is not a white supremacist.

White power!!!!!!! Except I'm Puerto Rican. Can it be PR power?! she tweeted.

Ms Fairbanks supporters point out that the hand symbol is also used to mean OK. Photos show people of all races using the symbol to signify that everything is alright.

The symbol, however, has become more contentious with the rise of the alt-right a far-right contingent in the United States that rejects both mainstream conservatism and liberal ideologies. The self-proclaimed founder of the alt-right, Richard Spencer, is a well-known white supremacist.

Alt-right journalist Lucian Wintrich, a writer for The Gateway Pundit, sparked outcry when he flashed the symbol in a similar picture at the White House in February. Notorious alt-right personality Milo Yiannopoulos also frequently flashes the symbol.

The resurgence of the symbol may be traced back to a popular alt-right meme, known as smug Pepe, which began circulating on alt-right, pro-Trump message boards in 2015. Mr Trump often uses the symbol when speaking, explaining its significance with the presidents supporters.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) characterises the symbol as a racist hand sign.

Some white supremacists, particularly in California, may use a two-handed hand sign in which one hand forms the letter W and the other hand forms the letter P, to represent WP or White Power, an entry in the ADLs hate symbols database reads.

Ms Fairbanks joined notoriety when she moved from supporting Senator Bernie Sanders to supporting Mr Trump for president. She now frequently speaks out against Islamic terrorism and the Black Lives Matter movement. Her employer, Sputnik, applied for White House press credentials last month.

Mr Cernovich is the founder of the mens rights blog Danger & Play, and author of the book MAGA Mindset: Making YOU and America Great Again. He received White House press credentials on 25 April.

Originally posted here:
Two members of alt-right accused of making white supremacist hand signs in White House after receiving press passes - The Independent

Police and university officials said they were bracing for possible trouble whether Coulter comes to campus or not, citing intelligence and online chatter by groups threatening to instigate violence.

UPDATE: 12:45 p.m. Eastern

BERKELEY, Calif. The International Socialist Organization says it will hold an "Alt Right Delete" rally in downtown Berkeley to show support for free speech and to condemn the views of conservative commentator Ann Coulter and her supporters.

Thursday's rally at noon comes as Gavin McInnes, founder of the pro-Trump "Proud Boys" has said he will speak in the afternoon at Berkeley's Civic Center Park.

He is encouraging similar groups to show up for gathering.

Another group called the Orange County Alt Right Group is planning a morning rally in the same place.

Coulter's planned speech at University of California, Berkeley, was canceled and police are preparing for possible violence by the groups with opposing political views.

ORIGINAL STORY:

BERKELEY, Calif. Ann Coulter said Wednesday that she was forced to cancel her speaking event Thursday at the University of California, Berkeley amid concerns of violence but might still "swing by to say hello" to all her supporters.

Police and university officials said they were bracing for possible trouble whether Coulter comes to campus or not, citing intelligence and online chatter by groups threatening to instigate violence.

A group of far-right supporters plans to hold a rally Thursday at a Berkeley park to denounce what they claim is an attempt to silence their conservative views.

KCBS reports that Gavin McInnes, founder of the pro-Trump "Proud Boys," says he will speak at 2 p.m. at Civic Center Park and is encouraging other alt-right groups to make a large showing at the gathering.

In emails to The Associated Press on Wednesday, Coulter confirmed that her planned speech on illegal immigration, followed by a question-answer session, was canceled. But she remained coy about what she might do instead.

"I'm not speaking. But I'm going to be near there, so I might swing by to say hello to my supporters who have flown in from all around the country," Coulter said in an email. "I thought I might stroll around the graveyard of the First Amendment."

Officials at UC Berkeley said last week they feared renewed violence on campus if Coulter followed through with plans to speak. They cited "very specific intelligence" of threats that could endanger Coulter and students, as Berkeley becomes a platform for extremist protesters on both sides of the political spectrum.

Efforts by the university to cancel or delay the Coulter event dealt a blow to Berkeley's image as a bastion of tolerance and free speech.

Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks sent a letter to the campus Wednesday saying the university is committed to defending free speech but also to protecting its students.

"This is a university, not a battlefield," Dirks said in the letter. "The university has two non-negotiable commitments, one to Free Speech the other to the safety of our campus community."

See the article here:
Alt-right, socialist groups to rally after cancellation of Coulter talk - Canton Repository

Police and university officials said they were bracing for possible trouble whether Coulter comes to campus or not, citing intelligence and online chatter by groups threatening to instigate violence.

UPDATE: 12:45 p.m. Eastern

BERKELEY, Calif. The International Socialist Organization says it will hold an "Alt Right Delete" rally in downtown Berkeley to show support for free speech and to condemn the views of conservative commentator Ann Coulter and her supporters.

Thursday's rally at noon comes as Gavin McInnes, founder of the pro-Trump "Proud Boys" has said he will speak in the afternoon at Berkeley's Civic Center Park.

He is encouraging similar groups to show up for gathering.

Another group called the Orange County Alt Right Group is planning a morning rally in the same place.

Coulter's planned speech at University of California, Berkeley, was canceled and police are preparing for possible violence by the groups with opposing political views.

ORIGINAL STORY:

BERKELEY, Calif. Ann Coulter said Wednesday that she was forced to cancel her speaking event Thursday at the University of California, Berkeley amid concerns of violence but might still "swing by to say hello" to all her supporters.

Police and university officials said they were bracing for possible trouble whether Coulter comes to campus or not, citing intelligence and online chatter by groups threatening to instigate violence.

A group of far-right supporters plans to hold a rally Thursday at a Berkeley park to denounce what they claim is an attempt to silence their conservative views.

KCBS reports that Gavin McInnes, founder of the pro-Trump "Proud Boys," says he will speak at 2 p.m. at Civic Center Park and is encouraging other alt-right groups to make a large showing at the gathering.

In emails to The Associated Press on Wednesday, Coulter confirmed that her planned speech on illegal immigration, followed by a question-answer session, was canceled. But she remained coy about what she might do instead.

"I'm not speaking. But I'm going to be near there, so I might swing by to say hello to my supporters who have flown in from all around the country," Coulter said in an email. "I thought I might stroll around the graveyard of the First Amendment."

Officials at UC Berkeley said last week they feared renewed violence on campus if Coulter followed through with plans to speak. They cited "very specific intelligence" of threats that could endanger Coulter and students, as Berkeley becomes a platform for extremist protesters on both sides of the political spectrum.

Efforts by the university to cancel or delay the Coulter event dealt a blow to Berkeley's image as a bastion of tolerance and free speech.

Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks sent a letter to the campus Wednesday saying the university is committed to defending free speech but also to protecting its students.

"This is a university, not a battlefield," Dirks said in the letter. "The university has two non-negotiable commitments, one to Free Speech the other to the safety of our campus community."

Original post:
Alt-right, socialist groups to rally after cancellation of Coulter talk - Carthage Press

Kyle Chapman is organizing a fraternal order, he says, to protect free speech for the alt-right.

Members of the alt-right claim to be forming a forming a fraternal gang in order to better defend their free-speech rights with violence if necessary when police fail to do so.

Our emphasis will be on street activism, preparation, defense and confrontation, Kyle Chapman, a California activist known online as Based Stickman, wrote on Facebook on April 21. We will protect and defend our right wing brethren when the police and government fail to do so.

This organization is for those that possess the Warrior Spirit, Chapman wrote, dubbing his new group the Fraternal Order of Alt Knights.

Chapman was arrested earlier this month in a clash in Berkeley, Calif. between anti-fascist protesters and pro-Trump demonstrators. He named his new group the tactical defensive arm of the Proud Boys, another group that shows up at pro-Trump rallies and has clashed with counter-protesters, according to a Southern Poverty Law Center report.

Proud Boys organizer Gavin McInnes a co-founder of the website and magazine Vice who now moves in alt-right circles called his group a pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world.

