Aryan Nations
Information about Aryan Nations
Aryan Nations (AN) is an international white supremacist, Neo-Nazi organization that is affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan. It was founded in the 1970s by Richard Girnt Butler as an arm of the Christian Identity group Church of Jesus Christ-Christian.
From the 1970s until 2001 the headquarters of the AN was in a 20 acre (81,000 m²) compound at Hayden Lake, Idaho.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" /> There were a number of state chapters, only loosely tied to the main organization. The group ran an annual "World Congress of Aryan Nations" at Hayden Lake for both AN adherents and other right-wing groups.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" />
Some in the AN openly debated a plan to forcibly take five northwestern states - Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming - from the United States government in order to establish an Aryan homeland.
In September 2000 the Southern Poverty Law Center won a $6.3 million judgment against the Aryan Nations (Bill Sali representing) from an Idaho jury who awarded punitive and compensatory damages to a woman and her son who were attacked by Aryan Nations guards.[2] The lawsuit stemmed from the July 1998 attack when Aryan Nations security guards in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho shot at Victoria Keenan and her son.[3] Bullets struck their car several times, and subsequently the car crashed, after which one of the Aryan Nations guards held the Keenans at gunpoint.<ref name="AryanNations" /> As a result of the judgement, Richard Butler turned over the 20-acre compound to the Keenans, who in turn sold the property to a philanthropist, who donated the land to North Idaho College, which designated it a "peace park."<ref name="AryanNations" />[4] Currently, while tours are occasionally given on the property, cows use it for pasture.<ref name="ButlerObit" /> In February 2001, the group's Hayden Lake compound and intellectual property, including the names "Aryan Nations" and "Church of Jesus Christ Christian", were transferred to the Keenans.<ref name="AryanNations" /> In the fall of 2000, fellow Sandpoint, Idaho millionaire Vincent Bertollini provided Butler with a new house in Hayden, Idaho.
Until 1998 the leadership of the AN remained firmly in the hands of Butler. But by that year he was over eighty and had been in poor health for some time, so at the annual "World Congress", Neuman Britton was appointed as the group's new leader. In August 2001, however, Butler appointed Harold Ray Redfeairn from Ohio, who had been agitating for control since the mid-1990s. Shortly thereafter, Redfeairn and August Kreis, III, propaganda minister of Aryan Nations, led a splinter group away from Butler and was expelled from the organization, but a few months later Redfeairn returned to an alliance with Butler.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" /> Redfeairn died in October of 2003. Butler died of heart failure in September 2004.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" />
At the time of his death Aryan Nations had 200 members, Butler's World Congress in 2002 drew fewer than 100 people, and when he ran for mayor, he lost by about 2,100 votes to 50.[4]
There are two main Nations factions. The first, led by August Kreis III joined with Charles John Juba to continue one faction of Aryan Nations.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" /> In 2002 Kreis moved Aryan Nations World Headquarters to a ten-acre compound in rural Potter County, Pennsylvania, which was host to the 2002 Aryan Nations World Congress.[6] They also held an Aryan Nations World Congress in July 2000. Juba resigned in March of 2005 announcing his successor Kreis as the group's new leader with a headquarters located in Lexington, SC. In 2005 he received media attention by seeking a Aryan Nations-al Qaeda alliance, similar to the Nazi-Islamic alliance attempt.[7] Commenting on Kreis, CNN said "With his long beard and potbelly, August Kreis looks more like a washed up member of ZZ Top than an aspiring revolutionary."<ref name="CNN2005" />
The Juba group moved from Idaho to Kansas City, Kansas, where it supposedly unravelled in 2005 (See Nizkor reference).
The other faction that claims to have remained loyal to Butler's wishes upon his death, and its members have continued to call themselves "The Church of Jesus Christ Christian". They are led by a council of 3 men and headquartered in Lincoln, Alabama. The leader is Jonathan Williams. They have held a Congress each year since the passing of Richard Butler, and have used these congresses to forge alliances and social networks with various other white supremacist groups including the Ku Klux Klan.
