Nationalist Social Club-131

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Nationalist Social Club-131, or NSC-131, is an American neo-Nazi organization; the numbers 131 are an alphanumeric code for "Anti-Communist Action".[4][5] It was founded in 2019 in eastern Massachusetts by Chris Hood, who had previously tried other neo-fascist groups such as Patriot Front, the Proud Boys, and the Base. The group first attracted the attention of anti-extremism researchers during the George Floyd protests in mid-2020, which NSC-131 members hoped to leverage to increase their recruiting. Along with Patriot Front, NSC-131 is one of the most active white nationalist groups in New England as of 2022.[6]

Nationalist Social Club-131
Also known asNSC-131
FounderChris Hood
Foundation2019; 6 years ago (2019)
Split fromPatriot Front[1]
CountryUnited States
Active regionsNortheastern United States [2]
IdeologyNeo-Nazism
Political positionFar-right
Slogan"New England is Ours. The Rest Must Go."
Major actions2021 United States Capitol attack, political violence and harassment
Statusactive
Size30–40 (2023)[3]
Flag

Activities

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2021

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The group stated on social media that they were present at the January 6 United States Capitol attack in 2021;[7] accounts differ as to if any of their members were arrested.[a] The group increased its membership by 250 people in the wake of the attack.[10] According to NSC-131, the group provided security to Super Happy Fun America, although the latter group disclaimed any ties with NSC-131.[10]

2022

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In March 2022, the group attracted attention by bringing signs to the Boston Saint Patrick's Day parade stating "keep Boston Irish".[11] The group was condemned by the parade's organizer and local politicians including the mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu.[12][13] The Dropkick Murphys condemned the unlicensed use of their song, "The Boys are Back", in a 2022 music video produced by NSC-131 and threatened legal action in a cease and desist letter.[14]

On December 12, 2022, about 25 to 30 NSC-131 members protested outside of the public library in Fall River, Massachusetts, to disrupt a Drag Queen Story Hour reading to children. The members stood outside wearing tan pants and black jackets, all wearing black balaclava-style masks, holding a cloth banner with "Drag Queens are Pedophiles" painted on the banner.[15]

2023

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On January 14, 2023, a group wearing the same apparel and displaying a nearly identical sign appeared at the public library in Taunton, Massachusetts, to disrupt another Drag Queen Story Hour. Some of the members went inside and shouted at the readers; the Taunton Police Department stated the organization was nonviolent and no arrests were made. The library in Fall River also hosted another Drag Queen Story Hour on the same day; however, this one was not interrupted as the group was protesting in Taunton.[16]

On January 17, 2023, the Attorney General of New Hampshire, John Formella, and the police chief of Portsmouth, Mark Newport, announced a Initiation of Enforcement Action by the New Hampshire Department of Justice Civil Rights Unit against NSC-131, Chris Hood and Leo Anthony Cullinan for violating the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act and conspiring to violate the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act.[17] The charges stemmed from members of the group displaying a banner reading "Keep New England White" while allegedly trespassing on public property, with the state asserting that their actions were motivated by race.[17] The charges were eventually dismissed by Rockingham County Superior Court Judge David Ruoff, and were ruled unconstitutional by the state's supreme court in January 2025.[18]

NSC-131 launched a new group, the People's Initiative of New England (PINE), in April 2023.[19] A 2023 report from the Anti-Defamation League stated that PINE's goals included secession from the U.S., the creation of a "white homeland", and the end to immigration by non-white people.[20]

In August 2023, NSC-131 claimed credit on social media for an anti-immigration protest in front of three hotels in Woburn, Massachusetts, that the city had announced were housing around 60 migrant families.[21] In October, the group protested in Arlington, Massachusetts, outside the home of Maura Healey, the Governor of Massachusetts, reportedly chanting "New England is ours, the rest must go."[22] No arrests occurred.[22]

On December 13, 2023, the New Hampshire Attorney General's office filed a civil rights lawsuit against NSC-131, Hood, and 19 unnamed members for violating the state's anti-discrimination law, for their actions of June 18, 2023, trying to stop a drag story hour in Concord through acts of intimidation, such as pounding on the glass. Hood's attorney described Formella's complaint as "virtue signaling". If found guilty, NSC-131, Hood, and each of the 19 unnamed members could face penalties of up to $10,000.[23][24]

2024

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On February 10, 2024, members of NSC-131 again demonstrated outside the home of Massachusetts governor Healey.[25] An estimated 25 members of the group demonstrated for less than 15 minutes; no arrests were made.[25] It was later reported that Healey was out of state at the time.[26]

On March 9, 2024, members of PINE demonstrated in Portsmouth, New Hampshire—masked members of the group waved flags (which appeared to be the Flag of New England) near the North Church.[27]

On May 24, 2024, Stephen Thomas Farrea, a member of the NSC-131, was arrested on one count of possessing child pornography.[28][29][30]

On October 1, 2024, a New Hampshire judge denied a motion to dismiss charges against NSC-131 stemming from their actions to stop a drag story hour in Concord in June 2023.[31]

