Film: 'White Right: Meeting The Enemy'

Deeyah Khan is everything a right-wing white supremacist hates. She is a Norwegian-British woman of Pujabi/Pashtun descent and therefore, a person of colour. She is a Muslim, a feminist, and a left-wing liberal who is not just a filmmaker but a dedicated activist.

Growing up in Norway, her family was constantly discriminated against by white skinhead gangs. They encountered regular threats of violence and during a concert where she was performing, she was attacked. As a result, she left for London in her late teens.

In 2016, Khan gave an interview to the BBC explaining that due to the multicultural society that the UK has developed into, it will never be fully white again. This, of course, led to an unbelievable amount of repulsive threats that included: rape, torture, and gassing.

This didn't stop her.

Last year, she produced an hour long documentary where she followed the lives of those who despised those like her—the enemy. From state to state, Khan interacted with a variation of neo-nazis and white supremacists which had an intriguing impact on both sides.

Interestingly, she started with the top...

Detroit/Virginia - Jeff Schoep

Jeff, here, is the chairman of the Nationalist Socialist Movement (NSM). This means that he is the leader of the biggest neo-Nazi group in the USA.

It's obvious to us all that the far-right haven't had a period of just dying down, really. I feel as though it appears that they are more chaotic than ever for a few reasons. To name just a couple that I'm sure you'll nod your head agreeing to: social media and President Trump.

Trump was elected back in 2016 and Jeff himself believes it was because of the nationalist points he spoke of that got him his seat in The White House. Furthermore, he adds that the NSM are growing because of the man that many Americans chose to run their country. It is because of Trump that has given the movement an opportunity to go mainstream. This is why I can't help but scoff at those who believe that Trump isn't racist. He is. And it was a big slap in the face after what happened in Charlottesville.

Khan was at the rally, walking beside the NSM, walking on the other side of the fence. They were protesting against the removal of confederate statues and were unfortunately given permission to do so. Because the movement has gone mainstream, they've decided to soften their image (idea by upcoming Nazi, Brian Culpepper) by removing their swastikas. I can see how that would make things all the more appealing...

After a selection of offensive chants to choose from such as "white nations, now we start the deportations," anti-racist protesters popped their pepper spray out, the fights began and a state of emergency was announced.

Yet that didn't stop Heather Heyer losing her life by a far-right protester murdering her with his car.

One neo-Nazi shouted, "The only good non-white is a dead non-white" during the march, prior to her to death. But considering this tragedy, I don't think they felt so bad about a dead white person.

President Trump said that there were people to blame on both sides. Sure Don, just because you're an anti-racist protester, it doesn't mean you can't harm other people. But was it them who murdered Heather Heyer?

I saw Jeff as your classic Nazi. He was a skinhead, he read Mein Kampf at thirteen and to quote him directly, he thinks that: "Jews control all the media and they're pushing this, this agenda that we should all be mixed together, and I think it's to dumb down the population and to make us easier to control."

Then he surprised me.

For a start, he wasn't interrupting with irrelevant answers to reinforce his hateful opinions. In fact, he could barely answer the questions at all. His excuse was that he was getting burnt out on the questions. But I think he wasn't quite sure on the reasons why he was pursuing this miserable life. I actually found it laughable that he regularly gulped before beginning to find some form of excuse for his activities.

At one point, Khan showed him the photo of her at six, holding her father's hand at a rally she attended once. He explained that he felt uncomfortable that she felt "unwelcome, unwanted, and ugly" at such a young age because of extremism. "I don't think anybody should have to feel like that."

I think Jeff is chatting shit.

I sit here, attempting to understand how you do not stand for oppression or hurting others but can lead a terrifyingly powerful group that does exactly that. Apparently, he discourages illegal activity and he classifies online abuse as part of this. So when racist terms were thrown at him as what white nationalists have used to offend Khan, he squirmed in embarrassment, asking "why do you keep saying that?"

With an interview like that, how the fuck did he make it to the NSM's number one guy?

Tennessee - Brian Culpepper/Mike Schloer

Brian Culpepper was the PR director for the NSM and it was his idea to soften the image of the movement (I told you we'd get to him). The filming here took place at his house where he was training other members in self-defense.

