In Memory of Louis T. Byers, c. 1932–October 22, 1981

[1]601 words

The name Louis T. Byers only seems to have been maintained among Rightist circles by Dr. Revilo P. Oliver’s dedication to him of The Enemy of Our Enemies, his critique of Francis Parker Yockey’s The Enemy of Europe (Liberty Bell Publications, 1981).

Dr. Oliver’s dedication reads:

To the Memory of

The Founder of the Francis Parker Yockey Society

Louis T. Byers

Aryan of the Aryans

Who Fought a Good Fight to its Tragic End

22 October 1981

Yet, although apparently little known today, Byers obviously played a seminal role in the establishing of a doctrinal foundation for the Right above and beyond the common run. In his day, he drew significant ire from liberal hacks such as Jack Anderson and Drew Pearson.

Byers, like many others of the radical Right, including Dr. Oliver, started his political sojourn in the John Birch Society, as the area co-coordinator for western Pennsylvania and New York, but was, again like many other stalwarts, expelled from the JBS in 1968 for radical views.

Also in 1968, Byers was the Pennsylvania organizer of the George C. Wallace presidential campaign. He was instrumental in transforming the Youth for Wallace organization into the National Youth Alliance with the support of Willis Carto. Under Byers’ direction, the National Youth Alliance intended to establish its presence on the streets and in the campuses by physically confronting the New Left, which was then running rampant under the covert auspices of the Establishment it claimed to be fighting.[1]

Byers, described as “a fast-talking, articulate Philadelphian,”[2] was head of the Francis Parker Yockey Society, which seems to have been founded as a type of Rightist version of the Fabian Society – to infiltrate and redirect the Right. NYA was to effect the street organization[3] that Yockey had himself predicted would come to the USA. A Washington Post photograph shows the NYA office adorned with a large picture of Yockey.

The first issue of the NYA’ tabloid, Attack! came out in Fall 1969, listing Byers as publisher. It announced a campus program called “Right Power,” with the by-line “Stop Riot Power with Right Power,” featuring films and speakers, but with the advice that Hippies would not be admitted. The program was launched at UCLA, and the front page of Attack! depicts Byers addressing a student audience of 2000, while another picture shows “a spellbound hippie” reading Imperium. Following the rally, the students presented their demands to the Dean: Restore law and order to the campus; continue to give credit for ROTC; rename Ralph Bunche Hall as Douglas MacArthur Hall; add eugenics, genetics, and ethology to the curriculum; fire teachers who encourage anarchy; dissolve the SDS. If demands were not met, Rightist counteraction was threatened. Page 3 of Attack! carried a large advertisement for Imperium.[4]

By the fifth issue of Attack! Dr. William Pierce had become the editor, succeeding two prior editors, while Byers remained the publisher. With the seventh issue (Fall 1971) Byers’ name no longer appeared. As many readers will know, the NYA was transformed into the National Alliance under the direction of Dr. Pierce. What happened to Byers from then until his death from cancer in 1981 is unknown to this writer.

It is hoped that these few words will prompt others to contribute further information, or to contact this writer, in regard to Byers, whose name should be remembered by those who value the legacy of Yockey.

Notes

1. K. R. Bolton, Revolution from Above (London: Arktos Media Ltd., 2011), “New Left from Old.”

2. Paul W. Valentine, “The Student Right: Racist, Martial, Insular,” Washington Post, May 15, 1969.

3. Paul W. Valentine, “NYA: Alive & Well Here,” Washington Post, December 22, 1969.

4. Attack!, National Youth Alliance, Vol. 1, No. 1, Fall 1969.