The Ironing Cross: Pressing swastikas and turning hotel rooms into tattoo parlours at tne American Nazi's convention in Atlanta
- Johnny Milano was given unprecedented access to the National Socialist Movement convention
- His collection of images reveals Nazi and KKK members preparing for a hate-filled rally
- About 100 anti-fascists gathered to meet the group, and allegedly smashed Nazi members car windows
Chilling images showing the mundane preparations ahead of a hate-filled Nazi rally have been captured by a photographer given unprecedented access.
Photographer Johnny Milano was allowed to shoot behind the scenes at the National Socialist Movement convention in Atlanta, Georgia, after months of negotiations with Nazi leaders.
The disturbing photographs show white supremacists ironing their swastikas and getting tattoos as they kill time in their hotel rooms.
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National Socialist member Kim Lawrence irons her swastika and other Nazi insignia ahead of a rally
The NSM claims to be the biggest 'white civil rights group' in the U.S.
Hotel rooms were turned into makeshift tattoo parlours as party supporter Chris Drake gets another inking by a man wearing a swastika t-shirt
Photographer Johnny Milano captured the eerie images of Nazi members preparing for the annual conference in Atlanta
Nazi members lace their boots and check their insignia ahead of a formal banquet
About 40 neo-Nazis and Klu Klux Klan members attended the meeting at the Wellesley Hotel in Atlanta to commemorate the birthday of Adolf Hitler on April 20.
Mr Milano's collection of photographs gives an insight into the dark world of white supremacists.
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The images reveal the strict rules and regulations that Nazi party members have to follow. They are seen ironing their swastika armbands to make sure they are in pristine condition ahead of a formal Nazi sit-down meal.
Despite Mr Milano's presence, Nazis proudly show off the fascist tattoos that commemorate Hitler.
Many members have the number '88' tattooed on them, which represents the words Heil Hitler.
Others sport the number 14, which represents the words: 'We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.'
Everyday items such as hair straighteners and sunglasses line up next to Nazi military boots
NSM supporters celebrate after the rally by tasering each other while swigging beer at the hotel
One member displays his tattoos that commemorate the bombing of Dresden with the word 'Betrayal', as well as the words Arbeit Macht Frei
National Socialist Party supporter Chris Drake works out in the hotel's gym before a march on the Capitol
Following the rally, Nazi members of swim in the hotel pool in Atlanta, Georgia
Michael Schloer of the NSM recalls a target shooting story as Nazi members relax in their hotel room
The disturbing pictures show how neo-Nazis even turned a hotel room into a makeshift parlour and gave each other extra tattoos.
Mr Milano spent four months trying to get access to the Nazi conference.
The photojournalist said he had always been interested in the 'political right' and reached out to a number or far-right groups for the project.
After a brief interview, Mr Milano, who is a freelance photographer based in New York, was finally granted access to the convention.
He said in a blog on Petapixel.com that his pictures only 'scratch the surface' of what he wanted to achieve.
He wrote: 'The images that I walked away with aren’t home runs, but they’re definitely a step up above the generic rally and swastika pictures that are rampant among projects like this.'
White supremacists dressed in KKK robes give Nazi salutes and chant 'Sieg Heil' during the rally
Hooded Klu Klux Clan members look on as they prepare their robes for the march
KKK members prepare their robes inside the parking lot before the rally
White supremacists cross Martin Luther King Dr Drive in Atlanta as they march towards the Capitol
Nazis face anti-fascist demonstrators who had gathered to protest against the rally
An anti-fascists demonstrator chants slogans through a mega-phone as he protests against the Nazi rally
Anti-fascists wait outside the parking garage where Nazi and KKK members are gathering
Nazis inspect the damage to a car, believed to have been inflicted by anti fascist demonstrators
The collection also captures the anger among anti-fascists who lined up to demonstrate against the convention.
Windows of Nazi party member's cars were smashed and their tyres were punctured.
About 100 anti-fascists gathered to protest against them, and one woman was seen goose-stepping along their march dressed in a red nose and holding a sign that read 'Racism is ridiculous.'
The National Socialist Party claims to be America's biggest active 'white civil rights group', although some experts estimate it has only about 400 members in 32 states.
The group lists its core beliefs on its website to be 'defending the rights of white people', preserving so-called European culture, strengthening family values, reform of immigration policies and the 'promotion of white separation'.
A shocked bystander bumps into Nazi and KKK members, saying 'this is something I've never seen before'
Atlanta police were on standby in case of clashes between white supremacists and opposition protestors
Anti-fascists claimed online that they disrupted the rally by smashing the car windows of Nazi members. Party members then took up watch in the parking lot
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2323883/Johnny-Milanos-chilling-photos-American-Nazis-annual-National-Socialist-Movement-convention-Atlanta.html#ixzz3Smmz5APX
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