Hate groups on the extreme right -- even those with a strong religious component -- have not embraced apocalyptic or biblical predictions as a blueprint for what the world will look like after January 1, 2000. For the most part, these groups are more concerned with the technical aspect of the Y2K computer glitch, and how prepared the country is for the chaos that such a crisis may bring. Even though many on the extreme right offer a measured and even ostensibly disinterested view of the Y2K situation, when they assign blame for the cause of the computer glitch, they often rely on conspiracy theories laced with anti-Semitism and racism.

Perhaps the most bizarre Y2K conspiracy theory emerging from the extreme right is the one spun by the Fargo, North Dakota-based National Socialist White Revolutionary Party (NSWRP). This neo-Nazi group claims that Russians will "take advantage of the civil and military chaos caused by the Y2K computer bug" and launch a nuclear, chemical and biological attack on the United States. According to "defectors," the "attack will begin with a disinformation news broadcast in which a phony holographic image of Clinton or Gore . . . directs military and civil authorities throughout the U.S. to DISREGARD and DISOBEY any subsequent orders that they may receive from Washington, as there has been a military insurrection or coup against the legitimate U.S. government."

The scenario grows more far-fetched as NSWRP describes how electronic communication will be disrupted following an "electro-magnetic pulse hydrogen bomb blast in the stratosphere over the U.S.," which will enable the Russians to launch the "'first strike' of nuclear ballistic missiles against U.S. missile and military bases. This will be followed by chemical and biological strikes against massive population centers." The final chapter of NSWRP's globalist conspiracy theory begins with an invasion of Russian and Chinese forces, "all of whom will invade under the banner of the United Nations."
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Predicting the Chaos ­ and Blaming the Jews

Other extremists do not share NSWRP's extreme paranoid fantasy, although some Identity groups do use global conspiracy theories to explain the changes the new millennium will bring. (The pseudo-theological "Identity" philosophy teaches that Anglo-Saxons, not Jews, are the biblical Chosen People, that nonwhites are "mud people" on the level of animals, and that Jews are the "children of Satan.") Among Identity adherents, James Wickstrom, an Identity minister and a Posse Comitatus leader in Michigan, is among the most caught up in the Y2K frenzy. Posse Comitatus, Latin for "power of the county," is an intermittently active, loosely organized group of Identity activists dedicated to survivalism, vigilantism and anti-government agitation. Disciples of the Posse propaganda believe that all governmental power is rooted at the county -- not Federal -- level. In 1991, Wickstrom was convicted in Pittsburgh of plotting to distribute $100,000 in counterfeit bills to white supremacists at the 1988 Aryan Nations World Congress. He was released from prison in 1994.

Whereas other Identity leaders cautiously report that some computer glitches may arise on January 1, 2000, Wickstrom predicts that "banks will fail, supermarket computer cash registers will not function, gas-station computer cash registers will not work, no pension checks, no S.S. checks, no transportation deliveries of all goods. . . . Nothing!!"

Far from dreading the havoc he expects Y2K to bring, Wickstrom is "ecstatic about what is forthcoming upon a jew [sic] and anti-christ [sic] world system that has been built by corrupt weights and measures, especially the money systems of the world." He claims that "the jews [sic] who unlawfully control the nation's money and their private Central Banks" are playing down the Y2K threat in order to avoid a run on the banks, "as that will prove that the money that has been deposited IS NOT THERE."

So consuming is Wickstrom's obsession with the alleged Jewish conspiracy to downplay the Y2K crisis that he insists that the NATO air strikes against Serbia in early 1999 were a Jewish plot to divert attention from the impending disaster: "While the masses continue to look afar, the Jews are busy preparing for their Communist New World Order, and the entire downfall of what you call The United States of America." He also warns that "foreign speaking men dressed in black" have already set up shop in the mountainous areas of the country. They are here, Wickstrom insists, "to assist the jew [sic] communist's [sic] who sit in high places."

Wickstrom's advice to his followers echoes the familiar refrain of survivalists: stock up on food, water and gasoline and do not trust the government or anyone else to offer protection in the wake of a Y2K disaster.                                        return to top

Yet Another Jewish Plot

Unlike Wickstrom, Scriptures for America's Pete Peters argues that the Y2K hype is the latest in a long line of "fear fads," that also include nuclear holocaust, global warming, killer bees and UFOs. Peters, an Identity pastor in LaPorte, Colorado, does not blame Jews for downplaying the Y2K panic, but for promoting it: "Where do so-called Y2K experts get their information? From the enemies of Christianity and our country! Only as Judeo Christians, they don't call them enemies rather they call them 'God's Chosen People.'"

