Chasing Shadows Chasing Shadows Chapter 1 Twisted Theology
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Dec 14, 2023 
Stuart Wexler, an accomplished author and historian specializing in religiously motivated political violence, dives deep into America's troubling history of domestic terrorism. He discusses the failed goals of 1950s synagogue bombings aimed at igniting a race war. Wexler sheds light on the rise of the Confederate Underground and the unholy trinity of extremists, including J.B. Stoner, while revealing their connections to modern issues like anti-Asian hate during the COVID pandemic. His insights offer a chilling look at how the past informs present and future threats.
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Bombings Succeeded In Damage, Failed In Strategy
- The 1957–58 synagogue bombings destroyed property and got publicity but failed to kill many or spark a race war.
- Stuart Wexler argues they failed to radicalize broader racist groups or trigger the intended escalation.
Confederate Underground As Neo-Confederate Rebellion
- The Confederate Underground rose as a neo-Confederate reaction to Brown v. Board and early civil rights actions.
- Wexler links it to hyper-violent groups like the National States' Rights Party and a quasi-religious terrorist posture.
J.B. Stoner: Lawyer, Bomb-Maker, Nazi Sympathizer
- J.B. Stoner was a law student who admired Nazi propaganda and trained bomb-makers while avoiding direct exposure.
- He combined legal skill with bomb-making and influenced many racist violent acts over decades.