He appeared to be an average white, middle-aged man, excluding the extremism. Then he took a whole can of pepper spray to the face.

I don't know if he thought the whole practice makes perfect thing applied to this situation because it doesn't. No matter how many times you ask someone to spray you in the face with, what I can only imagine is like pure fire, it's not going to get any easier.

Straight after washing his face repeatedly with water, he proceeded to start a BBQ.

Mike Scholer, I found to be a little more dead behind the eyes. He was also there in Charlottesville, along with Brian and is apparently the head of security within the movement. As an army veteran who still experiences the tribulations of PTSD, that was understandable. What he said was that they "want to be left alone."

Don't be a hypocrite.

People of colour want to be left alone too. Not only that but don't thrust your despicable behavior at those who even choose not to protest against you. Maybe then you'll be left alone. These people seem to be incomprehensibly idiotic and I'm now beginning to see how someone can be manipulated into the movement.

Brian had decided long ago that he wanted to be a part of creating a white-ethno state. Then he met Deeyah Khan and said two things. One: "I consider you a friend at this point" and two: "I would never want to see you be hurt." However, despite the time he had bonding with her, he still admitted that he would deport her.

After eleven years of dedication to the cause (if that's what you can call it), Brian handed in his resignation. It was through his experience with Khan and how he was upset with the hurtful abuse that she had encountered that played a part in this. His previous confession by the end of filming had been retracted. He would no longer deport her. Brian's new view is that the racial communities in America spend "too much time talking at each other and not to each other."

I just hope now that he continues to improve and fully involves himself in a multicultural society with a desire for equality.

Florida - Ken Parker

The last of the working class white supremacists to be interview, who also attended the Charlottesville rally—Ken Parker.

He was in the Navy, he was a former Grand Dragon of the KKK and most recently a political science student. Oh, and he despises homosexuals and Jewish people. With a swastika tattoo on the right side of his chest and a Klansman one on the left, he was just another loathsome, impervious skinhead.

Ken left the Navy because he didn't agree on allowing gay people into it. This view might be due to his strict Christian background. But during his interview, his activism turned to attacking the Jewish community in particular. Him and his girlfriend were driving around Jewish neighbourhoods and throwing hateful flyers into the streets.

His laughter while reading through the flyers truly disturbed me.

Khan was spending time with the someone she was originally fearful of. Ken was the archetype of what she did not like. And for him, she was the first muslim that he had spent time with.

At one point, she proceeded to ask him, "Why are you nice to me?" His first response was that he respects her as she was respectful to him. Acceptable logic, in my opinion. Then he said that he considered her as a friend.

Does this ever-repeating situation that defies their believes not wake them up? Hello? If you begin to accept people of colour as friends, does that not prove that a society in which the colour of your skin is irrelevant is one that can work?

Just to add to my anger, Ken said that he was now done messing with Muslims. It's a nice thought for about two seconds until you remember everyone else he's still going to abuse.

I suppose it's one small step for Ken's kind.

And I almost forgot to mention, he's no longer studying at university because of his opinions. So I guess it's one small step for us too.

Virginia - Richard Spencer/Jared Taylor

I'm sure you've heard of Richard Spencer before. He's that guy who got punched on the afternoon of Trump's inauguration? No? There's like remixes of it and everything.

Well, he's not your average Nazi. He likes to call himself a white supremacist anyway, not that it makes you any less racist, Richard. He's part of the alt-right, full of privileged leaders who thinks that money and power are the most important things in the world. But in that world he's thinking of, it's probably best to be a wealthy, white man.

So he says he's not racist, he just opposes multiculturalism. Same difference. If you want a white-ethno state, you're discriminating against other races.

It's racism, Richard.

As he sat in his luxury apartment in the nicest part of town, he explained that "people like me need to be in charge." People who are straight, white males, that is. There's no problem with being that person but make sure to keep the racist, homophobic or misogynistic parts out of that category. And it's probably best to not mock anti-racist protesters who celebrating the life of Heather Heyer.

"God, these people are pathetic," I think it was.

