Matthew Heimbach

Matthew Warren Heimbach (born April 8, 1991) is an American neo-Nazi, white supremacist and anti-semitic conspiracy theorist.[1] In September 2018, Heimbach took the position of community outreach director for the National Socialist Movement (NSM).[2] He founded the Traditionalist Workers Party (TWP), which ceased operation in March 2018 when he was arrested for assaulting Matt Parrott, a co-founder and his father-in-law,[2][3] in the course of Heimbach's pursuit of a sexual affair with his mother-in-law (Parrott's wife).[4]

Prior to his affair with his mother-in-law, Heimbach had assembled a community of neo-Nazis and anti-Jewish conspiracy theorists in a Paoli, Indiana trailer park.[4] Heimbach was considered the leader of this community, and had received media attention for his role in this regard, but lost credibility following the incident with his parents-in-law.[4]

Heimbach is a defendant in the Sines v. Kessler lawsuit filed by Integrity First for America that claims that he and other organizers in the 2017 Unite the Right white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia "planned and promoted violence against [a] protected group."[5][6]

In April 2020, Heimbach attempted to frame himself as a reformed white nationalist. However, he continues to espouse his white nationalist ideology claiming his racist worldview is “natural law”.[6][7]

Early life, education, and family

Heimbach, who is of German descent, was born in Poolesville, Maryland.[8] Heimbach's parents, Karl and Margaret Heimbach, are public school teachers whose political affiliation he describes as Mitt Romney-style Republicans.[8]

Heimbach met his former wife Brooke at an American Renaissance conference.[8][9]

Ideology

The Southern Poverty Law Center has commented that Heimbach is "considered by many to be the face of a new generation of white nationalists."[10] According to the Counter Extremism Project, "Heimbach’s platform is based around the idea that the white race has been disadvantaged because of globalism and multiculturalism, which he has largely blamed on a global Jewish conspiracy. Heimbach claims white unity is necessary because the Jews hate all white people equally."[11]

Heimbach has forged ties with nationalist groups from other countries, like Greece’s far-right nationalist party Golden Dawn.[8] The United Kingdom government banned Heimbach from entering the country in October 2015 because his extremist rhetoric could incite violence.[11][12] Heimbach identifies himself as a Strasserist.[13]

Traditionalist Youth Network

The Traditionalist Youth Network (TYN) was established in May 2013 by Matthew Heimbach with Matt Parrott as an off shoot of a "White Student Union" on Towson University campus.[14]

Traditionalist Worker Party

In January 2015 the TYN established the Traditionalist Worker Party (TWP) as its political party prior to the 2016 elections, and a small group of candidates from the far-right ran under its banner.[15] The party states that it stands against "economic exploitation, federal tyranny, and anti-Christian degeneracy".[15] The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremist groups, designated the Traditionalist Worker Party as a hate group. The group ceased operation in March 2018 when Heimbach was arrested for assaulting his then father-in-law, Matt Parrott, in a domestic violence altercation.[2][4]

Lawsuits and criminal convictions

In July 2017, Heimbach pled guilty to second-degree disorderly conduct for an incident when he repeatedly pushed an anti-Trump protester at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Louisville, Kentucky.[16] He received a suspended prison sentence, a fine, and an order to attend anger management classes.[17] In 2018, Heimbach was sentenced to 38 days in the Louisville jail for violating the terms of his probation.[17][16]

Sines v. Kessler lawsuit

A federal lawsuit was filed in October 2017 by a group of Charlottesville residents against organizers and key participants in the August 12, 2017 Unite the Right rally. Plaintiffs Elizabeth Sines, Seth Wispelwey, Marissa Blair, Tyler Magill, April Muniz, Hannah Pearce, Marcus Martin, Natalie Romero, Chelsea Alvarado, and John Doe claim that Heimbach and the other defendants conspired to commit acts of violence.[6][18] The trial is scheduled for October of 2020.[19]

References
  1. "Light upon Light Shape Shifters - Matthew Heimbach, A white nationalist".
  2. "Days after guilty plea, Matthew Heimbach re-emerges in new alliance with National Socialist Movement". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  3. Lovan, Dylan. "White nationalist, a Towson University alumnus, jailed for violating Kentucky probation". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  4. Michel, Casey. "Following affair with mother-in-law, white supremacist heads to jail". ThinkProgress.org. ThinkProgress. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  5. Progress, Tyler Hammel The (Charlottesville) Daily. "Defendant files another motion to be dismissed from rally lawsuit". Roanoke Times. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  6. Eligon, John. "He Says His Nazi Days Are Over. Do You Believe Him?". NYTimes.com. New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  7. "Matthew Heimbach : Former White Nationalist". LightUponLight.com. Center for the Study of Trauma and Radicalization. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  8. "The Neo-Nazi Has No Clothes: In Search Of Matt Heimbach's Bogus 'White Ethnostate'". HuffPost. February 2, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  9. "After family fiasco, TWP's Matthew Heimbach may spend summer in jail". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  10. "Matthew Heimbach". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  11. "Matthew Heimbach". Counter Extremism Project. October 30, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  12. Elgot, Jessica (November 4, 2015). "Theresa May bans US segregationist from UK for 'neo-Nazi' remarks". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  13. Fischer, Ford. "Matthew Heimbach Expelled From National Socialist Movement, Source Says".
  14. Traditionalist Youth Network, Anti-Defamation League (February 7, 2014).
  15. Keegan Hankes, Meet the New Wave of Extremists Gearing Up for the 2016 Elections, Southern Poverty Law Center (October 19, 2015).
  16. "White nationalist who shoved woman at Trump rally released from jail". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  17. "What we know about Matthew Heimbach, Indiana white nationalist who helped promote Charlottesville". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  18. "Defendants Ordered to Turn Over Messages in Aug. 12th-Related Lawsuit". www.nbc29.com. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  19. "IFA's Charlottesville Case: Sines v. Kessler". Integrity First for America. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
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