White-supremacists groups gather near Gatlinburg, Tenn., for conference

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports online today, from its media affiliate The Tennessean, that white-supremacists supporters are gathering near Gatlinburg, Tenn., for an international conference. Attendees include former presidential candidate and Ku Klax Klan leader David Dukes, who will “lead an informal nature walk through the Smokies” during the event, organized by Stormfront, a Facebook group.

Here’s an excerpt from the report by Anita Wadhwani:

A Caucasian heritage and $75 are the price of entry into next week’s international conference for white supremacists organized by Stormfront, the oldest and best-known website devoted to the “white pride, white power” movement.

Like a Facebook for white supremacists, Stormfront is the virtual gathering space for like-minded people to meet, post and respond to messages, tell jokes and offer political commentary in a variety of labeled discussion groups that range from “fighting white genocide” to poetry.

The Tennessee conference represents a rare offline gathering for Stormfront members. The two-day agenda includes a luncheon and workshops on immigration, political organizing and communications by some of the movement’s best-known contemporary leaders….