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White supremacist group reportedly linked to alleged Charleston shooter Dylann Roof donated to leading Republican presidential candidates White supremacist group 'linked to Charleston shooter Dylann Roof' donated to leading Republican presidential candidates
(35 minutes later)
The leader of a white supremacist group, allegedly cited by the man charged with murdering nine African Americans in a South Carolina church last week, reportedly donated tens of thousands of dollars to Republican presidential campaigns, including 2016 hopefuls.The leader of a white supremacist group, allegedly cited by the man charged with murdering nine African Americans in a South Carolina church last week, reportedly donated tens of thousands of dollars to Republican presidential campaigns, including 2016 hopefuls.
Earl Holt III, president of the Council of Conservative Citizens, has reportedly given $65,000 to Republican campaign funds in recent years, according to the Guardian.Earl Holt III, president of the Council of Conservative Citizens, has reportedly given $65,000 to Republican campaign funds in recent years, according to the Guardian.
Mr Holt’s organisation was reportedly cited by alleged 21-year-old shooter Dylann Roof, charged with the murder of nine people at the Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, in an apparent manifesto released on a website registered in Roof’s name over the weekend.Mr Holt’s organisation was reportedly cited by alleged 21-year-old shooter Dylann Roof, charged with the murder of nine people at the Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, in an apparent manifesto released on a website registered in Roof’s name over the weekend.
In it, the author claims he had first learnt of “brutal black-on-white murders” from the conservative group’s website.In it, the author claims he had first learnt of “brutal black-on-white murders” from the conservative group’s website.
The online document, which also includes photographs of the alleged shooter, has been widely reported as Roof’s but not confirmed.The online document, which also includes photographs of the alleged shooter, has been widely reported as Roof’s but not confirmed.
Yesterday, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz said he would return $8,500 in donations from Mr Holt’s organisation.Yesterday, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz said he would return $8,500 in donations from Mr Holt’s organisation.
“We just learned this evening that Mr Holt had contributed to the campaign,” a spokesperson for Mr Cruz’s campaign told The New York Times. “We will be immediately refunding all those donations.”“We just learned this evening that Mr Holt had contributed to the campaign,” a spokesperson for Mr Cruz’s campaign told The New York Times. “We will be immediately refunding all those donations.”
The CofCC is regarded as a white supremacist extremist organisation by leading authority on race crime the Southern Poverty Law Centre. It claims that the group opposes “race mixing” and vilifies black individuals.The CofCC is regarded as a white supremacist extremist organisation by leading authority on race crime the Southern Poverty Law Centre. It claims that the group opposes “race mixing” and vilifies black individuals.
Mr Holt declined to comment when contacted by the Guardian, but in a statement yesterday the CofCC’s leader claimed it was “not surprising” that Mr Roof was seemingly informed by his organisation’s website as it reported race relations “accurately and honestly”.Mr Holt declined to comment when contacted by the Guardian, but in a statement yesterday the CofCC’s leader claimed it was “not surprising” that Mr Roof was seemingly informed by his organisation’s website as it reported race relations “accurately and honestly”.
In a statement, he added: “The CofCC is hardly responsible for the actions of this deranged individual merely because he gleaned accurate information from our website.”In a statement, he added: “The CofCC is hardly responsible for the actions of this deranged individual merely because he gleaned accurate information from our website.”
A spokesperson for the organisation released a statement in which they condemned the alleged shooter actions but added his actions: “do not detract in the slightest from the legitimacy of some of the positions he has expressed.”A spokesperson for the organisation released a statement in which they condemned the alleged shooter actions but added his actions: “do not detract in the slightest from the legitimacy of some of the positions he has expressed.”