Heathens United Against Racism is a group dedicated to bringing together Heathens who are opposed to racism and co-optation of our beliefs, traditions, and lore by racist groups. This group is open to all interested people regardless of race, gender, sexuality, class, national origin, or political affiliation.
Thursday, June 29th, 2017 by admin
It has been brought to the attention of Heathens United Against Racism there is a specific artist, based out of Ukraine, who caters to Pagan and Heathen audiences who is not all of what they seem to be. The artist is known as Studio Yarinka and they specialize in Pagan and Heathen-oriented woodcarvings and statues. It has been brought to our attention, however, the owner of the page openly supports the White Power movement and white supremacy.
The first such evidence is in the above screenshot, where one of the pages liked by Studio Yarinka is an open advocate of white nationalism. This is only just the first of many pieces of evidence gathered by members of HUAR on Studio Yarinka. As shown below the studio has no problem with commissioning blatantly white nationalist pieces of work:
Shown above is a screenshot of one such commission. It is a statue of an SS soldier carrying a swastika shield. The image below shows the statue is a direct recreation of a piece of Nazi propaganda.
A similar piece was requested by Michael Sagginario, the head of the Irminfolk Kindred, who has been previously arrested for stockpiling an arsenal in his home and was known to have ties to neo-Nazi organizations as shown below:
When challenged on these matters Studio Yarinka has responded by repeating white power slogans:
And dismissing any concerns of neo-Nazi connections or ideology:
Based on this overwhelming evidence we, the members of Heathens United Against Racism, denounce Studio Yarinka as a neo-Nazi artist who is profiting from Pagans and Heathens to create more pieces that clearly promote white nationalist ideology. We call on all Pagans and Heathens to report their online outlets, share this information, and work to get their main outlets shutdown.
No platform or profit for white nationalists!
Thursday, June 1st, 2017 by admin
Heathens United Against Racism (HUAR) would like to formally comment that the Portland Killer’s actions didn’t happen in a vacuum. In an environment where hate-speech is being normalized and promoted, it tends to bubble over into violence. While it has been an existing problem, Pagan and Heathen communities have seen recent increases in racist, violent, and bigoted ideologies trying to sew themselves into the fabric of our faith-traditions. But fringe faiths are not alone, as many major religions such as Christianity are facing the same problems right now. Also like Christianity, there are certain groups and members of our community that deserve more blame than others. Groups like the Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA), Soldiers of Odin, Wolves of Vinland, and their web of allies promote ideas of racial separatism, competition, and violence. They have done so under the auspices of “Pride” and “Heritage.” The AFA is also committed to their prison ministry work, which only promotes their brand of Asatru (commonly known as “Odinism” within the prison system) in an environment that is already rife with white supremacy, skinheads, and Neo-Nazis.
To combat the toxicity of exclusive practices, groups such as HUAR, The Alliance for Inclusive Heathenry, Heathens Against Hate and others have been formed. Huginn’s Heathen Hof (HHH) united these organizations even further when they created a pact called “Declaration 127” that asks the Heathen and Asatru communities to disown and distance themselves from the AFA for these reasons. In total, there are currently 170 organizations from 17 nations internationally, including The Troth, and groups from Europe and Scandinavia where this practice has its historical roots, have signed this pact (http://declaration127.com/). We encourage all Heathens and Heathen organizations to seek out and sign this pact, but more importantly, we urge all groups and organizations to create and enforce anti-discrimination/anti-harassment statements.
The Portland Killer is our community’s responsibility, and we must do everything we can to prevent it from happening again. Our hearts and dedication go out to the victims’ families, and to the survivors of this gruesome act of terror.
“Where you recognize evil, speak out against it, and give no truces to your enemies”
-Havamal, stanza 127
Friday, May 19th, 2017 by admin
In these times racist, fascist groups have been advancing their hateful agenda on many fronts. Heathenry is no stranger to this, having faced our own long struggle with such groups.
It has recently been confirmed, thanks to the journalism work of Huginn’s Heathen Hof, Nordiska Asa Samfundet is one such group. Additional investigation has uncovered incontrovertible evidence of their whole-hearted embrace of such ideas & beliefs.
