10 Most Disturbing Manifestos of All Time
manifestos, hate speech, mass shootings, terrorism, extremism, white supremacy, violent ideologies, psychological analysis, criminal psychology, Ted Kaczynski, Anders Breivik, Dylann Roof, Brenton Tarrant, Elliot Rodger, domestic terrorism, hate crimes, social psychology, radicalization, violent extremism, online radicalization, History, Education, Facts, watchmojo, watch mojo, top 10, list, mojo,
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most hateful, stomach-turning manifestos written by perpetrators of mass, senseless violence.
Receiving a manifesto of any kind is cause for panic– but one that’s completely anonymous can leave one feeling hopeless. On October 12th 2022, Juraj Krajčík anonymously published his 65-page decree on who he believed to be his enemies. He sang the praises of past perpetrators of hate and violence in one sentence, while bashing those of other religions and sexualities in another. He even blamed Judaism for the COVID-19 pandemic, making it clear just how far down the rabbit hole he had fallen. Just hours after the publication of this document, Krajčík attacked a gay bar in Bratislava, Slovakia, where he killed two people– and it was clear he had intended to take more lives.
One terror attack can serve as twisted inspiration for others– and this was just one of many copycats. Inspired by the horrific attacks carried out in Christchurch earlier in 2019, Patrick Crusius took to a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, aiming to replicate the violence. Before doing so, he posted his final thoughts to the messageboard 8chan. His writings were riddled with hate for immigrant and Latin American populations, touting white supremacist theories alongside the insults. He also implied that his horrid actions were meant to incentivize migrants to flee the country, which would strengthen his political cause. Shortly afterwards, he followed through on his twisted plans, leaving 23 people dead and 22 others injured in his wake.
Reading through the contents of a manifesto can reveal some deep-seated issues held by its author. This was the case for Christopher Harper-Mercer, who spared one of his peers to deliver his final message to authorities during his rampage at Umpqua[c] Community College in 2015. When the document was accessed, it was clear that there was much more than sheer hatred at play. He wrote about being aligned with demonic forces and how he would join them after his final act, along with an encouragement for others to also commit senseless violence. Additionally, the manifesto contained bizarre elements, such as vile, racist rants about Black men, a list of bands he enjoyed, and even a “Frequently Asked Questions” section.
While some manifestos focus solely on the perpetrators’ own beliefs, others seem to reveal a clear lack of original thought. This is evidenced by Payton Gendron’s 180-page Google document– over a quarter of which was supposedly plagiarized from other extremists. Gendron cited message boards as the source of his indoctrination– but it was his own decision to slaughter innocent grocery shoppers in Buffalo, New York. He explained his plans for the shooting, including how he had selected the area due to its high Black population. He also included false flags– such as using photos of an Internet celebrity and claiming it was him. Despite the lack of originality, this manifesto showed just how widespread such hateful ideologies have become.
The rise of harmful ideologies has led to countless people being hurt– and he was behind one of the most insidious incidents. A college student by day and an incel vlogger by night, Elliott Rodger had no qualms about his digital footprint. Leading up to his 2014 attack in Isla Vista[e], he uploaded several videos and photos explaining his mindset. Alongside this visual documentation was a 137-page essay detailing his life. He blamed his problems on women; associating them with disease and implying they shouldn’t have human rights. He also described who he planned to kill and how he intended on doing it. Even more disturbing, he had convinced himself that he was a hero, up until the very end.
While some people make their violent intentions known long before acting, others leave no signs until it's too late. Before carrying out two attacks at Virginia Tech on April 16th 2007, Seung-Hui Cho was largely unremarkable. He was often described as completely silent– with only his school assignments showing the dark recesses of his mind. On the day of the shooting, Cho mailed his multimedia manifesto to NBC News, which was delivered the following day. The package included a 1,800-word essay, photographs and videos, in which Cho compared himself to deities and called for bloodshed in the streets. Even more unsettling, those closest to him believed the manifesto was merely a performance, meaning we may never know what he was truly thinking.
The proof of this document’s horrid nature lies in the copycats it inspired– some of which appear on this very list. Brenton Tarrant’s manifesto stands out among most, particularly due to the intentionally bizarre content found within it. Interspersed between his anti-immigration and white supremacist views were memes and false flags. Tarrant wanted to sow as much discord as possible by creating false scapegoats– such as video games and Internet culture– for his attack. He included famous copypastas and even encouraged people to subscribe to various YouTubers– all while maintaining an overall hateful tone. However, the most glaring detail was his hopes of inciting a civil war. It was unlike anything authorities had ever seen– but the ironic tone has become the troubling new norm.
The Internet is a double-edged sword– it gives everyone a platform to air their views, including those with hate in their hearts. Before enacting a horrific shooting at a Charleston church in 2015, Dylann Roof used the web to present his hatred to an audience. He penned an over 2,000-word essay wherein he cited the murder of Trayvon Martin as his gateway into racist beliefs. He then launched into a diatribe of insults against African-Americans, from wishing that racism had been worse throughout history to defending segregation. He even opened the document by claiming to have grown up in a non-racist home– making it unfortunately clear that such harmful ideas can pervade even the most accepting upbringing.
