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Martyrs, Heroes & Prisoners of War
(If You Believe)

Eric Hanson



Eric Hanson was once a Marine. He was proud of having been a Marine but he was bitter inside. Others were proud of him too - as a matter of fact, they still are. Eric was a rising star in the National Alliance. He was young, he was racist and he was eager to spread the word. As a racist white power skinhead, Hanson stood up for himself and his race. On February 14, 1999, he saw a black man and a white woman in a super market. Seeing this disgusted and enraged Eric and he just had to deliver a harangue to these "race traitors," after all, it WAS Valentine's Day! Eric started with racial epithets then threatened the African-American. The black man sought the police and Eric was arrested. Hanson testified before the jury on April 13, "Whites and blacks should be separate. It made me upset to see them together." The jury in the Lake County Circuit Court trial took just three hours to find him guilty. He was sentenced to one year in prison. His sentence was extended on July 16, 1999, when he was convicted on weapons charges and sentenced to 364 additional days in jail. Upon his release, Eric vowed never to be incarcerated again. And that is where the saga of Eric Hanson begins.

When Eric returned to the Chicago area he threw himself into his work for the National Alliance and the furthering of his hate-filled message. He organized a local unit for the National Alliance in Chicago. He passed out racist and anti-semitic literature on the streets. It has been said that he liked being out there on the streets - up close and personal. One of his friends, "Shaun Walker" tells of a time that Eric wanted to "agitate the Jews," claiming that was a past-time that Eric enjoyed. As the story goes, he and two friends entered a shopping mall that is located in an area with a large Jewish population. They purchased an Israeli flag, spread it on the floor of the mall and began to stomp all over it shouting anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish statements. When the police removed them from the mall they continued their litany of hate in the parking lot. Shaun seemed quite enamoured with the "bravado" of Eric's actions. And it was certainly these things that endeared him to other Alliance members. Shaun, however, does believe that it was these types of actions that called police attention to Eric. Well...yea! Those actions and a couple of other things - like running guns.

Eric liked the action and commraderie of the white power crowd. He attended an anti-immigrant rally in Gainseville with a car load of new recruits. He traveled to Bloomington, Illinois to attend a public meeting of the World Church of the Creator. And on December 16, 2000, he attended a Klan rally in Skokie, Illinois. There he refused to stand behind the police barrier and instead mingled in the crowd wearing a shirt featuring the Star of David with a line slashed through it. After the rally, eyewitnesses note that Hanson attacked an African-American woman as she walked down Old Orchard Rd., then fled before police arrived. He was never caught or charged in connection with the incident. That Eric Hanson was sure of himself is quite obvious. That Eric Hanson epitomized the neo-Nazi National Alliance is a surety.

In June, 2001, Eric Hanson had become the subject of an investigation for dealing in illegal weapons - not an alien charge to Hanson. On June 4 Hanson was approaced by investigators while sitting in his car in front of his house. When told that he was under arrest Eric sped off. Officers followed him to a grocery store parking lot where Hanson opened fire on the officers, hitting one in the neck and thigh and the other in his bulletproof vest. Hanson then entered the store, came out again to shoot at police, returned to the store, ordered everyone out, and hid. At 3:00am a remote-controlled bomb squad robot entered the store but could not locate Hanson. After nearly three hours of searching, a tactical weapons team located him in a meat locker. Hanson began shooting and police returned fire. Eric Hanson was dead at 27.

National Alliance members memorialized Hanson in a barrage of e-mails, noting, “Make no mistake about it, this is how they are waging their war and Eric was an intended casualty… He joins the growing number of brave warriors in the Record of Martyrs,” and “We are patriots, not terrorists, but rest assured. Eric will be avenged!” (Chicago Tribune, June 7). Eric Hanson has achieved martyr stature within the rank and file of the neo-Nazi National Alliance. On the Chicago National Alliance website a memorial is found. Under his picture the following caption is placed: "Eric Hanson - A Martyr of our Race 1974-2001." And, a eulogy, of sorts, has been penned:

"Eric Hanson was a great man. He was an honorably discharged United States Marine, a friend to all members of his race and a true man of honor. He enriched the lives of all Whites who were fortunate enough to meet him. Eric was unjustly imprisoned for a "hate crime" in 1999. He called a spade a spade (he said "nigger") after he was shoved by a "gentleman" of color. His public defender was a Jewess. Any wonder he went to prison?

After regaining his freedom, Eric became a racial leader and the founder of the Chicago Proto-Unit of the National Alliance. He became known to and respected by his racial peers throughout the world due to his tireless efforts on behalf of our race. His efforts were always positive, focusing on White Pride, and were never negative or hateful. Following repeated harassment by ZOG, on June 5, 2001, Eric was murdered in cold blood and became one the many martyrs of our race. His dedication and loyalty set the standard which we all try to follow. He marches with us in spirit! Make sure he did not die in vain! White man, wake up!"

Eric Hanson is no martyr. Eric Hanson isn't even worthy of cursory notation other than in the annals of crime. But Eric Hanson's acts of violence will be remembered and add one more notch in the violent history of right wing extremists.