Heathens respond to “Q-Shaman” and Norse Imagery in Capitol Riot

Observe: Star Bustamante and Manny Tejeda-Moreno had been contributors to the article. 

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, a rally in assist of U.S. President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud was a violent and chaotic revolt. A bunch of far-right Trump loyalists attacked and breached the Capitol constructing in a puerile however violent effort to cease Congress from certifying the outcomes of the 2020 presidential election, which was gained by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Of the numerous rioters photographed in the course of the assault on the Capitol, one specifically caught the attention of the Heathen neighborhood – a face-painted, shirtless man, carrying furs and a horned helmet, carrying a spear, and coated in tattoos associated to Viking and Norse imagery.

The person, Jake Angeli, sometimes referred to as the “QAnon Shaman,” appeared in dozens of images shared by nationwide and social media.

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Angeli, whose authorized identify is Jacob Chansley, 32, is a QAnon supporter from Phoenix, Arizona, who has been lively in far-right circles up to now 12 months, showing in his face-paint and horns at many rallies in assist of Trump and QAnon. In 2019 he appeared, in related costume, at a rally demanding action on climate change at the Arizona state capitol.

Regardless of some claims on social media that Angeli is affiliated with the Black Lives Matter motion or Antifa, Reuters notes that Angeli has an in depth historical past of involvement with Trump rallies and the QAnon motion.

On Angeli’s now-closed Fb web page, he shared quite a lot of QAnon-related conspiracy theories, together with claims {that a} cabal of Satanic pedophiles had infiltrated the U.S. authorities and was performing in opposition to President Trump. One put up included a video that claimed to reveal “the way in which that Communism is tied to Satanism & black magick spell” (sic).

Angeli’s Fb profile additionally contained a mishmash of memes, pictures, and quotes that appeared to point assist for a number of spiritual expressions. Some concerned Pagan imagery, however many had been affirmations of Christianity and devotion to Jesus. The phrases “God Wins” and “Jesus Amen” had been frequent components of his posts.

He additionally described himself as “a shamanic practitioner and energetic healer. I’ve been on the shamanic path for over a decade and have quite a few totally different capabilities and items at my disposal.”

Till shortly after the riot on the U.S. Capitol, Angeli maintained a profile on Backstage, an promoting web site for actors and entertainers. Within the now-deleted web page, he described himself as an actor, voiceover artist, and singer, “able to performing over 30 totally different voices and quite a few totally different accents.”

He additionally claimed to be “very expert at embodying characters.”

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Regardless of the mostly-Christian nature of his posts, Angeli is clearly conscious of recent Heathenry. One Fb put up contained the 9 Noble Virtues, an moral code created by John Yeowell and John Gibbs-Bailey of the Odinic Ceremony in 1974. Yeowell had ties to white supremacist and fascist actions, together with, at one level, membership within the British Union of Fascists and Nationwide Socialists.

Angeli has three distinguished tattoos on his torso, together with a valknut on his higher chest, a stylized tree on his pectoral, and a big Thor’s hammer tattoo on his stomach. The tree is probably a reference to Yggdrassil, the world tree in Norse cosmology.

Angeli doesn’t look like linked to any lively Heathen or Pagan neighborhood. His look on the head of the cost introduced swift reactions from the Heathen and Pagan neighborhood.

The Troth released a statement final night time condemning the violence of the extremists and denouncing their appropriation of Heathen symbols:

At the moment, the world has witnessed an unprecedented scene of violence and terror in full disregard for the protection of Congresspeople, regulation enforcement, and a whole metropolis. These occasions had been pushed by bigotry and hate. Moreover, a number of of those that have been most seen in these occasions have additionally been bearing symbols many people maintain very expensive and even sacred.

The Troth condemns the occasions at this time by all who dedicated acts of violence and terror within the strongest method doable. We assist all who search to voice disagreements peacefully, and condemn any try by governments to suppress peaceable protest. We condemn the misinformation and hateful rhetoric that drives these occasions. Our neighborhood stands obtainable to help these in Washington DC who may have to talk with clergy or produce other wants on account of this occasion.

Tonight, we be a part of with religion leaders from across the globe in a prayer for peace to settle over america and {that a} calm and orderly transition of energy continues.

This morning the Pagan Federation issued the next assertion:

by way of Facebook

The Heathen neighborhood works to maneuver ahead, combating the adverse messages which might be created by the appropriation of their symbols by white supremacists and extremists. “I got here out of the ‘Mjolnir closet’ a few years in the past,” mentioned Denison, “as a result of I made a decision the one option to change fashionable opinion was to point out myself and present that Heathenry isn’t that Nineteenth-century hate. I do know our nation will heal from this horrid try to destroy our republic. But it surely’s going to take work. Heathens want to assist on this and be extra vocal in calling racism. Leaders in Heathenry have been doing this for years with initiatives similar to Declaration 127.”

Declaration 127 is a press release signed by 180 organizations denouncing the Asatru People Meeting for discriminating towards racial minorities and queer Heathens. It takes its identify from verse 127 of the Outdated Norse poem Hávamál, which W.H. Auden translated as “If conscious that one other is depraved, say so: Make no truce or treaty with foes.” Huginn’s Heathen Hof, which hosts the Declaration, plans to develop its scope from past merely pertaining to the AFA.

“Associating our symbols with acts of treason and sedition by extremists is solely unacceptable,” mentioned Schreiwer. “We’ve to proceed to work tougher to get our message on the market even stronger.”