It’s hard to fathom what could drive someone to commit two separate acts of domestic terrorism– but a document spanning over 1,500 pages is a good place to start. Anders Behring Breivik– the man responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks which claimed the lives of 77 people– made his horrid intentions incredibly clear in his manifesto. In it, he described two years worth of extensive planning, from renting a farm to identifying the best conditions for creating explosives. Interspersed throughout his claims of progressive historical revisionism and xenophobic rhetoric were guides to both agriculture and violent acts. Though most of it was plagiarized, it has still unfortunately gone on to be revered in certain circles.
While most publish their manifestos before carrying out their attacks, Ted Kaczynski– better known as the Unabomber– used his as an incentive to end his rampage. For nearly two decades, Kaczynski perpetrated a series of bombings across the United States. In 1995, he shocked the nation when he offered to stop his violence if his views were published– and controversially, they were. Kaczynski placed blame upon technology for society’s downfall, even arguing that machines had more rights than man. He also proposed that civilization needed to be overturned to achieve true progress. While it wasn’t steeped in hatred like those who came after him, it still showed a misguided worldview– and how one can use any cause to justify their violence.
Which of these writings disturbed you the most? Let us know in the comments below.
[a]YOO-rye KTY-chick https://www.youtube.com/live/PJPuNPiGSq0?si=LTLI4mEeueqe35t6&t=18 https://translate.google.ca/?sl=sk&tl=en&text=Juraj%20Kraj%C4%8D%C3%ADk%20&op=translate
[b]CROOSY-iss https://youtu.be/XijhlbbKulw?si=MeC6eppvJfRU5e81&t=9
[c]UM-kwuh https://youtu.be/HDog7OUUZYk?si=5kBoQduX6_QE1ytg&t=6
[d]JEN-drin https://youtu.be/5YSmDW3Fqss?si=O2oSBIe4dft6yu-4&t=5
[e]EYE_luh VISS_tuh https://youtu.be/YJFNOb0SXl4?si=ODvuZSOkbXKRdrmK&t=4
[f]seung hee joe https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EC%8A%B9%ED%9D%AC%20%EC%A1%B0&op=translate
[g]https://youtu.be/bQSoEJyEU-M?si=qgTpRrqyrlvO0ye4&t=21
[h]https://youtu.be/oql83SSwpY8?si=XZggjYzSQwWof3cf&t=20
“A Call to Arms” (2022)
Juraj Krajčík [a]Receiving a manifesto of any kind is cause for panic– but one that’s completely anonymous can leave one feeling hopeless. On October 12th 2022, Juraj Krajčík anonymously published his 65-page decree on who he believed to be his enemies. He sang the praises of past perpetrators of hate and violence in one sentence, while bashing those of other religions and sexualities in another. He even blamed Judaism for the COVID-19 pandemic, making it clear just how far down the rabbit hole he had fallen. Just hours after the publication of this document, Krajčík attacked a gay bar in Bratislava, Slovakia, where he killed two people– and it was clear he had intended to take more lives.
“The Inconvenient Truth” (2019)
Patrick Crusius [b]One terror attack can serve as twisted inspiration for others– and this was just one of many copycats. Inspired by the horrific attacks carried out in Christchurch earlier in 2019, Patrick Crusius took to a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, aiming to replicate the violence. Before doing so, he posted his final thoughts to the messageboard 8chan. His writings were riddled with hate for immigrant and Latin American populations, touting white supremacist theories alongside the insults. He also implied that his horrid actions were meant to incentivize migrants to flee the country, which would strengthen his political cause. Shortly afterwards, he followed through on his twisted plans, leaving 23 people dead and 22 others injured in his wake.
“My Manifesto” (2015)
Christopher Harper-MercerReading through the contents of a manifesto can reveal some deep-seated issues held by its author. This was the case for Christopher Harper-Mercer, who spared one of his peers to deliver his final message to authorities during his rampage at Umpqua[c] Community College in 2015. When the document was accessed, it was clear that there was much more than sheer hatred at play. He wrote about being aligned with demonic forces and how he would join them after his final act, along with an encouragement for others to also commit senseless violence. Additionally, the manifesto contained bizarre elements, such as vile, racist rants about Black men, a list of bands he enjoyed, and even a “Frequently Asked Questions” section.
“You Wait For a Signal While Your People Wait for You” (2022)
Payton Gendron [d]While some manifestos focus solely on the perpetrators’ own beliefs, others seem to reveal a clear lack of original thought. This is evidenced by Payton Gendron’s 180-page Google document– over a quarter of which was supposedly plagiarized from other extremists. Gendron cited message boards as the source of his indoctrination– but it was his own decision to slaughter innocent grocery shoppers in Buffalo, New York. He explained his plans for the shooting, including how he had selected the area due to its high Black population. He also included false flags– such as using photos of an Internet celebrity and claiming it was him. Despite the lack of originality, this manifesto showed just how widespread such hateful ideologies have become.