Email Sam Kestenbaum at kestenbaum@forward.com and follow him on Twitter @skestenbaum

More:
'Alt-Right' Gang Vows To Protect Free Speech - Forward

An alt-right group apparently is trying to build a small street army vowing to use violence if necessary to defend free speech from leftist extremists.

Kyle Chapman a proud American nationalist who became a conservative hero in some circles after his arrest this month during fierce clashes between anti-fascist protesters and Trump demonstrators announced the formation of the new group last week on Facebook and issued a call to action.

Our emphasis will be on street activism, preparation, defense and confrontation, Chapman wrote on Facebook. We will protect and defend our right wing brethren when the police and government fail to do so. This organization is for those that possess the Warrior Spirit. The weak or timid need not apply.

Chapman said the organization, the Fraternal Order of Alt-Knights, will be partnering with the Proud Boys, a conservative group formed by Vice co-founder Gavin McInnes that bills itself as Western chauvinists who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world. (McInnes is no longer affiliated with Vice and parted ways with the company 10 years ago.)

The formation of the new fraternity is being done with McInnes approval and Chapman is calling for action to defend against Marxist groups that are intent on stripping us our freedoms, according to another Facebook post.

No more keyboard warrior st, Chapman wrote in an earlier post. No more crying about the state of our country while you do nothing to change it. Its all about action. President Trump has our back for the next 8 years. The timing couldnt be better. Lets do this!

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups and other extremist organizations, has taken notice of the highly masculine group, likening it to a neo-Nazi fight club called the DIY Division, whose members turned up in California last month to support an estimated 2,000 Trump supporters.

Our movement is really getting off the ground now, Chapman wrote on Facebook. We need to expand and keep the momentum going. But I cant do this on my own. I need my fellow warriors to create local Alt-Knight chapters with the intent of carrying out our cause within their community. The mission is to protect our right wing brethren from attack while having rallies, marches and protests. You will also counter protest Marxist groups that are intent on stripping us of our freedoms.

Chapman has solicited submissions for the groups official symbol or crest, generating several dozen suggestions, including designs featuring the slogans Infidel Nation, Proud Enemy of Islam, Good Night, Left Side, a Knights Templar cross, at least two iterations of Pepe the Frog and a foreboding knight with the letters FOAK across a sash in front of an American flag shield.

FOAK is [a] fraternal organization with its own bylaws, constitution, rituals and vetting processes, Chapman wrote, adding that websites will be coming soon, although some chapters have already established pages on Facebook.

Chapman, meanwhile, blasted the horrible decision by conservative commentator Ann Coulter to cancel her planned appearance at the University of California at Berkeley on Thursday, although she confirmed in emails to the Associated Press that she was forced to cancel the event amid threats of violence.

In a statement to students Wednesday, UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks said groups from the extreme ends of the political spectrum have made known their intentions to use violence to support or protest speakers at the campus.

This is a university, not a battlefield, Dirks statement reads. We must make every effort to hold events at a time and location that maximizes the chances that First Amendment rights can be successfully exercised and that community members can be protected. While our commitment to freedom of speech and expression remains absolute, we have an obligation to heed our police departments assessment of how best to hold safe and successful events.

UC Berkeley administrators insist they did not cancel Coulters event.

Instead, we received a request to provide a venue on one single day, chosen unilaterally by a student group without any prior consultation with campus administration or law enforcement, his statement continued. After substantial evaluation and planning by our law enforcement professionals, we were forced to inform the group that, in light of specific and serious security threats that UCPDs intelligence had identified, there was no campus venue available at a time on that date where the event could be held safely and without disruption.

Berkeley has seen at least three violent confrontations this year between Trump supporters and counter-protesters, most recently on April 15 during a Patriots Day rally when 21 people were arrested, the Los Angeles Timesreports. Fireworks and smoke bombs were tossed into the crowds near Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, where Trump demonstrators had planned a rally. In March, 10 people were arrested and seven others wounded at a scheduled pro-Trump rally, and an appearance by conservative writer Milo Yiannopoulos was canceled in February due to violent protests at the liberal university.

Link:
Alt-right thugs want to bring muscle to liberal protests - New York Post