Warsaw, home of alt-right groups, plans vigil in response to Charlottesville rallies
WARSAW, Ind. --- In wake of the tragedies in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend, ABC57 News is looking into extremist groups in Michiana.
One of the two major white supremacy groups in the nation, is found in Warsaw.
It's called the White Aryan Resistance (W.A.R).
ABC57 News got a hold of Tom Metzger, the Warsaw native who is also the former Grand Dragon of the KKK, and founder of W.A.R.
He responded with a recorded statement.
"We're racist and we don't beat around the bush," he says. "We're not white nationalists and we're not white conservatives. Or any of those other titles that are used by people who are too squeamish to say that they're racist."
Metzger adds, "we view all politicians, and the President, as our deadly enemy."
He is known thorughout Michiana, and the country, for his beliefs.
But not everyone in Warsaw feels the same way as Metzger.
"Tom Metzger, the organizer of the W.A.R. [is] the second most notorious white supremacist in the country," says Brian Smith.
Smith is one of the many activists who are organizing a vigil Monday night.
"We've decided to organize a rally, or a vigil, in support of the tragedies in Charlottesville," explains Smith. "We decided to organize one here in Warsaw to show that we're not afraid. We are not afraid of neo-Nazis."
He says he strives to bring the community together.
They'll use candles, rather than tiki torches, trying to prevent what happened in Charlottesville, from happening in their community.
"Indiana does not have a hate crimes law. We are one of six states that does not have a hate crimes law," says Smith.
Metzger has his own opinions about what happened in Virginia.
"You won't see us at the [expletive deleted] like what took place in Virginia this weekend," says Metzger. "We've been through that years ago and found that that's not a viable tactic."
Smith says he doesn't expect any trouble.
But if there is, they don't care.
"To my knowledge, no. But we'll see," he says. "But we're not afraid."