- Dreaming of a 'white' world without Jews
Rarely has an extreme right-wing action group in the Netherlands in such a short time gained as much brand awareness as White Lives Matter Netherlands (WLM). During the turn of the year, the group projected racists with a laser texts on the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, the location of the (canceled and custom) national fireworks display. This show was broadcast live on TV, what the projection provided a large audience. It was international press coverage result. But what does WLM do in the Netherlands? And who are involved in this group?
"Why", sighs in the WLM handbook “the pro-White movement has made little progress since 1940 booked?” “National Socialism”, WLM muses, used to be a movement of “honorable heroes.” In the WLM Handbook, that is offered on the WLM-Telegram account, describes the goals the organization pursues (a “pro-white WORLD” with a minimal 99% ethnically pure society in Western countries) and who the enemies are ("Jews & marxists”). In addition, readers of this manifesto are motivated to “legal, peaceful and anonymous” stickers, putting up banners and organizing demonstrations “to show demoralized Whites that someone is standing up for them.” With this strategy, which is “attractive” to “outsiders”, WLM expects to nullify the failures of the post-war extreme right movement in the Netherlands that they have identified. WLM is counting on a “win” and on credits. “We will never forget, those who kindled the fire and kept it alive” solemnly concludes the charter.
What does White Lives Matter Netherlands do?
White Lives Matter is in response to Black Lives Matter 2015 originated in the United States, and has since been copied as a concept by right-wing extremists in other countries. All WLM activities, it says, are aimed at fostering a “White racial awareness.” In the Netherlands, WLM is an extreme right-wing group that arises in corona times and is digitally the only one, especially manages to recruit young followers on a Telegram channel, started in April 2021. Most activities also take place online. But from the summer of 2021 (when the second lockdown ends) WLM will also carry out actions on the street. In a sunny weekend of August 2021, on an internationally proclaimed 'official' WLM action day, a handful of activists leave for the National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam. Right in front of the war memorial, among the tourists, they unfurl their WLM banner, where the activists, in their own words, get “more positive than bad reactions”..
Three weeks later, a “flash mob” is planned in Utrecht, which, however, is canceled due to lack of enthusiasm. And in April 2022 a small group of activists is demonstratively present in Hoorn. Just like in Amsterdam, WLM uses a loaded place here. With their White Lives Matter banner, they position themselves in the shadow of the statue of J.P. Coen, only to move to another place in the center a little later. “Become a hero”, it says on their distributed flyers, where the slogan “Join your local nationalists” should motivate passers-by to dedicate themselves to the WLM cause.
In addition to these kinds of small-scale independent events, WLM is present at demonstrations of other organizations. When Forum for Democracy calls in October 2021 to demonstrate in Amsterdam against the corona measures, WLM is present “to share a pro-white message.” In February 2022 WLM is again present at such a demonstration, this time in Rotterdam.
On the corona demonstrations, where WLM is present, contacts can be made with other right-wing extremist organisations. Moreover, WLM hopes that their message will fall on fertile soil with the masses of people who can be found at these kinds of demonstrations. WLM draws inspiration from an analysis of the NCTV, which states that hundreds of thousands of people in the Netherlands have a fundamental distrust in the legal order, making them susceptible to conspiracy theories. WLM hopes to meet this potential constituency at these kinds of demonstrations.
But they are not alone (potential) allies that WLM seeks out. Opponents also receive attention from WLM. Op 1 May 2022 two WLM activists in Utrecht stand along the route of a left-wing anti-capitalist demonstration. With a protest sign and through a conversation they try to bring the demonstrators to new political insights. Two weeks later WLM demonstrates in Maastricht. Here you can see that Limburg has the most active WLM group in the Netherlands. There are more participants than anywhere else in the country, but the twenty demonstrators expected by WLM are not saved. The image of a very extremist and at the same time small organization remains confirmed.
The bulk of WLM's activities, however, do not consist of demonstrations, but from sticking stickers and to a lesser extent it spraying graffiti.
In 2022 en 2023 WLM knows how to motivate more and more people to distribute racist stickers and posters through their Telegram channel, appearing on the streets all over the country. In maart 2022 generates the pasting of election posters Utrecht en Rotterdam unrest and media attention. In Landgraaf, where WLM tackles posters of the VVD, however, unrest does not occur.
