In a series of dark autumn nights in 2011, a radical group of Amish men and women forcibly entered the homes of their families and friends, held them down, and shaved their beards and hair. It was ruled a religious hate crime, but judges overturned that decision at the end of August, saying that this was a human drama, not a religious one.Pictured to the left: A victim of the beard-cutting attacks, wearing a black hat on the right. This photo was taken by a perpetrator in the Berholz group a few moments before they ambushed and attacked him.
Emma Green, religion writer for The Atlantic and author of the article, Violence Among the Amish
Donald Kraybill, author of Renegade Amish: Beard Cutting, Hate Crimes, and the Trial of the Bergholz Barbers
Bergholz preacher Johnny Mullet attacking Bishop Raymond Hershberger in a late-night attack at Hershberger’s farm in Holmes County Ohio. This was taken by members of Bergholz and used as evidence at their trial. |