Spoiler alert: This article discusses plot points from The Order.
The film The Order, now in theaters, follows a fictional FBI agent who abandons his family to pursue a white supremacist group involved in bank robbery and counterfeiting. The Order, a real-life terrorist organization active in the 1980s, was led by Bob Mathews. The group aimed to establish a whites-only nation in the Pacific Northwest, free from Jewish influence.
Here’s an overview of The Order.
The Order’s Origins
The Order commenced operations in September 1983. Many individuals disillusioned by the Vietnam War sought revenge, with some veterans attempting to apply their military skills to what they perceived as a domestic race war. Although Mathews wasn’t a veteran, The Order utilized U.S. Army manuals and military strategy texts for training.
Influenced by the 1978 novel about a white nationalist seeking to overthrow the U.S. government, and with ties to the Aryan Nations, Mathews established training camps in Idaho and Missouri. The group funded their activities through robbery and counterfeiting, distributing the counterfeit currency to other white supremacist organizations. Funds also supported weapons acquisition and surveillance equipment.
Members swore an oath around a white infant, symbolizing the race they sought to protect, pledging to liberate their people from Jewish influence and achieve Aryan victory. The group’s ultimate aim, as explained by Kevin Flynn (author of the book that inspired the film), was to create a whites-only nation across five Northwestern states.
The Order’s Crimes
The group primarily engaged in robbery, counterfeiting, and murder.
In December 1983, they robbed a Seattle bank. Bank robbery, and later armored car robbery, were viewed as a means to fund their activities and target what they considered corrupt, Jewish-controlled institutions.
They also targeted pornography stores, deeming them immoral, and in April 1984, bombed a Seattle adult movie theater.
A July 1984 armored car robbery in California is depicted dramatically in the film. Armed and masked, The Order members stole approximately $3.6 million.
The 1984 murder of Denver DJ Alan Berg, a vocal opponent of white nationalist groups, precipitated the Order’s downfall. Berg’s murder, portrayed in the film, brought widespread attention and FBI scrutiny.
The Order’s Demise
The organization disbanded in December 1984. Mathews died in a shootout with the FBI on December 8, 1984. Many key members perished in prison.
While The Order is defunct, its ideology persists, amplified by social media. White supremacist activity in the U.S. is at an all-time high, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Vigilance and awareness are crucial in countering this threat.
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