Bill Riccio: Difference between revisions
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In November [[1991]] Riccio and [[Roger Handley]], of the militant [[Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan]], jointly led a major gathering on Handley's farm. With his mostly young, male recruits, Riccio set up shop in a "[[WAR House]]" in [[Shelby County]], providing beer, liquor and guns to the boys, at least three of whom later accused him of sexual abuse. They were often joined by members of the [[Confederate Hammerskins]]. | In November [[1991]] Riccio and [[Roger Handley]], of the militant [[Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan]], jointly led a major gathering on Handley's farm. With his mostly young, male recruits, Riccio set up shop in a "[[WAR House]]" in [[Shelby County]], providing beer, liquor and guns to the boys, at least three of whom later accused him of sexual abuse. They were often joined by members of the [[Confederate Hammerskins]]. | ||
[[Image:Bill Riccio 1992 march.jpg|left|thumb| | [[Image:Bill Riccio 1992 march.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Riccio (left) demonstrates in downtown Birmingham on June 13, 1992]] | ||
On [[April 18]], [[1992]] three people who had attended a party at the WAR House went out on a "bash". They found 35-year-old Benny Rembert sleeping under the [[24th Street Viaduct]] at [[Morris Avenue]] and stabbed him, then dragged him to the [[Railroad Reservation]] where they caused his foot to be severed by a passing train. Rembert died. Four of his assailants were convicted of murder and sentenced to between 25 years and life in prison, and two others of manslaughter. One was sentenced to 20 years and the other to 9 months. Meanwhile, on [[June 13]], 1992, the ANF and Invisible Empire held a joint march through [[downtown Birmingham]]. Throughout that year, Riccio's activities were being recorded by a film crew for the 1993 HBO documentary "[http://www.moviesfoundonline.com/skinheads_usa.php Skinheads U.S.A.: Soldiers of the Race War]". | On [[April 18]], [[1992]] three people who had attended a party at the WAR House went out on a "bash". They found 35-year-old Benny Rembert sleeping under the [[24th Street Viaduct]] at [[Morris Avenue]] and stabbed him, then dragged him to the [[Railroad Reservation]] where they caused his foot to be severed by a passing train. Rembert died. Four of his assailants were convicted of murder and sentenced to between 25 years and life in prison, and two others of manslaughter. One was sentenced to 20 years and the other to 9 months. Meanwhile, on [[June 13]], 1992, the ANF and Invisible Empire held a joint march through [[downtown Birmingham]]. Throughout that year, Riccio's activities were being recorded by a film crew for the 1993 HBO documentary "[http://www.moviesfoundonline.com/skinheads_usa.php Skinheads U.S.A.: Soldiers of the Race War]". | ||
Revision as of 20:37, 31 January 2011
William E. Davidson, called Bill Riccio (born c. 1957), is an auto parts dealer, Ku Klux Klan leader, and the founder of the Aryan National Front, a Birmingham-based regional skinhead organization modeled after Tom Metzger's White Aryan Resistance in Warsaw, Indiana. Riccio's "neo-Confederate"-styled organization was made up largely of runaway teenagers who celebrated Adolf Hitler and aimed to "reclaim" the South for the aryan race.
Riccio pleaded guilty in 1989 to felony and misdemeanor charges resulting from fights between Klansmen and protesters at a 1979 demonstration in Decatur sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was also convicted on firearm and marijunana violations in 1979 and 1985.
In November 1991 Riccio and Roger Handley, of the militant Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, jointly led a major gathering on Handley's farm. With his mostly young, male recruits, Riccio set up shop in a "WAR House" in Shelby County, providing beer, liquor and guns to the boys, at least three of whom later accused him of sexual abuse. They were often joined by members of the Confederate Hammerskins.
On April 18, 1992 three people who had attended a party at the WAR House went out on a "bash". They found 35-year-old Benny Rembert sleeping under the 24th Street Viaduct at Morris Avenue and stabbed him, then dragged him to the Railroad Reservation where they caused his foot to be severed by a passing train. Rembert died. Four of his assailants were convicted of murder and sentenced to between 25 years and life in prison, and two others of manslaughter. One was sentenced to 20 years and the other to 9 months. Meanwhile, on June 13, 1992, the ANF and Invisible Empire held a joint march through downtown Birmingham. Throughout that year, Riccio's activities were being recorded by a film crew for the 1993 HBO documentary "Skinheads U.S.A.: Soldiers of the Race War".
Following the arrests, police raided the WAR house and found guns and hand grenades, and arrested Riccio on weapons charges. He pleaded guilty to violating federal laws preventing convicted felons from hiring armed bodyguards. He served 15 months at the Three Rivers Federal Correctional Institute in Texas, and returned to Birmingham in May 1994 to serve eight years of supervised probation, during which he was allowed no contact with any white supremacist organizations.
He eventually assumed the mantle of "Imperial Kludd" in the North Georgia White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
References
- Visser, Stever (August 17, 1993) "Prosecutor outlines fatal birthday "bash": Race prompted slaying, Hardeman prosecutor says." Birmingham News
- Warren, Carol Robinson (June 11, 1994) "White supremacist reportedly in city after prison." Birmingham News
- "The Godfathers" (Fall 2006) Intelligence Report. No. 123
- Mock, Brentin (Fall 2007) "The Pied Piper: Skinhead recruiter faces accusations." Intelligence Report. No. 127
- Scherr, Sonia (Summer 2009) "Going Under: An infiltrator of hate groups remembers." Intelligence Report. No. 134