Racist, Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories Abound on Internet in Wake of Hurricane Katrina

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 -- White supremacists continue to use the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to spread conspiracy theories and to promote their racist agenda and hateful worldview.

In a newly published report available at http://www.adl.org/extremism, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) shows how white supremacists and racists are attempting to use the situation in southern Louisiana and Mississippi to spread bigotry and hatred in cyberspace while encouraging their followers to take action in the real world.

Since the hurricane hit, a number of white supremacist groups rushed to offer help to whites, or in many cases, to solicit donations that would purportedly be used to help white victims. Since ADL first reported on the phenomenon of bigoted hurricane messages Aug. 31, hundreds of additional messages have appeared on racist and anti-Semitic Web sites and bulletin boards frequented by haters, with many encouraging donations to "whites only" relief efforts.

One prominent racist proposed a "Cartridges for Katrina" program that would provide ammunition to whites who chose not to evacuate the affected region. His group also claims to have established a "whites only" tent city for survivors.

Additionally, many white supremacists have expressed outrage at the "contamination" of their white communities. Some argued that communities should impose limits on the numbers of evacuees accepted. Many took satisfaction at the number of African-American deaths, or wished that there had been more minorities killed in the disaster.

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EDITORS NOTE: To speak with an expert on extremism and hate on the Internet, contact ADL Media Relations at 212-885-7749, or e-mail adlmedia@adl.org.

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Myrna Shinbaum

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