A relatively new tenet among Christian Identity believers justifies the use of violence in order to punish violators of God's law, as interpreted by Christian Identity ministers and adherents. Christian Identity followers engaging in such behavior are referred to as Phineas Priests or members of the Phineas Priesthood, though they usually seem to act alone.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" />
Non-aligned members of AN later convicted of serious crimes include Chevie Kehoe, who was convicted of three homicides, conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property, and who also spent some time at the AN compound. Buford O. Furrow, Jr., the man accused of the August 10, 1999, shooting at the Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles, California, and the murder of Filipino American postal worker Joseph Ileto, also spent some time at the AN compound working as a security guard.[8]
On August 12, 2007 a Mexican-American was beaten by several white males who claimed they were part of the Aryan Nations.[9] According to police, "the assault was committed by between six and 10 people, including four teenage girls."<ref name="Wacobeating" />
Further reading
Antisemitism (alternatively spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed at Jews.
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History
Its origin lies in the teachings of Wesley Swift, a significant figure in the early Christian Identity movement. Swift combined British Israelism, extreme antisemitism, and political militancy. He founded his own church in California in the mid 1940s where he could preach this ideology. In addition, he had a daily radio broadcast in California during the 1950s and 60s. In 1957, the name of his church was changed to the Church of Jesus Christ-Christian, which is used today by Aryan Nations churches.[1]From the 1970s until 2001 the headquarters of the AN was in a 20 acre (81,000 m²) compound at Hayden Lake, Idaho.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" /> There were a number of state chapters, only loosely tied to the main organization. The group ran an annual "World Congress of Aryan Nations" at Hayden Lake for both AN adherents and other right-wing groups.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" />
Some in the AN openly debated a plan to forcibly take five northwestern states - Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming - from the United States government in order to establish an Aryan homeland.
In September 2000 the Southern Poverty Law Center won a $6.3 million judgment against the Aryan Nations (Bill Sali representing) from an Idaho jury who awarded punitive and compensatory damages to a woman and her son who were attacked by Aryan Nations guards.[2] The lawsuit stemmed from the July 1998 attack when Aryan Nations security guards in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho shot at Victoria Keenan and her son.[3] Bullets struck their car several times, and subsequently the car crashed, after which one of the Aryan Nations guards held the Keenans at gunpoint.<ref name="AryanNations" /> As a result of the judgement, Richard Butler turned over the 20-acre compound to the Keenans, who in turn sold the property to a philanthropist, who donated the land to North Idaho College, which designated it a "peace park."<ref name="AryanNations" />[4] Currently, while tours are occasionally given on the property, cows use it for pasture.<ref name="ButlerObit" /> In February 2001, the group's Hayden Lake compound and intellectual property, including the names "Aryan Nations" and "Church of Jesus Christ Christian", were transferred to the Keenans.<ref name="AryanNations" /> In the fall of 2000, fellow Sandpoint, Idaho millionaire Vincent Bertollini provided Butler with a new house in Hayden, Idaho.
Until 1998 the leadership of the AN remained firmly in the hands of Butler. But by that year he was over eighty and had been in poor health for some time, so at the annual "World Congress", Neuman Britton was appointed as the group's new leader. In August 2001, however, Butler appointed Harold Ray Redfeairn from Ohio, who had been agitating for control since the mid-1990s. Shortly thereafter, Redfeairn and August Kreis, III, propaganda minister of Aryan Nations, led a splinter group away from Butler and was expelled from the organization, but a few months later Redfeairn returned to an alliance with Butler.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" /> Redfeairn died in October of 2003. Butler died of heart failure in September 2004.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" />
At the time of his death Aryan Nations had 200 members, Butler's World Congress in 2002 drew fewer than 100 people, and when he ran for mayor, he lost by about 2,100 votes to 50.[4]
Split and decline
)
Aryan Nations current leader August Kreis III, left, with Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler
There are two main Nations factions. The first, led by August Kreis III joined with Charles John Juba to continue one faction of Aryan Nations.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" /> In 2002 Kreis moved Aryan Nations World Headquarters to a ten-acre compound in rural Potter County, Pennsylvania, which was host to the 2002 Aryan Nations World Congress.[6] They also held an Aryan Nations World Congress in July 2000. Juba resigned in March of 2005 announcing his successor Kreis as the group's new leader with a headquarters located in Lexington, SC. In 2005 he received media attention by seeking a Aryan Nations-al Qaeda alliance, similar to the Nazi-Islamic alliance attempt.[7] Commenting on Kreis, CNN said "With his long beard and potbelly, August Kreis looks more like a washed up member of ZZ Top than an aspiring revolutionary."<ref name="CNN2005" />
The Juba group moved from Idaho to Kansas City, Kansas, where it supposedly unravelled in 2005 (See Nizkor reference).
