The link above goes to a disturbing article titled “The Food Co-op and the Hate Group,†by Michael I. Niman, adapted from ArtVoice, Oct. 20, 2005. The article is about a multinational organization known as the Twelve Tribes, which is, according to Niman, “dedicated to spreading a reactionary racist, anti-Semetic, sexist homophobic ideology.â€
Oddly enough, this group spreads its messages via food co-ops and similar venues with fresh baked organic whole grain breads, sandwiches and other goods marketed under the label Common Ground. From Niman’s article:
“Twelve Tribes children are home schooled until they are teenagers – then they go to work, wage-free, in one of the group’s businesses. Children do not receive High School diplomas, and they are forbidden to apply for GED degrees or to attend college. This lack of education hinders escapees in their search for work if they leave the Twelve Tribes. Essentially, the organization is breeding its own work force.â€
If true – and I have no reason to doubt the veracity of Niman’s article – this seems like a gross breach of reason…



These are the same folks that were making the news about a year ago. They are old news for folks in California and Germany. They are a cult. They’ve been around for a LONG time!
Here’s a link with a thorough history:
http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/tribes.html
Here’s a link with a picture of the founder (scary, Mansonish person)
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aiia/letter-messianiccommunity.html
The following two links have lots of the founders quotes and other misc. info.:
http://www.rickross.com/reference/tribes/tribes2.html
http://www.twelvetribes-ex.org/elbertspriggs.html