Peters is so intent on finding an anti-Semitic explanation for Y2K that he invokes The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion as the necessary background for fully understanding the issue. He contends that, beginning with the abolition of the gold standard, Jews have "successfully conspired to enslave and plunder God's people" throughout the last century. As the year 2000 approaches, Peters preaches, Jews will try to "economically rape and plunder" America once again, this time by forming a cash-free society -- which is the dreaded prerequisite for the "New World Order." How will this be accomplished? By creating a panic that all bank computers will crash, which will encourage Americans to liquidate their accounts before January 1, 2000.

Peters even reaches back to the Bible to find a prophesy for the Y2K scenario: "Though the term 'Y2K' is not found in the Bible, the Y2K phenomenon -- together with all the fear, dread and anxiety it generates -- is." Peters calls this the "Y2K curse" and warns, "today, our enemies have hired people to curse us by means of programming. We've already seen that fear, dread, and anxiety is a curse; thus, those who program us to fear are, in actuality, cursing us."

As an antidote to the Y2K hysteria, Peters suggests that his followers not only reprogram their computers, but their souls as well: "If you know in your mind that God can and will provide your needs, yet feel in your heart you are living on the eve of destruction, you must repent -- you must reprogram."

A front-page article in the April 1999 issue of The CDL Report, published by the virulently anti-Semitic Christian Defense League in Arabi, Louisiana, echoes Peters' analysis that Y2K is a Jewish plot to take over the world, but takes it to a more conspiratorial level. "Y2K has been in the planning stages since the period of 1972-73 and is a designed peripheral function of the much larger study and implementation of 'Global 2,000,'" the alleged plan to reduce the world's population through money control, with the goal being a cashless society. "The global owners (Zionism) finally realized that the peasant serfs would not accept the cash-less concept without a fight. . . . The decision that was agreed upon was the devastation of the existing banking system. Y2K is the vehicle to cause (or blame for) the complete collapse of that system."

CDL makes clear that control of the banking system is only part of the plot waged by "International Zionism:" "This entire debacle, that is titled 'Y2K,' is a completely programmed, well thought out and diabolical scheme directed for and to the ultimate control of people through mind control and all that might entail."

CDL Report editor James K. Warner, a longtime anti-Semitic propagandist, predicts that the new millennium will bring "computer problems" and urges his readers "to prepare for what may be some discomfort for a few days to a week or so." However, he is more concerned with the "advertising from hundreds of organizations and firms trying to get us to purchase survival foods, stoves, windmills, guns and thousands of other gadgets to prepare us for the 'Y2K disaster.'" Warner is convinced that these companies are not strong supporters of extremist goals and are only taking advantage of "a lucrative and gullible market among right wing patriots."        return to top

A More 'Cautious' Paranoia

In contrast to Warner and other Identity preachers, Dan Gayman of the Missouri-based Church of Israel informs his readers in a more cautious tone about the potential problems Y2K may bring. In its flagship publication, The Watchman, Gayman reports that some newspapers have predicted major social and economic disruptions due to the computer glitch.

While Gayman tries not to feed the Y2K hysteria, he does mention some far-fetched scenarios without explicitly rejecting them: "Silence on the part of our government [about Y2K] could mean that there is a master plan in place that will seize this movement to move America into the arms of a people-controlled police state." Without certain knowledge of what will happen, Gayman suggests a plan of preparedness: "Considering the times in which we live, it is best to be prepared for any contingency," much as one would prepare for a major storm.

One area of particular concern for Gayman is the possible social unrest that Y2K may stir up. This is not surprising considering that the Church of Israel is a vocal proponent of racial separatism. "America is pulsating with explosive societal problems. Growing numbers of non-white, third world people are being supported by public welfare assistance programs. . . . If these monetary welfare programs were disrupted even for a short time, the social structure of America would crumble. Civil chaos could quickly turn America into a land of unbridled killing, plunder, looting and raging fires."

