After the U.S. theater premiere of a documentary on his journey, a former Livingston County white supremacist and KKK leader who retreated from extremism was in Howell Thursday night to field questions.
The film Face of Hate depicts the tale of Jasen Barker, who gained notoriety in 2001 after he and a cousin were given prison sentences for attacking a Black Michigan State Police officer at a Brighton tavern.
The movie, which was directed by Dutch journalist Steffen Hou, starts with Barker firmly believing in white supremacy and pro-Nazi philosophy. However, it later shows him challenging these views and, after acknowledging the suffering that white supremacy had caused, asking his children for forgiveness and redemption.
Barker participated in a panel discussion on his tale and its connection to the nationwide rise in extremism after the film’s screening, which was organized by Stand Against Extremism Livingston County (SAGE) at the Historic Howell Theater.
I had no idea how to handle things because I was a lost soul. Barker informed the audience about his past life, saying, “I just hurt so much and I didn’t know how to express myself.”
Barker explained how he was brainwashed into joining hate groups, which he claims found ways to satisfy his psychological needs and give him the stability of a family that he had been lacking.
They enjoy manipulating a situation and twisting it when they can. He said, “I didn’t understand what I do now.” All they do is manipulate you by talking to you, spending time with you, and listening to your interests and problems.
The panel’s moderator, forensic psychologist Dr. David Hayes, stated that the type of manipulation Barker discussed is a crucial tool used by extremist organizations to enlist new members.
Hatred-filled people, such as those who belong to white supremacist organizations, are willing to commit some dreadful and horrible acts because they feel defamed and forgotten. He added that wanting to find the right group to fit into is a direct result of the resentment that comes from being ignored.
When Hou, who was interviewing Barker on his Livingston County property in 2017, ordered him to remove a sign he had placed for a pig enclosure that read Dachau, the notorious Nazi death camp from the Holocaust, it was a pivotal moment in Barker’s transformation.
Barker acquiesced and expressed regret after Hou stated that his own family members, who he mentioned were white Christian Danes, also perished in the Holocaust. Barker even consented to postpone plans to name another enclosure after the Auschwitz death camp.
Many people in the audience expressed surprise during the interaction, and Barker claimed that he was taken aback by Hou’s request because it wasn’t motivated by rage.
It was unexpected, to start with. And as you can see in the video, I gave it some thinking before responding, and since I was already friends with Steffen, it just kind of touched home, Barker said. It was, indeed, the pivotal moment.
According to Hayes, it was a turning point because it illustrated a fundamental reality about how we can alter hostile conduct.
We discuss significant changes in society and inquire, “How can we change our culture?” What can we do to improve our community and neighborhood? As a collective, we simply cannot. That is the harsh reality. “We can change a person, but we can’t change groups of people,” Hayes remarked.
“Barker’s transformation may have started with the request to remove the Dachau sign, but he deserved credit for staying on that path,” Hou, who joined the debate from the Netherlands via Zoom, said.
According to Hou, “because change is possible, we have been able to tell a story that started out gruesome and evil, but seeing how it turned into a beautiful love story of a man who chose the right course in life because he had the guts and was brave enough to do it,” which elicited applause from the audience. It is now up to the rest of us to let him and others who are following in his footsteps follow through on his decision to set an example for others.
A group of roughly six protestors, brandishing flags with swastikas, gathered across from the theater as the event came to an end, shouting chants like “White power” and “We are not going to be replaced.”
It was only the most recent in a string of white supremacist demonstrations that have taken place in Livingston County since last summer, including one that marched through Howell in July and led SAGE members to symbolically sweep hate away. The same group staged a rally in downtown Brighton approximately a month later.
After white supremacists carrying Nazi banners demonstrated outside a performance of the play The Diary of Anne Frank in November, SAGE also staged a counter-protest on the steps of Howell City Hall.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.