Holocaust Museum Shooting | 06/11/2009 9:00 am

Holocaust Museum Shooting Suspect's Ex-Wife Says He Was 'Eaten Alive' With Hate

James W. von Brunn was known for his anti-Semitic and hateful views, but what caused him to crack? Obama’s old pastor blames ‘them Jews’ for no access to president.

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Image: Ross Neugeboren/Flickr

Yesterday’s fatal shooting at Washington’s Holocaust Museum left a city stunned. How was it that an 88-year-old man could have so much hatred for Jews, that he would open fire at one of our most solemn national landmarks, with thousands of tourists around?

Police are still trying to piece together what motivated the shooter, James W. von Brunn, of Annapolis, MD, to bring a rifle into the museum in the middle of the day, then open fire on a security guard. Other guards fired back, shooting von Brunn in the face and critically wounding him, as tourists dove for cover. Police raced to the scene, as did SWAT teams and emergency vehicles, and traffic clogged the streets as onlookers gravitated toward the museum.

"It’s like a scene from a movie," Edward Bhopa, 54, told The Washington Post. His 28-year-old son Andy added: "A horror movie."

What we do know about von Brunn is that he is a World War II veteran who has a long history of anti-Semitism, and he had posted his thoughts on several white supremacist and neo-Nazi websites. He is also the author of Kill the Best Gentiles, a 200-page book denying the Holocaust and praising Adolf Hitler. He is also reportedly a conspiracy theorist who had waged a personal war against the government because his Social Security benefits had been reduced, among other things. His ex-wife told ABC News that "he was eaten alive like a cancer with his hatred of Jews and blacks." She said she and her son "despised" her ex’s beliefs, and she divorced him when she realized the extent of his hatred.

Many groups working to stem discrimination and hatred spoke out against the shooting.

"Brunn’s evil attack, at the very place that was created to remember and teach about evil in the world, is an immediate reminder that words of hate matter, that we can never afford to ignore hate because words of hate can easily become acts of hate, no matter the place, no matter the age of the hatemonger," said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League.

The guard who was killed was Stephen T. Johns, a 39-year-old man who had worked at the museum for six years. Flags flew at half staff today and the museum was closed in remembrance of him.

"We’re very devastated by the loss of this wonderful colleague and a very dedicated employee," museum director Sara Bloomfield told MSNBC this morning. She said security is always a paramount concern and security guards are ready for any sort of scenario. The other officers involved in the shooting performed exactly as they were supposed to, she said.

"This incident yesterday really points to the reason this museum exists … hate is a human condition and the important thing to do in the face of hate is not to be indifferent, but to do something."

Conservative talk-show host Glenn Beck is taking some flack today for remarks made on his show saying that "political correctness" led to the shooting, and that "Socialist" policies like the economic bailouts are inciting anger. Beck also wrote on his website that "the pot is boiling and this is a warning to all Americans of things to come."

"It was a white reactionary tour de force — incendiary, stupid and racist," writes history professor Joseph A. Palermo on The Huffington Post. There’s also debate over whether the shooting validates a recent Department of Homeland Security report warning of "right-wing extremists."

Speaking of hatred toward Jews, President Obama’s former controversial pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, blames "them Jews" for keeping the president from giving him a call.

"Them Jews ain’t going to let him talk to me," Wright told The Daily Press in Newport News, VA. "I told my baby daughter that he’ll talk to me in five years when he’s a lame duck, or in eight years when he’s out of office … They will not let him talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is."

Whatever the reason for the shooting and despite the cause, it was a tragic day yesterday not just in Washington — but around the world, in every place where hatred still exists.

583 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

LOL…I only “link” if I am at home on my actual computer. I find it too “busy” to do from a phone.

By Mary Quite-Contrary on 06/12/2009 4:09 pm

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Oh……and why they do it — it’s called "fogging" — you keep saying the same thing over and over again, hoping people will start to believe it.

By MK P on 06/12/2009 2:05 pm

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CH…those that have not posted the last couple of days have been on vacation….just thought I’d let you know…they will be back!! And they are not paid to post…trust me!!!

By Libra Lady on 06/12/2009 8:04 pm

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Actually, Libra person, a few of the more "extreme" voices have, for reasons I can only guess, been taken down. I doubt they will be back unless they access with a new computer and assume a new persona. (Thank you, Wow.) Perhaps we are not referring the same "voices?"

And how is it exactly that you know bloggers are not paid to spew propaganda eight or nine hours a day? Given the unpleasant assertions you have made about me, and others who post here, be advised that trusting what you publish is quite a derisory concept.

By ~ countrywoman ~ on 06/12/2009 10:54 pm

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CH…don’t be dissuaded by the vitriol…it all seems to simmer down in the end.

