August 29, 1998, Superior, Montana
Racist Gathering
On August 29, the World Church of the Creator (COTC) held a regional conference just outside Superior, Montana, at "Reverend" Slim Deardorff's home on Cedar Creek Road. Human rights activists drove up the road to Deardorff's home to post "No Hate" signs on trees lining the road. The gathering at Deardorff's home was much larger than two years ago. Deardorff had a COTC flag hanging between two trees as a welcome sign for his racist comrades. Groups of racists sipped coffee around a number of small campfires as they began the first day of their gathering.
Back in Superior, the Network organized a "honk and wave" (in which a small group gathers on a busy street to wave at passing traffic with anti-racism signs). More than 20 Network supporters had been gathered for about 45 minutes in downtown Superior when two vehicles loaded with 14 racists pulled into town. The racists parked and marched to the opposite side of the street. It was a rather daunting sight for a group of anti-racists to see a line of skinheads marching towards them, many toting fire arms. The reality of the potential violence clearly hit home. Some of the COTC members had torn down the "No Hate" signs and ripped them up in front of the protesters. Network members were taunted by the COTC group for well over an hour. Cars pulling off the interstate were greeted on one side of the road by the human rights activists holding positive signs, banners, and an information sheet on COTC, while COTC members gave the "sieg heil" salute and shouted "white power." Passers-by were overwhelmingly supportive of the Network's presence.