While they were on their way to the fake anti-war farce in DC.

Keystone ARA

On Wednesday February 15th residents of East Palestine Ohio and concerned citizens from around the area attended a Town Hall meeting regarding the February 3rd Train Derailment and subsequent humanitarian/environmental disaster. Many came to voice their concerns about the lack of governmental response to the disaster. Trent Conway, mayor of East Palestine, hosted the meeting held amidst a tense atmosphere. The meeting was attended by Bill Johnson (US Representative R-Marietta), Dr Bruce Vanderhoff (Ohio Department of Health) as well as State and Federal Environmental Protection Agency representatives fielded questions and made themselves available after the meeting.Town residents expected to hear from Norfolk Southern Railway. Representatives from Norfolk Southern pulled out of the meeting at the last minute citing “security concerns”. Residents asked tough questions about the horrible local, state, federal and corporate response to the disaster. This generated widespread media coverage. In the time between the town hall meeting and the publishing of this article the federal government has finally started to take action. 

During the initial derailment cars full of toxic chemicals toppled off the track, some spilling their contents and others catching fire. For two days railroad officials operated a “controlled burn off” of the toxic and hazardous materials. Residents were evacuated from their homes. In the time since then residents have become sick, wildlife (including fish and mammals) have died and there are reports of livestock falling ill. 

Numerous organizations have rushed to provide aid and support to this community. These groups span the entire political gambit. The vast majority of them speaking to assess the damage, assist residents, provide material support, pressure local/state/ federal government into action, hold the railroad company responsible for this disaster and to look out for the future of this community and the surrounding areas that may be affected.

In another desperate bid for attention the National Justice Party and their lackeys the American Defense Skinheads showed up to the town hall meeting. It is reported that they “distributed literature” before and after the event. Joseph Jordan (AKA Eric Striker) attempted to ask a question of Conway (Mayor) during the question period of the meeting. Conway asked if he was a resident, Jordan admitted he was not and Conway stated I want to hear from residents. Undeterred Jordan “confronted” State Rep Bill Johnson about the lack of federal response. Other members of Jordans group included Michael McKevitt, Alan Balogh (NJP) and John Smaligo (ADS).

Since that meeting the NJP has been very busy online. They have posted about Bill Johnson’s campaign donors (AIPAC) as evidence that he is part of a “Jewish Conspiracy”. They have digitaly gone on the offensive against a few Twitter accounts. They have created many hours of nonsensical self congratulatory Hate Podcasts. They have even gone so far as to claim credit for local and state officials successfully pressuring the federal government for aid to this disaster.

NJP’s entourage to this community meeting included known ADS members. Notably John Smaligo of North Versailles PA (a suburb of Pittsburgh). They can be seen in various videos of the line waiting to enter the gym where the meeting was held as well as in photos circulating online. It is reported by residents of East Palestine that ADS distributed literature and stood around attempting to “look normal”. ADS members include Dishonorably Discharged Veterans and Violent Felons. They try to appear as culture warriors but usually devolve into second rate hate music and attacks on unsuspecting bar patrons. 

The newly formed group “Patriot Socialist Front” also stopped in East Palestine, Ohio on their way to a “anti war protest” in Washington DC. This group was formed by Matthew Heimbach, the notorious neo nazi who founded the now defunct “Traditional Workers Party”. The group took a couple videos of themselves preparing to distribute a whopping 5 cases of bottled water along with some extremely corny (PSF) promotional stickers. This is a clear case of another racist organization glorifying themselves with feeble attempts of self promotion in the face of a horrible disaster. The most interesting part of the PSF actions is their blatant attempt to steal name brand notoriety by creating a knock off name. The similarly named Patriot Front is still reeling from street losses and the massive server leak that is well archived and documented by organizations such as Unicorn Riot. The PF group is suffering from loss of membership due to the corruption and cult-like operating procedures of its ego-manic leader Thomas Russo. Either all the good nazi names were taken or Heimbach is hoping to gain Generic brand success with his latest pathetic attempt at a hate group.

Groups like this seek to recruit in downtrodden white areas. They use political stunts like this to claim relevance and support from the “white working class”. NJP is nothing more than a group of con artists built around a “cult of personality”. They are veterans of the Alt-Right who have received property and funding from a potential Russian operative. ADS members obediently follow around the NJP political stunt show in a desperate attempt to gain some kind of ideological legitimacy. The PSF is trying to make a name for themselves and prove to other White Nationalists that they are relevant. 

The one major thing that these groups have in common is their complete disregard for the actual citizens and land surrounding East Palestine Ohio. These groups only seek promotion and to justify their agenda of creating an exclusively white ethno-state. They are claiming credit for the hard work, speaking up, and organizing that affected residents have been engaged in.

There are various groups on the ground doing highly impactful work. Please consider donating to this group who is on the ground distributing aid and meeting with residents to best assess and meet their needs. There is a very real humanitarian and environmental disaster underway in East Palestine Ohio. The folks there need support and to have their voices amplified against the crushing weight of the railroad company and its allies in government. They do not need racist thugs strutting around seeking to take credit and grandstand.