2025

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In January 2025, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled that civil rights charges against member of NSC-131, stemming from an incident in July 2022 when members displayed a banner reading "Keep New England White" from a highway overpass in Portsmouth, were unconstitutional.[18]

Membership

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NSC-131 has chapters around the U.S. and has claimed chapters in France, Germany, and Hungary.[32] In 2023, The Boston Globe reported that the group had around 30 to 40 members.[3] Its members have also been members of the groups Aryan Strikeforce, The Base, and Patriot Front.[32]

Notes

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  1. ^ The group's profile by the Southern Poverty Law Center states, "No members of the group have faced charges related to their apparent involvement in the insurrection as of this writing."[8] Other, non-free, sources appear to indicate otherwise.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Nationalist Social Club (NSC-131)". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  2. ^ "Nationalist Social Club (NSC-131)". Counter Extremism Project. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Krueger, Hanna (August 3, 2023). "This New England neo-Nazi group is getting bigger and scarier, experts say. Most troubling: Military vets fill its ranks". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  4. ^ "A reputed white supremacist group is making forays into Connecticut with demonstrations and flyers". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  5. ^ "What is NSC-131? Neo-Nazi group getting bigger, more active". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  6. ^ "It is happening here: Massachusetts has a growing neo-Nazi movement". WGBH. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  7. ^ Somos, Christy (8 January 2021). "These are some of the extremist groups responsible for the violence on Capitol Hill". CTVNews. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Nationalist Social Club (NSC-131)". splcenter.org. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  9. ^ Rapoport, David C. (2021). "The Capitol Attack and the 5th Terrorism Wave". Terrorism and Political Violence. 33 (5): 912–916. doi:10.1080/09546553.2021.1932338. S2CID 236457455.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Capitol Protesters And Rioters From Mass. Vow To Increase Ranks". wbur.org. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Group displays neo-Nazi symbols, 'Keep Boston Irish' sign at St. Patrick's Day parade". Boston.com. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Neo-Nazi stunt at South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade condemned". IrishCentral.com. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  13. ^ "'Repugnant': Boston officials condemn neo-Nazi group at St. Patrick's Day Parade". WCVB. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Dropkick Murphys file cease and desist order to stop neo-Nazis from using their music". PBS NewsHour. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Neo-Nazis Protest at Fall River Library Drag Queen Story Time". wbsm.com. 13 December 2022.
  16. ^ Schemer, Daniel (January 15, 2023). "Drag queen event at Taunton library disrupted by apparent neo-Nazi protesters". tauntongazette.com.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b "Enforcement Actions Filed Against Hate Group for NH Civil Rights Act Violations in Portsmouth". New Hampshire Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General. January 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b Freely, Paul (January 10, 2025). "Charging White supremacists for offensive banner went too far, says NH Supreme Court". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, New Hampshire. Retrieved January 13, 2025 – via Yahoo News.
  19. ^ Dickinson, Tim (8 August 2023). "These Nazis Want to Turn New England Into a White Ethnostate". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  20. ^ Kuznitz, Alison (23 May 2023). "Antisemitism, White Supremacy on the Rise in Massachusetts: Report". NBC Boston. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  21. ^ Stoico, Nick (August 28, 2023). "Neo-Nazi group NSC-131 holds anti-immigration protest outside Woburn hotel". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b Cotter, Sean (October 15, 2023). "Local neo-Nazi group demonstrates outside Governor Maura Healey's home". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  23. ^ "Attorney General Formella Announces Civil Rights Unit Enforcement Action Against NSC-131". New Hampshire Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General (Press release). December 13, 2023.
  24. ^ Lavietes, Matt (December 13, 2023). "Neo-Nazi group accused of violating civil rights law for disrupting N.H. drag story hour". NBC News.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b Anderson, Travis (February 13, 2024). "Hate group demonstrated outside Governor Healey's home on Saturday; no arrests made". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  26. ^ Stout, Matt (March 15, 2024). "Healey left Massachusetts for four days last month. Aides refuse to say where the governor went". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  27. ^ Lenahan, Ian (March 15, 2024). "'Political arm' of neo-Nazis: Flag wavers in Portsmouth try to normalize white supremacy". Foster's Daily Democrat. Dover, New Hampshire. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  28. ^ Billson, Chantelle (May 31, 2024). "Neo-Nazi who targeted drag queen story hours charged with possession of child pornography". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  29. ^ Milkovits, Amanda (May 29, 2024). "R.I. neo-Nazi member accused of possessing child pornography - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  30. ^ Patkin, Abby. "R.I. man linked to neo-Nazi group facing child pornography charge". Boston.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  31. ^ Stoico, Nick (October 5, 2024). "Judge denies neo-Nazi group's bid to dismiss charges in N.H. drag queen story hour case". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b Liang, Christina Schori (2022). "Far-Right Contagion: The Global Challenge of Transnational Extremist Networks". In Masys, Anthony J. (ed.). Handbook of Security Science. Springer International Publishing. p. 1017. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-91875-4_81. ISBN 978-3-319-91875-4.
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