FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 16, 2017, Photos Attached
Media Contact: TN Anti Racist Network notinourstate@gmail.com
Tenn. Charity Funds Racist Neo-Nazi Hate Group's Paramilitary Training
Charity's Funders Also Donate to Tenn. Republican Political Campaigns
League of the South, one of the more prominent and easy-to-identify violent white supremacist groups involved in the deadly white nationalist riot in Charlottesville, Va., is funded through a Tennessee-based nonprofit, the Mary Noel Kershaw Foundation.
The MNK Foundation President, David O. Jones, of Lobelville, Tenn., is also founder and director of Heritage Covenant Schools. The MNK Foundation's Secretary is J. Michael Hill of Killen, Ala. Hill is also the leader of League of the South, designated a racist hate group by Southern Poverty Law Center.
The charity is funded by several prominent Nashville residents as well as other people throughout the region as is detailed in their 2016 tax return, found at https://tinyurl.com/y75435z5. These donors include Robert Echols, a Nashville attorney and former federal judge; John Dayani, a healthcare executive and political donor; and Steve Hewlett, a Nashville developer whose firm, Hewlett Spencer, has built several Tennessee public schools.
Of particular concern is the web of connections between those who financially support white supremacist hate groups and also financially support elected officials. For example, in addition to financially supporting League of the South's paramilitary training for racists, Mr. Echols also contributed $5,500.00 to Beth Harwell's PAC and legislative campaign. Harwell is the Republican Speaker of the House in the Tennessee House of Representatives and recently announced her intent to run for Tennessee governor.
Regardless of political affiliation, the Tennessee Anti-Racist Network takes the position that elected officials should not accept donations from those associated with and providing financial support to violent hate groups.
In addition to funding more than $5,000 in paramilitary training for white supremacist groups, the charity also uses funds to develop a "History of the Southern People" class for Heritage Covenant Schools, a nonaccredited Tennessee home school collective.
Tennessee Anti Racist Network calls on all Foundation funders to cease their association and funding of the Mary Noel Kershaw Foundation, which exists explicitly to promote armed and unarmed combat training for the violent hate group League of the South. We call on elected officials to carefully examine the relationships between their donors and white supremacist/nationalist groups and reject any donations tainted by hate group connections.
TARN calls on our members and allies to hold their elected officials and prominent Tennesseans accountable and demand they cease their support of this racist charity engaged in paramilitary training of the next generation of violent racists and neo-Nazis. TARN calls on all Tennesseans to demand that elected officials end implicit support and connections to white supremacist organizations.
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August 16, 2017, Photos Attached
Media Contact: TN Anti Racist Network notinourstate@gmail.com
Tenn. Charity Funds Racist Neo-Nazi Hate Group's Paramilitary Training
Charity's Funders Also Donate to Tenn. Republican Political Campaigns
League of the South, one of the more prominent and easy-to-identify violent white supremacist groups involved in the deadly white nationalist riot in Charlottesville, Va., is funded through a Tennessee-based nonprofit, the Mary Noel Kershaw Foundation.
The MNK Foundation President, David O. Jones, of Lobelville, Tenn., is also founder and director of Heritage Covenant Schools. The MNK Foundation's Secretary is J. Michael Hill of Killen, Ala. Hill is also the leader of League of the South, designated a racist hate group by Southern Poverty Law Center.
The charity is funded by several prominent Nashville residents as well as other people throughout the region as is detailed in their 2016 tax return, found at https://tinyurl.com/y75435z5. These donors include Robert Echols, a Nashville attorney and former federal judge; John Dayani, a healthcare executive and political donor; and Steve Hewlett, a Nashville developer whose firm, Hewlett Spencer, has built several Tennessee public schools.
Of particular concern is the web of connections between those who financially support white supremacist hate groups and also financially support elected officials. For example, in addition to financially supporting League of the South's paramilitary training for racists, Mr. Echols also contributed $5,500.00 to Beth Harwell's PAC and legislative campaign. Harwell is the Republican Speaker of the House in the Tennessee House of Representatives and recently announced her intent to run for Tennessee governor.
Regardless of political affiliation, the Tennessee Anti-Racist Network takes the position that elected officials should not accept donations from those associated with and providing financial support to violent hate groups.
In addition to funding more than $5,000 in paramilitary training for white supremacist groups, the charity also uses funds to develop a "History of the Southern People" class for Heritage Covenant Schools, a nonaccredited Tennessee home school collective.
Tennessee Anti Racist Network calls on all Foundation funders to cease their association and funding of the Mary Noel Kershaw Foundation, which exists explicitly to promote armed and unarmed combat training for the violent hate group League of the South. We call on elected officials to carefully examine the relationships between their donors and white supremacist/nationalist groups and reject any donations tainted by hate group connections.
TARN calls on our members and allies to hold their elected officials and prominent Tennesseans accountable and demand they cease their support of this racist charity engaged in paramilitary training of the next generation of violent racists and neo-Nazis. TARN calls on all Tennesseans to demand that elected officials end implicit support and connections to white supremacist organizations.
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Michael Hill, left, President of hate group League of the South in Charlottesville, VA, during the white supremacist and neo nazi riot on Aug. 12, 2017. Hill also serves as Secretary to the Tennessee-based Mary Noel Kershaw Foundation, a charity which finances paramilitary training for LOSers.
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Easily identifiable by their shields, patches, and symbology, LOSers brought sheilds and sticks which were used to violently attack peaceful counter protesters in Charlottesville, VA, Aug. 12, 2017.
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