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The racist World Church of the Creator (WCOTC) recently honored some of its activists with "The Award of Honor." The group's March issue of The Struggle listed the recipients, and it included Missoula's Dan Hassett and Superior's Slim Deardorff. The award is given to "Creators" who engage in "great activism in the service of the Church and the Race."

WCOTC is based in Illinois. The racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Christian group gained national attention in July 1999. One of its activists, Benjamin Smith, went on a shooting spree in Chicago that left two dead and eight wounded. He targeted people of color and Jews. Smith committed suicide before being apprehended. The group has also been in the news recently, because its leader, Matt Hale, is trying to get a license to practice law. He has been denied a license by the Illinois Bar Association and the Montana Bar Association. He is currently appealing the latter denial. With well-established allies in Hassett and Deardorff, it's no wonder that Hale would like to set up shop in Western Montana.

Hassett and Deardorff have been active in WCOTC for the last decade. Hassett has conducted massive literature drops of WCOTC's Fact That the Government and Media Don't Want You to Know throughout Western Montana. The booklet describes anti-Semitic conspiracy theories placing Jews in control of America's media and government. It also includes eugenics-like science that supposedly proves that the white race is more evolved than other races. Hassett received "The Award of Honor" due to his literature drops and his work on WCOTC's e-mail and Internet projects. Currently, Hassett oversees many of the "official" WCOTC e-mail lists. This isn't the first award the hate group has given Hassett for his racist activism. He has also received the group's most prestigious award, "The Creator of the Year." It's given to the Creator who does the most to spread WCOTC's message.

The Struggle says Deardorff received the award for distributing The Facts and for hosting WCOTC's annual meeting. For the past four years, WCOTC has met at Deardorff's shack outside Superior during the summer. Attendance has usually been between 5-15 people. WCOTC has already suggested that members begin saving to attend this summer's event.

Others winners of WCOTC's award included Jason and Melody LaRue of Washington. Both have attended previous WCOTC gatherings in Superior. They also received the award for distributing The Facts. Melody was also recognized for her work with the Sisterhood, a branch of WCOTC dedicated to female racists. Melody also publishes a journal on home schooling.