William E. Riker
Encyclopedia
William Edward Riker was a White nationalist religious leader who founded the community of Holy City
, California
, and was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor
.
in San Francisco. In Canada
, Riker established "The Perfect Christian Divine Way" religious doctrine which emphasized White supremacy
, Racial segregation
, Gender segregation, and abstinence from alcohol and sex.
. He used the property to found the religious commune of Holy City, which Riker said he had been instructed to do through messages from God.
Eventually increasing the commune to 200 acre (0.809372 km²), Riker developed it into a road-side tourist attraction which included an observatory, gas station, dance hall, restaurant and penny peep show
machines. Along the roadway entering Holy City, Riker placed nine Santa Claus statues and a billboard that read "Headquarters for the World's Most Perfect Government."
In 1929 Riker added a radio station with the call letters KFQU, which broadcast popular programming as well as his personal message. The station closed after two years when Riker's license was revoked for irregularities.
platform, advocating that Black and Asian American
s be banned from owning businesses in California. In one of his political pamphlets titled The Emancipator, Riker wrote:
He unsuccessfully ran for Governor of California
four times. In 1938, he entered the Progressive Party primary and received only 170 of the approximately 7500 total votes cast. In the subsequent three elections, he entered both the Republican and Democratic primaries. Riker lost the primaries in 1942, 1946 and 1950, averaging less than one percent of the total votes.
Riker was arrested in 1942 for sedition due to his support of Adolf Hitler
whom Riker called "a second Martin Luther
". A jury acquitted Riker who then sued his attorney Melvin Belli
for defamation because Belli's successful defense was to present Riker as a "crackpot." Riker lost the suit.
Holy City, California
Holy City is an unincorporated community in Santa Clara County, California. With only one permanent resident, it is arguably a ghost town. The town is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, off State Route 17 on Old Santa Cruz Highway, at . It is part of the Lexington Hills census-designated place...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
.
Early life
Riker was born in California in 1873. He worked as a palm reader and later traveled as a mind reader under the professional name "Professor Riker". Riker moved to Canada rather than face charges of bigamyBigamy
In cultures that practice marital monogamy, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. Bigamy is a crime in most western countries, and when it occurs in this context often neither the first nor second spouse is aware of the other...
in San Francisco. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Riker established "The Perfect Christian Divine Way" religious doctrine which emphasized White supremacy
White supremacy
White supremacy is the belief, and promotion of the belief, that white people are superior to people of other racial backgrounds. The term is sometimes used specifically to describe a political ideology that advocates the social and political dominance by whites.White supremacy, as with racial...
, Racial segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
, Gender segregation, and abstinence from alcohol and sex.
Religious commune leader
In 1918, Riker returned to the United States and purchased 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) of land near Los Gatos outside of San JoseSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. He used the property to found the religious commune of Holy City, which Riker said he had been instructed to do through messages from God.
Eventually increasing the commune to 200 acre (0.809372 km²), Riker developed it into a road-side tourist attraction which included an observatory, gas station, dance hall, restaurant and penny peep show
Peep show
A peep show or peepshow is an exhibition of pictures, objects or people viewed through a small hole or magnifying glass. Though historically a peep show was a form of entertainment provided by wandering showmen, nowadays it more commonly refers a presentation of a sex show or pornographic film...
machines. Along the roadway entering Holy City, Riker placed nine Santa Claus statues and a billboard that read "Headquarters for the World's Most Perfect Government."
In 1929 Riker added a radio station with the call letters KFQU, which broadcast popular programming as well as his personal message. The station closed after two years when Riker's license was revoked for irregularities.
Politics
Riker ran for political office on a White SupremacyWhite supremacy
White supremacy is the belief, and promotion of the belief, that white people are superior to people of other racial backgrounds. The term is sometimes used specifically to describe a political ideology that advocates the social and political dominance by whites.White supremacy, as with racial...
platform, advocating that Black and Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
s be banned from owning businesses in California. In one of his political pamphlets titled The Emancipator, Riker wrote:
The White Man can take care of any and all kinds of business in our own, White Man's California State Home, and no longer will the White Man tolerate your undermining and polluting tactics. Farmers, Business Men and The Workers say: Orientals get out and stay out of our business. Our new Government will see that you get a job. Your polluting, undermining system of business must eternally stop in Our California. And besides this, keep your polluting hands off our White Race Women; they also belong only to the White Race Man. This is the true law of our original White Man's Constitution, these statements explain the real and true spirit of California.
He unsuccessfully ran for Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
four times. In 1938, he entered the Progressive Party primary and received only 170 of the approximately 7500 total votes cast. In the subsequent three elections, he entered both the Republican and Democratic primaries. Riker lost the primaries in 1942, 1946 and 1950, averaging less than one percent of the total votes.
Riker was arrested in 1942 for sedition due to his support of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
whom Riker called "a second Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
". A jury acquitted Riker who then sued his attorney Melvin Belli
Melvin Belli
Melvin Mouron Belli was a prominent American lawyer known as "The King of Torts" and by detractors as 'Melvin Bellicose'. He had many celebrity clients, including Zsa Zsa Gabor, Errol Flynn, Chuck Berry, Muhammad Ali, Sirhan Sirhan, the Rolling Stones, Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker, Martha...
for defamation because Belli's successful defense was to present Riker as a "crackpot." Riker lost the suit.
Decline and death
The rerouting of California State Route 17 to bypass Holy City caused a decline in visitors to Holy City. Financial difficulties eventually led to Riker losing control of the community in 1960. In 1966, at the age of 93, Riker converted to Catholicism. Riker died on December 3, 1969.External links
- Photo of Holy City in 1940, Life Magazine, Jan 01, 1940
- Photo of Holy City Campaign Headquarters, titled "Racial rhetoric of California Gubernatorial candidate", Life Magazine, 1 January 1940