Skinhead ViolenceWhen you here the term Skinhead you probably think about young rebelswearing big black boots and Nazi symbols. These happen to be a few trademarksbut across the world “Skinhead” refers to a diverse cult of young people. Theorigin of this cult goes back to the 60’s in England, where menacing-looking,shaven-headed and tattooed youths in combat boots began to be seen in thestreets. This cult has matured into a large collection of smaller gangs across33 countries. The ages of members range from 13 to 25 in which half the membersare hard-core activists and the rest supporters. This cult is tied intopolitical and other violent and nonviolent groups, suck as the White AryanResistance, KKK, populist Party, British National Party, and several others.
They get support from so called punks and football (soccer) hooligans known as”hools” to create riots and violence. From the creation of this cult untiltoday it has supported violence, starting with beatings with boots and smallweapons, evolving today into a terrorist like cult armed with deadly militaryweapons.
Just like gangs in the U.S. skinheads also fight among each other. Thesefights are actually where most deaths by skinheads occur. And just like gangsskinheads have several different beliefs and methods of expression. Thesetypes of skinheads range from racist and violent to groups which are politicalbut against racism and violence. The members come from a diverse range oflifestyles among broken homes, poor families, and alienated youngsters. Theylike the brotherhood of the gangs which they are missing from home. Being askinhead is not a hobby for the weekends but a lifestyle which ids full ofviolence and hatred, wreaking havoc on their towns to express their beliefs.
The Oklahoma City bombing brought home to American people that no countryis immune from terrorism. Although thought to be tied into larger extremistgroups, the actual bombing was the work of only a few people. Although they arenot responsible for this bombing, the neo-nazi skinheads impose these typethreats to their community. Nowhere do the neo-nazi skinheads by themselvesconstitute a mass-movement. The danger posed by these young racist thugs liesin their taste for violence. Skinheads across the globe have committed numerousmurders, firebombing and other crimes of violence against innocent victims whomthey deemed to be of the wrong race, religion, nationality, or sexualpreference. Their goal whether in Los Angeles or Berlin is a racially puresociety like that of the Third Reich.
Contrary to their claim to represent the working class youth, skinheadscome from widely varying economic backgrounds. Their roots often lie indomestic instability; a high portion of skinheads come from broken homes, orsingle parent families. Their gangs often serve as surrogate families fortheir members. Often youngsters join these groups because it is a place wherethey can be in an environment which supports their views and beliefs. Skinheadsfrequently live in communal homes and apartments. Those who live with theirfamilies often do so under tense conditions. In February of this year twobrothers were accused of killing their mother, father, and younger brother.
After the murders they fled to Michigan where they stayed with other skinheads.
When captured they had nazi symbols and slogans tattooed all over their bodies.
This illustrates the domestic discord which can arise from a family trying toturn their sons away from their hateful way of life.
The nazi ideology and violent behavior of skinheads has caused fear andanguish in every community they have infested. There are ways to counter thesegangs before or after they have infested a community. Germany along with othercountries have found that if immediate action is not taken against these smallgroups then the effect is a dangerous escalation off skinhead gangs andviolence. They found the best way to counter was through tough-minded lawenforcement . The U.S. and other countries have made the decision to form a taskforce which had succeeded in convicting numerous skinheads. This type of toughlaw enforcement has also resulted in a decline of skinhead violence. Thebottom line is that where ever skinheads operate, their desire for hate andviolence makes them a devious and dangerous force in the community.