Translation: “We Scandinavians are an indigenous people. Stand firm against cultural appropriation from status quo-extremists in the modern liberal society. There is an intentional anti-Nordic rhetoric. There is an ill will against us. There seems to be an ongoing agenda to annihilate us. Just like the other indigenous peoples we were colonized by another civilization. This hydra has oppressed our people enormously through the times. They burned all our, in the tradition and science and herbs etc. knowledgeable ones alive. Asatru was forbidden because it was the history of our people´s tribe. They are the stories of the creation of the universe and the lines of our people. Propaganda is spread with the purpose of damaging and marginalizing us. They invent terms to gloss over our rights to a language and tradition of our own and they try to forcefully assimilate us. We are not allowed to be ourselves and think independently. As soon as we are the least proud of our people´s history and the ancestors we are declared idiots and punished. They use historically correct scientific empirism as a method of reducing and trying to control the flow of fact. They arrange a climate where we are always pushed back and discriminated against. They have the government and the ugly media behind them.
The government hires experts to gloss over our existence. We are trolled away in lies and cover-ups. When we try to organize ourselves and stand up for our rights we are called evil white fanatics. However, eventually dignity wins and history will punish our enemies very hard. If you are unaware that you are hurting us and support ethnic discrimination of Scandinavians then you shall have to study yourself better. Think before it is to late!!! Hail you Nordic people, you ancient and free. All the best to you.”
Making matters worse are their ties with the widely shunned Asatru Folk Assembly.
And their ties to the far-right, racist political party the Sweden Democrats:
When confronted on these matters they have defended their actions and refused to budge.
We, the members of Heathens United Against Racism, denounce them for what they are. We oppose them, shun them, & consider them to be outcast, outlawed, & indefensible. So long as they hold such beliefs we will stand against them in defense of our community & Heathenry.
We urge Heathens from across the globe to join us in our stand. There is no space in our community for this rot that has gnawed at us for too long. Just as Heathens around the world came together in Declaration 127 we ask again that all stand in a united front for Heathenry by shunning & denouncing Nordiska Asa Samfundet.
We welcome any groups who would like to add their names to this statement & join us in standing strong for Heathenry’s future.
Monday, March 27th, 2017 by admin
Stand together for inclusive, hospitable Heathenry!
On this coming May Day we call on all Heathens around the world who stand for inclusive, tolerant, and diverse practice to light a beacon in solidarity with all other Heathens who stand for these values in our spirituality. Whether you are lighting a candle in your home with your loved ones or are hosting a bonfire party open to the public we ask you help us shine a light on all the good work, good practice, and good people in Heathenry across Midgard.
This practice has deep roots. In ancient and medieval times different groups and societies across Europe had chains of bonfire beacons they would light as a warning of impending attack and to rally people to the defense of their homes. Last year Heathens from over 200 locations across Midgard participated in our first lighting of the beacons. This year, as turmoil, struggle, uncertainty, and fear’s shadow looms over all, we hope to do even better. Together we will be the light holding back the night, the spark igniting the fire of resistance, and the shield between our community and those who seek its demise.
If you choose to participate please take a picture of your beacon, whether it is a candle or a roaring bonfire, send it to HUAR with the number of people who participated and where, in terms of the nearest major city or region, it took place. If you want to organize a public bonfire event please send us the information and we will help promote it. Together we will ignite a fire in our hearts and homes that will push back the shadows of fear & ignorance, shine light on our honor, and rally the hopes of Heathens everywhere.
If you are participating in this event and posting your fires, no matter how large or small, please send the pictures to us via Facebook or email at contact@heathensunited.org and post them through your own social media accounts and websites using the following hashtags:
#LightTheBeacons
#Havamal127
Together we stand for inclusive Heathenry and a brighter future for all!
Sunday, January 8th, 2017 by admin
We, the members of Heathens United Against Racism (HUAR), are horrified by the news coming from Whitefish, Montana. As we have learned an armed gang of neo-Nazis is threatening to march through the town on January 15th to intimidate residents participating in anti-racist action into silence & compliance. They have further threatened Montana’s Jewish community and are organizing virtual lynch mobs to harass & defame these people for refusing to accept the presence of notorious white nationalist Richard Spencer in their midst.
We stand with Whitefish.
We stand with the Montana Jewish community.
We stand with all who fight organized bigotry in their homes & communities.
We call on all HUAR members & supporters, Heathens, Pagans, & people committed to the cause of inclusivity to stand with Whitefish however you can. If you live in the area be at the ready to oppose any attempts by Richard Spencer & the Daily Stormer’s goon squads from marching through Whitefish. We ask everyone to donate to the Montana Human Rights Network. If you need help in reaching our members on the ground participating in these actions please reach out to us via contact@heathensunited.org.
“If evil you see & evil you know speak out against it & give your enemies no peace.”
Havamal 127