White Supremacist Speaks Out

WTV/January 18, 2003
By C. Morgan

The World Church of the Creator (WCOTC) is a white supremacist organization. Its national leader is behind bars and in the media spotlight because of some high profile court wranglings. You may not realize it, but there is a chapter of the group here in Columbus.

Columbus police detectives say the WCOTC is the most active local hate group.

Matt Hale is the national leader of the World Church of the Creator. An Illinois judge has ruled the white supremacist group had to change it's name and alter or destroy its White Man's Bible because of a trademark violation. Shortly thereafter, a U.S. Attorney announced Hale is in jail charged with trying to solicit the murder of that judge.

One local member feels this is a conspiracy.

"In my opinion, Mr. Hale is a revolutionary," said World Church member Michael Carothers. "This is an effort to shut him up. (They're)trumped up charges to silence him and our movement."

That movement includes 16 Commandments. Among them --" (II) Be fruitful and populate the earth with only White people. Also (III) -- the "mud races" are our deadly enemies. And: (VII) show preferential treatment to whites in business. Do not employ n***rs or other coloreds"

Carothers admits the beliefs of the World Church are not popular but he insists this is all about a battle over First Amendment rights.

"I've been harassed and had my door knocked on for expressing my constitutional rights," Carothers said.

The Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery keeps an eye on hate groups across the country.

"This group has been responsible for a great deal of violence," said Mark Potok with the watchdog group."For that reason, law enforcement should take a close look at the World Church members around them."

Potok thinks it's important to keep a close eye on WCOTC members, especially now. He says they may resort to violence now that their leader is behind bars.

The World Church of the Creator will be part of a protest outside the Southern Poverty Law Center on January 25th. Mark Potok thinks if Matt Hale is convicted on the murder conspiracy charges, the WCOTC will fold within the year.