Chicago, April 6, 2005 – The Anti-Defamation (ADL) lauded today's sentencing of white supremacist Matthew Hale, leader of the Creativity Movement (formerly World Church of the Creator), on charges of soliciting the murder of Federal Judge Joan H. Lefkow and obstruction of justice. Hale was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

ADL Greater Chicago/Upper Midwest Regional Director Lonnie Nasatir issued the following statement:

Matt Hale's sentencing demonstrates the government's seriousness in pursuing and bringing to justice domestic extremists. We applaud all those who showed courage and diligence in successfully prosecuting this hateful white supremacist, including U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Victoria Peters and M. David Weisman.

The arrest, conviction and sentencing of Matt Hale has dealt a serious blow to the Creativity Movement, the racist and anti-Semitic group he heads. It has also brought a measure of justice to all of those who were victimized by Hale's exhortations to hate and violence, including the families of Ricky Byrdsong and Won-Joon Yoon.

ADL has monitored the Creativity Movement for many years. In 1999, ADL played a pivotal role in providing information to law enforcement and the media after one of Hale's followers, Benjamin Smith, went on a shooting rampage in the Midwest, targeting Jews, African-Americans and Asian-Americans. He murdered Byrdsong and Yoon and wounded nine others before killing himself. Hale refused to condemn Smith's actions, praising his deeds and holding him up as a model member of the group.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

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