Matthew Heimbach

Matthew Heimbach (1991-) is an American neo-Nazi and white nationalist who is aligned with the Alt-Right. In September 2018, Heimbach took the position of community outreach director for the National Socialist Movement (NSM). He founded the Traditionalist Workers Party (TWP) which ceased operation in March 2018 when he was arrested for assaulting Matt Parrott, a co-founder and his then father-in-law.

Heimbach is a defendant in the Sines v. Kessler lawsuit filed by Integrity First for America that claims that he and other organizers in the Aug. 12, 2017, Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia "planned and promoted violence against protected group."

The Southern Poverty Law Center said Heimbach is "considered by many to be the face of a new generation of white nationalists." According to the Counter Extremism Project, "Heimbach’s platform is based around the idea that the white race has been disadvantaged because of globalism and multiculturalism, which he has largely blamed on a global Jewish conspiracy. Heimbach claims white unity is necessary because the Jews hate all white people equally."

Heimbach has forged ties with nationalist groups from other countries, like Greece’s far-right nationalist party Golden Dawn. The United Kingdom government banned Heimbach from entering the country in October 2015 because his extremist rhetoric could incite violence. Heimbach identifies himself as a Strasserist.

In July 2017, Heimbach pled guilty to second-degree disorderly conduct for an incident when he repeatedly pushed an anti-Trump protester at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Louisville, Kentucky. He received a suspended prison sentence, a fine, and an order to attend anger management classes. In 2018, Heimbach was sentenced to 38 days in the Louisville jail for violating the terms of his probation.

A federal lawsuit was filed in October 2017 by a group of Charlottesville residents against organizers and key participants in the Aug. 12, 2017 Unite the Right rally. Plaintiffs Elizabeth Sines, Seth Wispelwey, Marissa Blair, Tyler Magill, April Muniz, Hannah Pearce, Marcus Martin, Natalie Romero, Chelsea Alvarado, and John Doe claim Heimbach and the other defendants conspired to commit violence.