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Please read the linked articles below

"Without Bill, we wouldn't have the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force. He did a lot for this town and even more for many other towns throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Colorado. One heck of a guy." states Paul DeArmond, past WHRTF award recipient

August 27, 2002
Bill Wassmuth has died.

Bill was arguably the most important figure in human rights regionally since the 1980s, when Richard Butler and his Aryan Nations declared the Northwest to be the "white homeland".

The Whatcom Human Rights Task Force received its early inspiration and nurturing from Bill. He was the keynote speaker at our first Human Rights Awards Banquet. He was one of the four people targeted for death by our local militia group.

As one friend of the WHRTF stated:
    Bill Wassmuth was the most important figure regionally in support of human rights since the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

He will live on in our minds as an example of what one white man can do in the struggle for social justice for all of us.

Joe Deeny
WHRTF Vice-Chair

On September 3rd, approximately 400 people attended a memorial service for Bill. A quote from him was printed on the back of the card seen above:

"When we enlist our own humanity in combination with others, we make an indelible impression on all of humanity, and we uplift our world in the process. To ensure and enhance our survival, it is not only noble, but necessary, to act upon the voice within" ... Bill Wassmuth

Seattle Times staff reporter, Florangela Davila, has written excellent ariticles on Bill.
    April 12, 2002 - "A Life Spent Fighting Hate" [full story]
    August 29, 2002 - Obituary. "Bill Wassmuth: Rights activist took on Aryan Nations" [full story]

Seattle Times Editorial
    August 30, 2002 - "Wassmuth's legacy: love in the face of hate" [full story]

Bill Wassmuth Day
     October 11, 2001 - Bill Wassmuth Day declared by Idaho governor [read proclamation]

Spokesman-Review
     August 30, 2002, - "Rights activist Bill Wassmuth dies. He will be missed dearly. A true anti-racist." [full story]

Floyd Cochran's response to the Spokesman-Review Obituary
    August 30. 2002

Back in 1990 through 1992 when I lived at the Aryan Nation compound in Idaho Bill Wassmuth was my enemy, by the end of 1992 Bill Wassmuth was my friend and mentor.Yesterday my friend died - I had spent two years publicly attacking Bill Wassmuth as a "enemy of the white race " in part because Bill Wassmuth was a white man who was fighting the bigotry I stood for at that period in my life.You can imagine my surprise, when I left behind the ideas and beliefs of Aryan Nation that one of the first people to shake my hand and welcome me to the real world was Bill Wassmuth. He was there to answer my questions, he was there to help guide me in my new life journey.

In 1995 Bill Wassmuth came to Pennsylvania, spoke to several grassroots human right organizations ( Boyertown Unity Coalition ) concerning his life story and how to respond when a hate group comes to your community. I have reprinted here an article that is in today's ( August 29 ) Seattle Post announcing the death of Bill Wassmuth - Bill Wassmuth showed the people of the Northwest that you can successfully stand up to hate groups. Bill Wassmuth's home was bombed by the Aryan Nations, attacked on personal levels but he never wavered in his commitment to human rights. Bill Wassmuth lived what the preached. Bill Wassmuth is an inspiration to all of us in the human rights field that through hard work and dedication we can make America a better place. A place that is free of racism and bigotry.

Floyd Cochran (posted on 8/30/02) frcochran1@suscom.net