“My Twisted World: The Story of Elliot Rodger” (2014)
Elliot RodgerThe rise of harmful ideologies has led to countless people being hurt– and he was behind one of the most insidious incidents. A college student by day and an incel vlogger by night, Elliott Rodger had no qualms about his digital footprint. Leading up to his 2014 attack in Isla Vista[e], he uploaded several videos and photos explaining his mindset. Alongside this visual documentation was a 137-page essay detailing his life. He blamed his problems on women; associating them with disease and implying they shouldn’t have human rights. He also described who he planned to kill and how he intended on doing it. Even more disturbing, he had convinced himself that he was a hero, up until the very end.
“Untitled” (2007)
Seung-Hui Cho [f]While some people make their violent intentions known long before acting, others leave no signs until it's too late. Before carrying out two attacks at Virginia Tech on April 16th 2007, Seung-Hui Cho was largely unremarkable. He was often described as completely silent– with only his school assignments showing the dark recesses of his mind. On the day of the shooting, Cho mailed his multimedia manifesto to NBC News, which was delivered the following day. The package included a 1,800-word essay, photographs and videos, in which Cho compared himself to deities and called for bloodshed in the streets. Even more unsettling, those closest to him believed the manifesto was merely a performance, meaning we may never know what he was truly thinking.
“The Great Replacement” (2019)
Brenton Tarrant [g]The proof of this document’s horrid nature lies in the copycats it inspired– some of which appear on this very list. Brenton Tarrant’s manifesto stands out among most, particularly due to the intentionally bizarre content found within it. Interspersed between his anti-immigration and white supremacist views were memes and false flags. Tarrant wanted to sow as much discord as possible by creating false scapegoats– such as video games and Internet culture– for his attack. He included famous copypastas and even encouraged people to subscribe to various YouTubers– all while maintaining an overall hateful tone. However, the most glaring detail was his hopes of inciting a civil war. It was unlike anything authorities had ever seen– but the ironic tone has become the troubling new norm.
“rtf88” (2015)
Dylann RoofThe Internet is a double-edged sword– it gives everyone a platform to air their views, including those with hate in their hearts. Before enacting a horrific shooting at a Charleston church in 2015, Dylann Roof used the web to present his hatred to an audience. He penned an over 2,000-word essay wherein he cited the murder of Trayvon Martin as his gateway into racist beliefs. He then launched into a diatribe of insults against African-Americans, from wishing that racism had been worse throughout history to defending segregation. He even opened the document by claiming to have grown up in a non-racist home– making it unfortunately clear that such harmful ideas can pervade even the most accepting upbringing.
“2083: A European Declaration of Independence” (2011)
Anders Behring Breivik [h]It’s hard to fathom what could drive someone to commit two separate acts of domestic terrorism– but a document spanning over 1,500 pages is a good place to start. Anders Behring Breivik– the man responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks which claimed the lives of 77 people– made his horrid intentions incredibly clear in his manifesto. In it, he described two years worth of extensive planning, from renting a farm to identifying the best conditions for creating explosives. Interspersed throughout his claims of progressive historical revisionism and xenophobic rhetoric were guides to both agriculture and violent acts. Though most of it was plagiarized, it has still unfortunately gone on to be revered in certain circles.
“Industrial Society and Its Future” (1995)
Ted KaczynskiWhile most publish their manifestos before carrying out their attacks, Ted Kaczynski– better known as the Unabomber– used his as an incentive to end his rampage. For nearly two decades, Kaczynski perpetrated a series of bombings across the United States. In 1995, he shocked the nation when he offered to stop his violence if his views were published– and controversially, they were. Kaczynski placed blame upon technology for society’s downfall, even arguing that machines had more rights than man. He also proposed that civilization needed to be overturned to achieve true progress. While it wasn’t steeped in hatred like those who came after him, it still showed a misguided worldview– and how one can use any cause to justify their violence.
Which of these writings disturbed you the most? Let us know in the comments below.
[a]YOO-rye KTY-chick https://www.youtube.com/live/PJPuNPiGSq0?si=LTLI4mEeueqe35t6&t=18 https://translate.google.ca/?sl=sk&tl=en&text=Juraj%20Kraj%C4%8D%C3%ADk%20&op=translate
[b]CROOSY-iss https://youtu.be/XijhlbbKulw?si=MeC6eppvJfRU5e81&t=9
[c]UM-kwuh https://youtu.be/HDog7OUUZYk?si=5kBoQduX6_QE1ytg&t=6
[d]JEN-drin https://youtu.be/5YSmDW3Fqss?si=O2oSBIe4dft6yu-4&t=5
[e]EYE_luh VISS_tuh https://youtu.be/YJFNOb0SXl4?si=ODvuZSOkbXKRdrmK&t=4
[f]seung hee joe https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EC%8A%B9%ED%9D%AC%20%EC%A1%B0&op=translate
[g]https://youtu.be/bQSoEJyEU-M?si=qgTpRrqyrlvO0ye4&t=21
[h]https://youtu.be/oql83SSwpY8?si=XZggjYzSQwWof3cf&t=20
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