White Supremacists Said Beat Man

The Associated Press/March 3, 2000

Indianapolis -- A man who refused to raise his arm in a Nazi salute was severely beaten by six men who may be part of a white supremacist group, police said.

Maj. Mike Turk of the Marion County Sheriff's Department said detectives are looking at a connection between the alleged attackers -- who range in age from 18 to 24 -- and a white supremacist group called the Knightstown Boys. David Anderson, 24, suffered a concussion, internal bleeding and had two teeth knocked out early Sunday. He also received stitches around his mouth, and his eyes were swollen shut for two days.

"They kept trying to get me to 'Heil Hitler,' but I wouldn't do that," Anderson said Thursday. "I'll never change my beliefs."

The six men face charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery and were in custody Thursday on bonds ranging from $100,000 to $200,000.

Police said they were at a party with Anderson late Saturday when an argument erupted because some started making derogatory racial remarks and talking about "white power supremacy."

Anderson said they ordered him to give the Nazi salute, and when he didn't he was pushed out of the house and repeatedly hit and kicked, investigators said.

"I was getting probably two or three kicks a second," Anderson said. A woman across the street called 911. Anderson was found a few block away, his face swollen and bloody.