As to ‘new stories.’ There are a number of fascinating ones; the election in Iran (did you know that Obama is claiming HE started the dialogue with his Cairo speech?); the ‘selective’ closings of GM dealerships (and the strong arm tactics being imposed by Government Motors to keep the disgruntled from ‘talking’); I could go on and on…but hey, its summer. I agree…the interns must all be on vacation.

By Mary Quite-Contrary on 06/12/2009 1:46 pm

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Mary….they would rather we talk "fluff"…..I mean we are women and that’s what we enjoy doing…right??? NOT!!!

By Libra Lady on 06/12/2009 8:06 pm

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How often our terms are confused.

First off-there will always be-in every culture-no matter skin/religion/military/greenpeace/-whatever- there will always be extremists. Sadly-with so much violence in our media and culture (and we accept It every night on the tube and in the movie theaters with our kids watching) more are moving in this direction. As women and the mothers of our children-will we begin to take a stand for unity and a return to teaching and loving our children in a way that can turn this thing around? Can we be humble enough to take some responsibility and return to some values of gentleness, kindness, tenderness and love in our society where insanity is running amuck all around us?

The issue is not "hate"-for we are called to hate evil. Murder is evil and we are called to to see it as such-have consequences, not make EXCUSES for it-even if a person is mentally off. Murder on all levels is death if acceptable in any form in a culture.

All people’s are capable of horrible atrocities if put in the right position to kill even their own. Go to any country and people are killing their own for greed (a biggy), power/pride/possessions and on it goes.

Divisions among rich* poor*black*white* education * uneducated* young* old* beautiful* ugly*conseratives* liberal*Jew* gentile —-and add to it….this is evil. These roots develop divisions that we must come & reason together-add wisdom and understanding to take a look inside at our own bigotries.

WE NEED A HEART CHANGE IN AMERICA AND IT BEGINS WITH EACH ONE OF US TO MAKE A QUILT OF LOVE with MANY COLORS.

By Mary Courtney on 06/12/2009 11:09 am

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It’s painfully obvious that prejudice and hate comes in all colors and in every corner of our society.

Bigotry abounds and deciding that all people who hate are right-wing extremists is pure ignorance and hate-thinking in and of itself, unless Rev. Wright considers himself a ‘right-wing extremist’ which I highly doubt. The ‘left-wing extremists’ groups are not the group at fault here either.

We all are. Every one of us.

Let’s quit pointing fingers at one particular group since hate is, unfortunately, rampant in all segments of society, and educate our children about the actual crime of hating.

Let’s start by being an example and quit hating on each other just because of our differing political or religious views.

We’ve gone too far in trying to silence opposing opinions so that the First Amendment Rights have been forced to encircle hate-mongers as having their freedom of speech as well. This was caused directly by the all of the waring political factions’ efforts to squash any opinions other than their own on both sides, ‘right’ and ‘left.’

We’ve become so militant in trying for force-fed our own theologies down each other’s throats that Big Brother Government had to step in, slap everyone down and reinforce everyone’s right to their own opinion, to the direct detriment of the entire country in having to grant freedom of speech to these bigoted monsters as well.

Let’s call each other out over true bigotry and hate, which is NOT just because I happen to disagree with your opinions.

Maybe then we can actually see an end. Maybe then Dr. King’s dream might become reality.

By K M on 06/12/2009 11:31 am

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I don’t think we can blame any one party in particular for promoting hate. Conservative talk show hosts have made offensive remarks. Jeremiah Wright has obviously made his share of hateful statements. I think we can safely assume he is not a Republican. It is not OK to say or do hateful things, regardless of who you are.

This was such a shocking and tragic event. I feel so very sorry for the security guard’s family. And I feel terrible for the people (especially the young people) who had to witness this horrible thing. I feel disgusted with all the people who never miss an opportunity to hurl ugly accusations at the opposing political party.

By Deena B. on 06/12/2009 1:41 pm

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Unimpressed. Just as I am unimpressed with Limbaugh.

By Deni G on 06/12/2009 2:13 pm

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It’s so frustrating to think that we’ve made it to the 21st century with so many people still eaten up with hate and ignorance.

Everything about this incident is terrible, but the saddest (and scariest) part is that there are plenty more hateful people in our country, just like this guy.

By KatyDid Wells on 06/12/2009 2:56 pm

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Pretty interesting that the worst terrorist attacks we are now experiencing are from middle class white guys. You just never know who is a real terrorist. All this hate talk radio, tv & websites/blogs are reaping what they are sowing. Hope they can live with themselves.

By Holly W on 06/12/2009 4:45 pm