Gayman advises all families to make a list of essential materials (water, food, clothing, heat and lighting) needed in case of a Y2K-related disaster. Like Pete Peters, he also advises his readers to "examine your spiritual state" because no amount of preparedness will help "without absolute trust and dependency upon God." Gayman suggests that Identity adherents should be selective about where they live, choosing areas with "those of like mind, faith, race, culture and spiritual vision." Moreover, people should liquidate all debts, close their bank accounts and "keep [their] trusty shotgun handy."                        return to top

A 'Doomsday' View

More fearful of the Y2K fallout is the National Association for the Advancement of White People (NAAWP), which calls Y2K "the biggest problem that the modern world has ever faced" and has committed itself to running at least one Y2K-related article in each of its bimonthly bulletins. NAAWP -- a self-described "civil rights educational organization, demanding equal rights for Whites and special privileges for none" -- was founded in 1980 by David Duke shortly after his days as a Klan leader ended.

NAAWP paints a doomsday Y2K scenario, predicting that "months before January 1, 2000, the world's stock markets will have crashed," which will cause a run on the banks. If computers stop functioning on January 1, 2000, NAAWP predicts shortages of food, heat and money that will lead to lawlessness. "Within three months there will be only two kinds of people left alive -- those who for whatever reason had managed to store food and those who armed themselves and stole it from those who had it."

Reno Wolfe, NAAWP's national vice-president/CEO, warns of race-riots in the wake of Y2K chaos much like Dan Gayman: "Right now, all these American Africans [sic] are receiving their monthly allotments from Local, State and the Federal Government.... What do you think will happen when they DON'T get their computer generated welfare checks, food stamps, etc. in January 2000? Right now, they think nothing about stealing food or whatever they fancy. As I said, Black on White crime is at an all time high right now. In January, 2000, it will be astronomical! The hoards will roam the streets of our cities and the country side [sic], looking to take whatever they want from the white citizens who have the food, have the water and have money!"

NAAWP's response is one of preparedness, advising readers to "prepare for Y2K as you would a natural disaster." NAAWP tries to be cautious, advising its readers not to panic, but it also warns, "this may be a world-wide catastrophe with disastrous consequences." NAAWP is distributing information packets to its members, with titles like "Survival Equipment" (which includes checklists for different types of 'survival kits'), "Food Storage" and "Water Gathering and Storage."  
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A More Upbeat View

The Jubilee, a California Identity newspaper that promotes anti-Semitic and anti-government conspiracy theories, takes a more optimistic view of the potential Y2K chaos. Chris Temple, a writer for the newspaper, "will welcome the Millennium Bug with open arms, as it just might end up being one of the greatest things to happen to freedom loving people all over the world."

Temple's sanguine attitude comes from seeing a potential for social transformation in the possible fallout from Y2K-related computer glitches: "the net result of the Year 2000 problem as I have described it will be POSITIVE! Internationalism and global capitalism will be dealt severe blows; efforts to recapture local control economically and otherwise will be spread. Families and communities will be rediscovered, the end result of which will be a major reassessment for many people of the very meaning of life itself."

Jubilee managing editor Paul Hall echoes his colleague's view and refutes popular conspiracy theories suggesting that "internationalist forces" have created Y2K unrest in order to establish a "New World Order." "Yahweh is in total control, He will get the last laugh outta [sic] this whole thing. . . . Yahweh created the path that we are on to provide a wonderful opportunity to bring us back into obedience at just the right time." Any Y2K chaos, Hall insists, will convince many to return to religion by reminding us of "how enslaved we have ALL become, and how urgent it is to reverse the process.
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Neutral ­ But Still Hateful

Not all extremist groups are concerned about Y2K. The National Alliance (NA), one of the most dangerous and well-organized hate groups in America, has pretty much ignored the Y2K issue. In fact, NA's leader, William Pierce, believes that the government, banks and large corporations will fix their computers in time. He predicts that any chaos will be driven by "crazed millennialists going berserk when the Second Coming fails to occur . . . [and] a few right-wing nuts may launch a premature attack on the government, figuring that without its computers the government won't be able to fight back." Other than that, Pierce says, nothing catastrophic will happen. Pierce doesn't see anything wrong with being prepared, but "there are much more serious things than the 'millennium bug' . . . to worry about," such as "the Jewish domination of our mass media of news and entertainment."