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Feud Puts Future of Hate Music Label In Doubt
Panzerfaust Apparently Out of Business
Updated: March 1, 2005
By the end of 2004, Byron Calvert (also known as Bryant Cecchini), who co-managed and acted as the spokesperson for Panzerfaust Records, was bragging that the hate music label was halfway to its goal of distributing 100,000 CDs of racist and anti-Semitic music to schoolchildren across the country. Panzerfaust had received tremendous media attention for this plan, which the company called "Project Schoolyard USA." However, a few weeks into 2005, Panzerfaust Records appears to have ceased operations.
Anthony Pierpont, one of the co-founders of Panzerfaust Records, already in legal trouble after a recent arrest for drug possession, is now being shunned by white supremacists after Calvert confirmed recent allegations by some white supremacists that Pierpont was partially of Mexican descent and had taken a sex tour in Thailand-items that would make Pierpont anathema to many haters. Rumors about Pierpont's non-white ancestry have been circulated for some time by those perceived to be Pierpont's "enemies" in the extremist movement. However, when Calvert, who is well-respected in racist skinhead and neo-Nazi music circles, confirmed the allegations, Pierpont became an outcast among white supremacists. Calvert announced a break with Panzerfaust, while a variety of white supremacist groups, including Hammerskin Nation, Volksfront, and White Revolution, have withdrawn their support from the company. Many of the white power bands on the label are poised to do the same.
As of January 27, 2005, the Panzerfaust Web site was no longer operating. People trying to reach the Web site were instead redirected to the Free Your Mind Productions Web site, which says it "is supported and hosted by the good people that were left at Panzerfaust." The new site appears to be run by a group of Hammerskins and ex-Panzerfaust staff.
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Updated: January 28, 2005
A public feud between the two principals behind the racist and anti-Semitic hate music distributor Panzerfaust Records has thrown the future of the Minnesota-based company into doubt, raising questions as to whether the label’s heavily promoted "Project Schoolyard USA" campaign will continue into 2005.
Anthony Pierpont, the founder of Panzerfaust, already in legal trouble after a recent arrest on drug possession, is now being shunned by white supremacists after his business partner Byron Calvert, who co-managed the company and acted as its spokesperson, confirmed recent allegations by some white supremacists that Pierpont was partially of Mexican descent and had taken a sex tour in Thailand. Such revelations are scandalous to white supremacists.
Calvert announced a break with Panzerfaust, while a variety of white supremacist groups, including Hammerskin Nation, Volksfront, and White Revolution, have withdrawn their support. Many of the white power bands on the label are poised to do the same.
As of January 27, 2005, the Panzerfaust Web site was no longer operating and the Project Schoolyard pages were no longer available. People trying to reach the Web site were instead redirected to the Free Your Mind Productions Web site, which says it "is supported and hosted by the good people that were left at Panzerfaust." The new site appears to be run by a group of Hammerskins and ex-Panzerfaust staff.
It is unclear whether Project Schoolyard will continue to operate under the auspices of Panzerfaust or whether Calvert and his supporters may try to appropriate it.
"Project Schoolyard USA" Distribution: Racist CD Surfaces in Six States
"Project Schoolyard USA" attempts to get "sampler CDs" of racist music into the hands of young people around the country. So far, there have been reports of the CDs being distributed in Ohio, Alaska, California, Florida, Missouri, and West Virginia.
By the start of 2005, Panzerfaust claimed that it was nearly halfway to its goal of distributing 100,000 CDs at middle and high schools. Although the claim may be exaggerated, the CDs have shown up at an increasing number of schools in California. In December 2004, copies were confiscated at a school in Alaska.
In a move to challenge school authorities, on its Web site Panzerfaust was encouraging students who have had their Project Schoolyard CDs confiscated to file an online complaint form. On the complaint form, Panzerfaust threatened administrators who confiscate the CDs with personal lawsuits.
Reported Incidents:
Since the first reported incident of the CD being distributed at a high school and middle school in West Virginia, there have been a number of other distributions. Copies of the CD were discovered at schools in Chatsworth, Ventura, and San Clemente, California, Cincinnati, Ohio, and at the North Pole High School in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The first reported incident came the week of October 22, when authorities at a high school and middle school in Madison, West Virginia, confiscated about 40 CDs handed to students as they walked to school or boarded buses.
The West Virginia incident shed light on Panzerfaust's tactics, which include attempts to intimidate school officials. After the CDs were confiscated, a Panzerfaust staff member called the school and threatened a lawsuit. A profanity-laced recording of his conversation with the school principal is prominently displayed on the Panzerfaust Web site.
White supremacists across the U.S. reported receiving shipments of the first batch of CDs. Some claimed success in distributing their shipments to teenagers. One campaign urged supporters to hand out CDs to trick-or-treaters on Halloween, although there were no incidents reported to ADL during that holiday weekend.
White supremacist organizations such as the National Socialist Movement have ordered CDs and encouraged members and supporters around the country to hand them out. In an effort to get wider distribution, Panzerfaust also claims that it is trying to target teenagers who purchase metal music and skate boarding magazines.
ADL's network of 30 regional offices has alerted school districts and is cooperating with local authorities.
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