Vinlanders Social Club

The Vinlanders Social Club began in 2003 by members and associates of the Outlaw Hammerskins, Brien James, Eric “the Butcher” Fairburn, Byron Widner, Nate Sliter and Donald Weirich. In a post on the Vinlanders website in 2007, James stated the Vinlanders Social Club was created “because we were disappointed with the movement that we dedicated our young lives to.” He continued on, claiming the Vinlanders would replace and surpass the old guard of the skinhead scene. “Even by force if necessary.” The Vinlanders were a direct challenge to Hammerskin Nation, a coalition of Hammerskin crews across the nation.

In 2006, during a National Socialist Movement event, member Steven Boswell gave a speech stating the white supremacist movement could not thrive “by belonging to social club where all we do is drink and shoot the shit every Saturday night.” Vinlander members in attendance took this as personal attack on their group and beat and kicked Boswell repeatedly as he left the stage. This incident solidified the Vinlanders reputation for taking no prisoners.

Three members of the Vinlanders, including founder, Eric Fairburn, were arrested in 2007 for severely beating and kicking a black man in front of a large group of people in Indianapolis. Witnesses claimed the three men threatened bystanders with violence if anyone tried to intervene or call the authorities.

Fairburn was released from prison in 2009 for the assault in Indianapolis. In September of the following year, he turned himself into police for the 2004 murder of a Springfield, Missouri man, William McDaniel. McDaniel was allegedly responsible for the drunk driving death of one of Fairburn’s friends. Fairburn is now serving life in prison on a second-degree murder charge.
The Vinlanders Social Club is still considered a prominent, violent white supremacist group in the United States. In the summer of 2011, the group held their first-ever white power concert, “Plunder and Pillage,” in Ohio.