The other faction that claims to have remained loyal to Butler's wishes upon his death, and its members have continued to call themselves "The Church of Jesus Christ Christian". They are led by a council of 3 men and headquartered in Lincoln, Alabama. The leader is Jonathan Williams. They have held a Congress each year since the passing of Richard Butler, and have used these congresses to forge alliances and social networks with various other white supremacist groups including the Ku Klux Klan.
Subgroups
Like many other extreme racist groups, AN has produced many small, transitory subgroups. Bob Mathews formed a group called The Order, which committed a number of violent crimes, including murder.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" /> Their mission was to bring about a race war. Dennis McGiffen, who also had ties to the AN, formed a cell called The New Order, based on Mathews' group.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" /> The members were arrested before they could follow through on their violent plans.A relatively new tenet among Christian Identity believers justifies the use of violence in order to punish violators of God's law, as interpreted by Christian Identity ministers and adherents. Christian Identity followers engaging in such behavior are referred to as Phineas Priests or members of the Phineas Priesthood, though they usually seem to act alone.<ref name="ADL-AryanN" />
Non-aligned members of AN later convicted of serious crimes include Chevie Kehoe, who was convicted of three homicides, conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property, and who also spent some time at the AN compound. Buford O. Furrow, Jr., the man accused of the August 10, 1999, shooting at the Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles, California, and the murder of Filipino American postal worker Joseph Ileto, also spent some time at the AN compound working as a security guard.[8]
On August 12, 2007 a Mexican-American was beaten by several white males who claimed they were part of the Aryan Nations.[9] According to police, "the assault was committed by between six and 10 people, including four teenage girls."<ref name="Wacobeating" />
See also
Aryan BrotherhoodReferences
1. ^ "Extremism in America: Aryan Nations/Church of Jesus Christ Christian", Anti-Defamation League, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
2. ^ "Attorney Morris Dees pioneer in using 'damage litigation' to fight hate groups", CNN, September 8, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.CNN&rft.date=September%208,%202000">
3. ^ "Keenan v. Aryan Nations", Southern Poverty Law Center, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
4. ^ "Richard G. Butler, 86, Dies; Founder of the Aryan Nations", New York Times, September 9, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
5. ^ "Richard G. Butler, 86, Dies; Founder of the Aryan Nations", New York Times, September 9, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
6. ^ Aryan Nations - About Us. Aryan Nations (2007). Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
7. ^ "An unholy alliance: Aryan Nation leader reaches out to al Qaeda", CNN, March 29, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.CNN&rft.date=March%2029,%202005">
8. ^ "L.A. shooting suspect surrenders in Las Vegas", CNN, August 11, 1999. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.CNN&rft.date=August%2011,%201999">
9. ^ "First arrest made in West beating incident", Waco Tribune-Herald, August 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
2. ^ "Attorney Morris Dees pioneer in using 'damage litigation' to fight hate groups", CNN, September 8, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.CNN&rft.date=September%208,%202000">
3. ^ "Keenan v. Aryan Nations", Southern Poverty Law Center, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
4. ^ "Richard G. Butler, 86, Dies; Founder of the Aryan Nations", New York Times, September 9, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
5. ^ "Richard G. Butler, 86, Dies; Founder of the Aryan Nations", New York Times, September 9, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
6. ^ Aryan Nations - About Us. Aryan Nations (2007). Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
7. ^ "An unholy alliance: Aryan Nation leader reaches out to al Qaeda", CNN, March 29, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.CNN&rft.date=March%2029,%202005">
8. ^ "L.A. shooting suspect surrenders in Las Vegas", CNN, August 11, 1999. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.CNN&rft.date=August%2011,%201999">
9. ^ "First arrest made in West beating incident", Waco Tribune-Herald, August 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
Further reading
- On the Edge: Political Cults Right and Left by Dennis Tourish, and Tim Wohlforth, 2000.
