| Revision as of 13:29, 11 October 2005 view source69.142.225.85 (talk) →External links← Previous edit | Revision as of 13:30, 11 October 2005 view source 69.142.225.85 (talk) →External linksNext edit → | ||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
| *'''' | *'''' | ||
| *'' Report on Turner]'' | *'''' | ||
| *'' and other ] by the ]'' | *'' and other ] by the ]'' | ||
Revision as of 13:30, 11 October 2005
Harold "Hal" Turner is a shortwave radio talk show host from North Bergen, New Jersey, USA known for virulent racism and anti-Semitism. His program, The Hal Turner Show, was carried on WBCQ from Monticello, Maine. The station's owner, Allan Weiner, who is Jewish and a pacifist responded to widespread criticism by stating that he aired Turner's show in the spirit of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
"Hal from North Bergen"
Turner is a real estate agent and occasional candidate in various state elections. He describes himself as being a Roman Catholic. Before launching his own talk show, Turner was a regular caller (known simply as "Hal from North Bergen") to Sean Hannity's and Bob Grant's talk shows on WABC radio in New York City. Though his comments on those men's shows were highly provocative and calculated in their offensiveness, they were rarely outright racist.
In 2000, Turner sought the local Republican nomination for election in his local assembly district but lost to incumbent Democrat Robert Menendez and six other candidates (including another Republican, Theresa de Leon). (Election results) Afterward, Turner had a reported "epiphany," deciding the political system was rigged against white men (de Leon is Hispanic) and abandoning all ties to the mainstream.
That same year, he started "The Hal Turner Show" by renting time on WBCQ and the "Turner Radio Network" to distribute programming by other white supremacists via satellite.
The Hal Turner Show
His radio show originated from a studio in his home. Widely criticized for his racist views, he was also criticized by some factions among the extreme right wing including some skinheads for openly advocating violence and lawlessness - though Turner himself was never alleged to have taken part in violent acts. Others dismissed Turner and his show as an elaborate joke, due to Turner's frequent on-air begging for financial support, his sale of trinkets such as coffee mugs and T-shirts imprinted with racist slogans and cartoons.
Turner's show and website both shut down temporarily in 2004 due to health and financial problems he suffered. His website returned on-line in 2005, and he re-started his radio show in June 2005. His site received more than one million visits in its first few months back on the web.
The Lefkow murders
Turner was interviewed by a number of news outlets in 2005 after it was revealed the FBI interviewed him following the murders of the mother and husband of federal District Judge Joan Lefkow. Two years earlier, on his worldwide shortwave show, Turner opined that a decision made by Lefkow, which he falsely claimed included an order to a church to burn its Bibles, made her "worthy of being killed." After the Judges family was slaughtered, Turner posted a photo of Judge Lefkow with the Headline "GOTCHA!" over the photo on his website.
Turner routinely goes after federal, state and even local officials by exposing their home addresses and even publishing leaflets that citizens can print locally, to show their unhappiness with activist Judges.
His efforts have caused federal Judges to move to new towns over criticism heaped upon them over court decisions. Turner notes "The criticism works. After they been 'Turner'd' they change their behavior on the bench and obey the Constitution!"
External links
- Article on Turner and other shortwave personalities by the Southern Poverty Law Center
- Orcinus blog entry on Turner, comapring him to Ward Churchill
- Article at MSNBC detailing Turner's stormy relationship with other White supremacists in the wake of the Lefkow killings