Jared Taylor? He's essentially the same person but twenty-five years older and an accomplished author. Congratulations.

These people think because they're privileged that they're powerful and in history, it's proved to work out that way. But history is just a bunch of shit that's already happened. The thing about the future is, it's not always that predictable.

North Dakota - Peter Tefft

When Khan stated that she had moved on the Fargo in North Dakota, it excited me until the realisation hit—this film is about neo-Nazis.

Peter Tefft from this town (now ruined for me) and is another who claims he's not racist. He sees himself as a white civil rights activist. You know, I would have just rolled my eyes at that. Like meninists. But when you're marching beside the racists and encouraging slurs and hideous insults... I think you're the same, mate.

Now, he was the first to really explain why he joined this community. It all started at high school. He was viewed at a nerd and he suffered with body dysmorphia—seeing himself as too big. He wanted to be liked by all the other kids. It's your typical teen movie narrative but it's not like these stories come from nowhere. He had ended up suffering with depression because what bothered him the most wasn't anyone else but himself.

Peter explained that he feels he acts heroically. That he has more of a purpose. And that the white supremacists he is involved with are like a league of superheros.

He chose to be The Green Lantern out of all of them.

It was an insight into their mindsets. Why would you include yourself in such horrific acts? For Peter, it was that sense of belonging.

It's ironic because he's been disowned by his father, which was made public. His real family want no contact with him. And now the NSM and other movements are all he's got.

So why would he leave them?

Milwaukee - Arno Michaelis

Meet one of the most racist and violent leaders of the past generation: Arno Michealis.

He was the lead vocalist and songwriter for his highly influential band in the nineties, Centurion. Arno now has more hair than skin on his head and is unsurprisingly ashamed of what he had achieved in his past. He said that his band "was an audio incitement of violence" and continued to explain how he would beat others up until they were on the edge of death.

He had no empathy and told himself he was a sociopath.

It was all to make him feel more powerful. That's not the first time we've heard that, is it? And now his goals are to stop other kids from being manipulated into these kinds of movements. He's regretful of anyone he's previously led astray.

He's a changed man.

At twenty-four years old he became a single parent and distanced himself from the skinhead scene and into the rave lifestyle. Yes, drugs and drinking were involved but in 2004 he gave it all up do now become an advocate for forgiveness and change.

He sees the suffering within those in these communities which becomes another repeating theme. To him, their hatred is not an excuse but their inner demons are still a reason.

New York - Frank Meeink

Frank grew up in Philadelphia where his childhood and adolescence was nothing less of frightening. He was practically abandoned by his family on both sides and it appears his step-dad was the one that left him most reluctant to return home.

It was a skinhead gang that helped him through that in an entirely wrong way. His cousin was a part of a racist organisation called Strike Force that welcomed him. He was with the adults and they made him feel safe and as if he mattered. Watching them intimidate and attack individuals on the street became of interest. He could be the one in power and make others feel fearful instead.

Like Arno, he knew he was an evil and violent character but that didn't stop him from gaining numerous tattoos that featured a swastika on his neck and 'skinhead' on his knuckles. And again, like Arno, he is now asking for forgiveness as he has transformed his life the other way.

Frank lives in New York and dedicates his life to warning the youth of extremism. He visits an abundant of institutions to tell his story and explain the other ways in which you can be helped.

He said that although it's a cliché, he is rebuilding his life one day at a time.

Wisconsin - Wade Michael Page

The Wisconsin Sikh Temple shooting occurred on the 5th August 2012. This was when Wade Michael Page murdered six sikhs and injured four others, not including his own suicide.

He was an army veteran but more important a white supremacist who had no other motive but racial hatred.

The son of one of the victims, Pardeep Singh Kaleka got in contact with Arno Michaelis in order to gain some understanding of why this happened. What would have been Page's mindset? After meeting, the pair became friends and currently work together to prevent extremism.

So what have I learned through this?

As slow as it is happening, the world is continuing to progress. There will be much more hatred and many more acts of terrorism. It may still take hundreds of years. But we'll get there.

Oh and here's a remix of Richard Spencer getting punched in the face.