External links
- Aryan Nations website - Led by August Kreis III
- Aryan Nations website
- Poisoning the Web: Hatred Online ADL Article
- Keenan vs Aryan Nations summary of a lawsuit against the Aryan Nations for its violent activities.
- Nizkor Project (monitors Aryan Nations)
- Nizkor Project backup site
- SPLC Hate Group Map of the USA - includes Aryan Nations in 'Neo-Nazi' category
White supremacy is a racist ideology based on the assertion that white people are superior to other races. The term is sometimes used specifically to describe a political ideology that advocates social and political dominance for whites.
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Neo-Nazism (literally new Nazism) is the ideology of post-World War II political movements seeking to revive Nazism.
The specific policies of neo-Nazi groups differ, but they often include allegiance to Adolf Hitler, antisemitism, racism, xenophobia (towards
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The specific policies of neo-Nazi groups differ, but they often include allegiance to Adolf Hitler, antisemitism, racism, xenophobia (towards
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Discrimination
Major forms
Racism
Sexism
Homophobia
Ageism
Antisemitism
Islamophobia
Ableism
Manifestations
Slavery · Racial profiling
Hate speech · Hate crime
Genocide · Ethnocide · Holocaust
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Major forms
Racism
Sexism
Homophobia
Ageism
Antisemitism
Islamophobia
Ableism
Manifestations
Slavery · Racial profiling
Hate speech · Hate crime
Genocide · Ethnocide · Holocaust
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Richard Girnt Butler (February 23, 1918 in Bennett, Colorado - September 8, 2004 in Hayden, Idaho) was an American aerospace engineer for Lockheed turned neo-Fascist leader of Aryan Nations, a movement built around Christian Identity.
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Christian Identity is a label applied to a wide variety of loosely-affiliated churches with a racialized theology. Most of them promote a Eurocentric version of Christianity.
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Wesley A. Swift (1913-1970), was a former Methodist minister from Southern California. In the 1940s, Swift started his own church, later known as the Church of Jesus Christ Christian.
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Christian Identity is a label applied to a wide variety of loosely-affiliated churches with a racialized theology. Most of them promote a Eurocentric version of Christianity.
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British Israelism (sometimes called Anglo-Israelism) is a Christian theology (though largely rejected by mainstream Christianity), based on the premise that many early British people, Europeans and/or their royal families were direct lineal descendants of the Lost Tribes of
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Antisemitism (alternatively spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed at Jews.
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Hayden Lake, Idaho
Location in Kootenai County and the state of Idaho
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Idaho
County Kootenai
Area
- City 0.
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Location in Kootenai County and the state of Idaho
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Idaho
County Kootenai
Area
- City 0.
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Southern Poverty Law Center
non-profit organization
Founded 1971, Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Headquarters Montgomery, Alabama
Key people Morris Dees, Director
Industry Civil rights law
Website www.splcenter.
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non-profit organization
Founded 1971, Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Headquarters Montgomery, Alabama
Key people Morris Dees, Director
Industry Civil rights law
Website www.splcenter.
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Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Coeur d'Alene
Location in Kootenai County and the state of Idaho
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Idaho
County Kootenai
Founded 1878
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Coeur d'Alene
Location in Kootenai County and the state of Idaho
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Idaho
County Kootenai
Founded 1878
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Richard Girnt Butler (February 23, 1918 in Bennett, Colorado - September 8, 2004 in Hayden, Idaho) was an American aerospace engineer for Lockheed turned neo-Fascist leader of Aryan Nations, a movement built around Christian Identity.