In addition, WLM motivates their Telegram followers to post racist comments on YouTube (and have even had a separate Telegram channel for that for some time) and WLM organizes running sessions and boxing training under the name 'active clubs'. Exercising in the fresh air, instead of watching “porn and Netflix,” according to WLM, should lead to the emergence of the “real strong man.”
The last eye-catching action of WLM is it project of the texts on the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam. But also in 2023 many stickers are still stuck in different cities.
Who is behind White Lives Matter Netherlands?
As with any organization, people come and go at WLM. But a number of activists can be seen remarkably often and over a longer period of time at the various actions and meetings of WLM. One of them is Daniel Smirnov (1988) from Landgraaf. From Maastricht to Hoorn and from Rotterdam to Kerkrade: Smirnov is present, often with a bodycam to film the actions and promote them online later. This promotion is an important part of the WLM visibility strategy, for which Smirnov takes his responsibility.
In the week before WLM becomes known to the general public with their Rotterdam laser campaign, there is a dress rehearsal. The texts that can be seen on the Erasmus Bridge at the stroke of New Year's Eve are projected on an office building in Venlo. It is not surprising that this action has been prepared in Limburg. That's where the most active group of WLM lives. A prominent participant on the WLM-Telegram channel using the pseudonym 'Derpman' comes out Park city Limburg. 'Derpman' announces on Telegram on New Year's Eve that he will "do activism" and is considering an arrest.
On New Year's Eve, the laser beamer was moved to Rotterdam. During the journey from Limburg, a stopover is made at Zwijndrecht station. That is the home of another fanatical WLM activist, John Abrossimow (1998). Abrossimow is present at one of the first WLM actions together with Smirnov, in augustus 2021 on Dam Square in Amsterdam. In addition, the gentlemen are together at a WLM demonstration in Hoorn a little less than a year later and they hold the banner together at their demonstration in Maastricht. In de zomer van 2022 Smirnov sets fire to a South African flag at a barbecue that WLM organizes together with the Dietse Volksparty. Abrossimow watches. And in October 2022 we see Abrossimow at a filmed WLM boxing training in his hometown of Zwijndrecht. In the promo video of this training we see him sparring with a small number of kindred spirits with his bodycam.
Given the small number of people who are active at WLM, combined with the great dedication of Smirnov and Abrossimow, it is quite possible that they were also involved in the laser projection in Rotterdam.
“The ultimate final battle”
WLM aims for nothing less than “victory.” As soon as it is declared after the "ultimate final battle"., let WLM know in their charter “life will be wonderful as never before.” To achieve this goal, WLM is prepared to make long-term investments in building an organization. This organization, which is currently online free structured and has a number of fixed national action days each year, should have hierarchically organized activists in every region “who can operate autonomously and leaderless.” It is not difficult to be part of WLM. If you do sports and film this, some racist stickers, or left stickers removed, then you already belong. Thanks to this approachable character, WLM has achieved some success in spreading racist stickers. At the same time, it is clearly visible that even sticking a sticker is too much effort for many interested parties.
Whether the development of WLM as an organization continues depends on many factors. One is the societal response to their actions. The widespread disapproval of the laser action in Rotterdam and the ensuing criminal investigation will act as a deterrent for part of the WLM supporters. However, the cheering of the laser action by the youth department of Forum for Democracy and the approval of this action by Ongehoord Nederland figurehead Raisa Blommestijn gives the WLM activists courage. Also the attitude of Liveable Rotterdam, serving as the sole party of the city council refused sign a statement rejecting WLM's action, will interpret WLM as a heart under the belt.
It is striking that FvD, Blommestijn and Liveable Rotterdam have not reversed their positions with regard to the laser action. Not even after the Nazi and antisemitic character of WLM had come into the picture extensively.
In addition to this support from FvD and Blommestijn, there are also contacts and cooperation with other right-wing extremist groups.
In any case, there are close contacts with other extreme right-wing groups from South Limburg such as Patriotic Youth Parkstad and Popular resistance. But there was also a barbecue together with the Dietse Volksfeest and contact was sought and found with Outpost Netherlands.
Where other extreme right-wing organizations that emerged on the internet in corona time have since disappeared or are only active digitally, WLM seems to have made the transition to the offline world definitively. With the low-threshold character (paste stickers) combined with the shock effect of the Erasmus Bridge projection, there is still an active core, a fairly constant following and interest and respect from other extreme right-wing organizations are visible.
complement 25 februari 2023
On Friday 24 February, Daniel Smirnov and John Abrossimow were arrested by the police. See the links at the bottom of this page and see this twitter-link.
