A new report from Vice has allegedly exposed the “deep roots” that “White supremacy groups” have in the U.S. National Parks system.
The piece, written by Tess Owen, claims that modern white supremacists are re-committing to “embracing the great outdoors”.
“At first glance, it may seem out of character: Wholesome activities like hiking, foraging for berries, and camping seemingly stand in sharp contrast to lifestyles of the basement-dwelling, far-right livestreamers,” Owen said.
According to the report, far-right individuals are increasingly getting into the outdoors and Owen uses an example of an extremist group enjoying a park in upstate New York.
“On one recent weekend, a number of young far-right extremists went camping in upstate New York. This ‘retreat’ was the latest in a national event series that aims to foster real-world relationships within the very online, youth-oriented Christian nationalist movement,” she said.
According to Owen, these people look to foster a relationship with “the land they vow to defend against anything they deem un-American and un-Christian, be it immigration, critical race theory, or transgender rights”.
Owen also claimed that “white supremacy has deep roots in the U.S. wilderness and recreation movement, which long excluded people of color from its national parks and green spaces”.
“And that history has made America’s national parks attractive destinations for white-rights activists trying to stake their claim to the land,” she added.
In the piece, Owen used examples of Native Americans being removed from areas of land and parks having “white-only areas”.
“America’s national parks were touted as places where all Americans could go to escape the stresses of modern life—though that really meant white Americans,” she said.
Owen even made a loose claim that “Obsessions with purity and clean living aren’t just an American white supremacist thing. Nazi Germany was deeply concerned about the longevity of the Aryan race, and so encouraged a healthy lifestyle and good diet”.