Richard Barrett (lawyer)
Richard Barrett (1943 – April 22, 2010) was an American lawyer, white nationalist, and self-proclaimed leader in the nationalist Skinheadz movement. Barrett was a speaker and editor of the All The Way monthly newsletter. He was general counsel of the Nationalist Movement, which he founded in Mississippi.
Barrett was born in New York City, and according to his biography, his family moved away to avoid the influx of Jewish and Puerto Rican immigrants. He graduated from Rutgers University, later returning his diploma to a then-Marxist professor, Eugene Genovese, following infantry service in the Vietnam War. He graduated from Memphis State University Law School in 1974.
In 1968, Barrett served as executive director of the South Carolina branch of the American Independent Party, on behalf of George C. Wallace's presidential bid. He organized and chaired Youth for Wallace, and in 1969 he organized and chaired the National Youth Alliance (which later transformed into the National Alliance). In 1976, he was chairman of Democrats for Reagan, and in 1977 he served as judge-advocate of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
In 1982, Barrett published The Commission, a memoir advocating the resettlement of "those who were once citizens" to "Puerto Rico, Mexico, Israel, the Orient, and Africa." Contending that non-whites, especially blacks, were inferior: "The Negro race... possess[es] no creativity of its own [and] pulls the vitality away from civilization."[1] He advocated sterilization and abortions of the "unfit".
In 1989 Barrett visited England. He attended the Annual General Meeting of the National Front political party where he signed "The New Atlantic Charter" pledging solidarity between the party and the Nationalist Movement.[2] He also linked up with Alan Harvey to support apartheid in South Africa.[3] The following year Barrett played host to Nick Griffin.[4]
In 1992, Barrett argued the case of Forsyth County, Georgia v. The Nationalist Movement before the United States Supreme Court. In 2004, Barrett organized a booth at the Neshoba County Fair in Mississippi for the public to shake hands with Edgar Ray Killen and sign a petition of support. Killen, who did not appear at the aforementioned event, was later convicted of manslaughter for his role in the 1964 Ku Klux Klan-led murders of three civil rights activists. In an interview, Barrett predicted that the nation would rally around Killen.[5] Barrett represented Tennessee activist James L. Hart in 2006, when Hart was removed from the ballot by the GOP on the grounds of not being a bona fide member of the party due to his promotion of eugenics.[6] Barrett's efforts were not successful, and Hart was forced to run as a write-in candidate.[7]
Barrett was found dead in his home on April 22, 2010, in Pearl, Mississippi, after reports of his house being on fire. Sheriff Ronnie Pennington said the death was being investigated as a homicide, as he was apparently stabbed. Pennington also said that the murder was not racially motivated.[8] Vincent Justin McGee, 22, was arrested on April 22.[9] Three more arrests were subsequently made.[10] In his confession, McGee alleged that Barrett had made sexual advances to him, sending him into a rage.[8] McGee also said that at the time he murdered Barrett, he was not aware of the fact that Barrett was a white supremacist.[11]
McGee said that he stabbed Barrett after Barrett reportedly dropped his pants and told McGee to perform oral sex. McGee was charged with capital murder, robbery, and arson.[12] Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for McGee.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ William Fisher (March 21, 2009). "The Spirit of America: What Were They Thinking?". OpEdNews. http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Spirit-of-America-Wha-by-William-Fisher-090321-54.html.
- ^ The New Atlantic Charter on the Nationalist Movement website
- ^ "Barrett-Harvey Cement Ties: Reform Pow-Wow Boosts Apartheid". All The Way. London: Crosstar. October 1989. Archived from the original on 2008-03-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20080314125005/http://www.nationalist.org/ATW/1989/100101.html. Retrieved 9 October 2010. "Alan Harvey of the Reformed National Party and Richard Barrett of The Nationalist Movement warned against compromise with the DeKlerk regime."
- ^ The American friends' fiasco (photo on right) Crosstar 2001
- ^ White Supremacists and the Mississippi State Fair : NPR
- ^ "Lawyer says Hart could challenge disqualification – Law state used wasn't 'prequalified,' he says;" Bartholomew Sullivan. The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tenn.: April 20, 2006. p. B11.
- ^ "James Hart for Congress". http://www.jameshartforcongress.com/. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
- ^ a b Ballou, Howard. "Money may not have been sole motive for Barrett murder". WLBT 3. http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12367018. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "White supremacist Richard Barrett found dead at Pearl home". The Clarion-Ledger. April 22, 2010. http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100422/NEWS/100422016/1001/Sheriff-White-supremacist-Barrett-s-death-a-homicide.
- ^ Fritscher, Justin. "3 more arrests in white supremacist Richard Barrett's death". The Clarion-Ledger. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/clarionledger/access/2017473081.html?FMT=CITE&date=Apr+24%2C+2010. Retrieved April 24, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ Suspect in death of Miss. supremacist speaks Out
- ^ "Investigator: Sexual Advances Led To Barrett's Death". http://www.wapt.com/news/23445744/detail.html. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ^ "DA to seek life term in slaying of Barrett". http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20110202/NEWS/102020337/DA-to-seek-life-term-in-slaying-of-Barrett. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
[edit] External links
- Richard Barrett ADL profile of Barrett
- 250 protest Barnett's rally
- Barrett's New Jersey protest
- Richard Barrett Racist Hall of Shame member
- White Supremacists and the Mississippi State Fair – Tavis Smiley interviews Richard Barrett on National Public Radio
- Lott's daughter hits back at segregationist – article about protest against Barrett
- Google report of Barrett's death
- WJTV report on Barrett's death
- FBI file on Richard Barrett
