The following report, published as part of the MEMRI White Supremacist Online Incitement Project, presents information about a white supremacist and neo-Nazi group, Iron Youth, apparently established by a 17-year-old California male. Based on information collected from on the group’s social media accounts, those behind the group have been attempting to establish and/or expand it since August 2018. Its online content, which stresses the need to take violent action, is aimed at both incitement and at recruiting new members, in order, it says, to move from online to “in real life activism.”
Iron Youth has posted invitations to join it, Nazi and white supremacist insignia, and imagery of Hitler and other white supremacist leaders. Many images are distinctly paramilitary in style, showing individuals in uniform and carrying weapons. The imagery and style used are similar to those used by the global neo-Nazi organization Atomwaffen Division. Many of Iron Youth’s posts are accompanied by lengthy essays presenting the group’s ideology, on topics such as religion, pornography, and social media. With these posts, the group says, it is “preparing, educating, and training for the collapse and what we must do when it comes.”
Iron Youth’s Online Presence
Iron Youth is active on Gab, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, BitChute and YouTube. On Gab, it has 137 followers; on Twitter, 67 followers; on Instagram, 154 followers; on YouTube, 18 subscribers; and on BitChute, 10 subscribers. The content posted on these accounts indicates that Iron Youth is a white supremacist and neo-Nazi organization. It bills itself as “European Ethnic Nationalist, Traditionalist, and Environmentalist.” On Gab, it frequently posts Nazi and white supremacist propaganda, as well as militant calls to action accompanied by images. In some posts, it provides a ProtonMail address for contacting it.
Militant Calls To Action
For example, on June 29, 2019, Iron Youth posted an image featuring Hitler, an emblem consisting of an axe crossed with a flintlock pistol and the initials “I.Y,” and a figure in a ski mask giving a Nazi salute, with the text “Militancy over Complacency.” The accompanying text read: “A new piece from our artist (if you’d like to hire him, feel free to shoot me a message), militancy over complacency. Don’t be one of those folks who just talks, do something. Join something. Take action. Join The Iron Youth.”
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