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North Idaho College (NIC) is a comprehensive community college with over 4,000 students located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States, at the north end of Lake Coeur d'Alene.
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Sandpoint, Idaho
Location in Bonner County and the state of Idaho
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Idaho
County Bonner
Area
- City 4.
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Location in Bonner County and the state of Idaho
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Idaho
County Bonner
Area
- City 4.
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R. Vincent Bertollini (b. 1939) is an American anti-semite and white supremacist who gained notoriety for providing financial support to Richard Butler, the founder of the Aryan Nations hate group.
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August Kreis III (born Nov 2, 1954) is a neo-Nazi leader in Ulysses, Pennsylvania. Kreis has been a member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), Posse Comitatus and Aryan Nations.
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Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Plateau region. As of 2000, the population is 18,080. Its county seat is Coudersport6.
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Jonathan Williams can refer to a number of people:
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- Jonathan Williams (antiquary), Welsh antiquary
- Jonathan Williams (engineer) (1751–1815), American businessman, military figure, politician, writer and engineer
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Robert Jay Mathews (January 16 1953 – December 8 1984) was the leader of an American neo-Nazi terrorist group[1][2] called The Order. His life was fictionalized in the movie Brotherhood of Murder.
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The Order, also known as the Brüder Schweigen or Silent Brotherhood, was a neo-Nazi terrorist organization active in the United States between 1983 and 1984. The Order described themselves as a white nationalist revolutionary group.
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Crimes
Classes of crime
Infraction · Misdemeanor · Felony
Summary · Indictable · Hybrid
Against the person
Assault · Battery
Extortion · Harassment
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Classes of crime
Infraction · Misdemeanor · Felony
Summary · Indictable · Hybrid
Against the person
Assault · Battery
Extortion · Harassment
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Discrimination
Major forms
Racism
Sexism
Homophobia
Ageism
Antisemitism
Islamophobia
Ableism
Manifestations
Slavery · Racial profiling
Hate speech · Hate crime
Genocide · Ethnocide · Holocaust
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Major forms
Racism
Sexism
Homophobia
Ageism
Antisemitism
Islamophobia
Ableism
Manifestations
Slavery · Racial profiling
Hate speech · Hate crime
Genocide · Ethnocide · Holocaust
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Dennis McGiffen, David Neumann, and Troy Murphy broke from Thom Robb's Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in 1994 to start their own Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Michigan.
From April 1997 to February 1998, two undercover F.B.I. agents helped uncover the plans of Dennis M.
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From April 1997 to February 1998, two undercover F.B.I. agents helped uncover the plans of Dennis M.
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The Phineas Priesthood is a Christian Identity movement that opposes interracial intercourse, mixing of races, homosexuality, and abortion. It is also marked by its anti-Semitism, anti-multiculturalism, and opposition to taxation.
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Chevie O'Brien Kehoe (born January 19, 1973) is a white supremacist who is most notable for his attempts to build an all-white country by overthrowing the United States. He is currently serving time in jail for a charge of attempted murder.
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Homicide (Latin homicidium, homo human being + caedere to cut, kill) refers to the act of killing another human being.[1] It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English.
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Buford O'Neal Furrow, Jr. (born 1962) perpetrated the August 1999 Los Angeles Jewish Community Center shooting on August 10, 1999, when he attacked a day care center at the North Valley Jewish Community Center. The shooting injured three children, and a receptionist.
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August 10 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.
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20th century - 21st century
1960s 1970s 1980s - 1990s - 2000s 2010s 2020s
1996 1997 1998 - 1999 - 2000 2001 2002
Year 1999 (MCMXCIX
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1960s 1970s 1980s - 1990s - 2000s 2010s 2020s
1996 1997 1998 - 1999 - 2000 2001 2002
Year 1999 (MCMXCIX
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