Jonathan Keeperman
Jonathan Keeperman is a former University of California, Irvine (UCI) lecturer who uses the pseudonym "Lomez".[1][2]
Keeperman leads Passage Publishing, also known as Passage Press,[3] an American far-right[1][4] and "new right"[5] publisher founded in 2021 that publishes works from online personalities, reprints and new translations of fiction and nonfiction from historical fascist and reactionary authors.[1]
Publishing
[edit]Passage Publishing was founded in 2021 out of the Passage Prize, an online writing and arts competition offering a $20,000 cryptocurrency prize for selected works. The judges were neoreactionary Curtis Yarvin and self-published author "Zero HP Lovecraft."[6] Passage Publishing has published two books resulting from its Passage Prize writing and art competitions.[7][third-party source needed] In 2023, Passage Prize was rebranded as "Passage Publishing," and was expanded through acquisitions of Mystery Grove Publishing[8][third-party source needed] and the magazine Man's World. Passage has published compendiums from online figures Nick Land,[citation needed] Steve Sailer, and Curtis Yarvin.[1] Through its imprint Passage Classics, Passage Publishing also offers works by, as described by The Guardian, "radical German nationalist and militarist Ernst Jünger; Peter Kemp, who fought as a volunteer in Franco’s army during the Spanish civil war; and two counter-revolutionary Russian aristocrats, White Russian general Pyotr Wrangel and Prince Serge Obolensky".[1][9]
In 2024, the "Lomez" Twitter persona associated with Passage Publishing was revealed by The Guardian to be Keeperman.[4] Lomez had used anti-gay and anti-Asian slurs, referenced white nationalist memes, proposed journalists should be lynched, and conspiracy-theorized that Barack Obama is gay.[3] In an interview with The Blaze, Keeperman indicated that "Lomez" is a Seinfeld reference.[10]
Passage Publishing also engages in cultural projects, including sponsoring events.[11][12] Fashion designer Elena Velez, a habitué of the Dimes Square scene,[13] has been sponsored by Passage[14] and cited the company and its founder as inspiration.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Wilson, Jason (2024-05-14). "Revealed: US university lecturer behind far-right Twitter account and publishing house". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
Like many other far-right publishers, Passage's list is bolstered by reprints of out-of-print or public-domain books by historical fascist and reactionary writers.
- ^ Ahmari, Sohrab (2024-05-16). "America's dime-store Nietzscheans". New Statesman. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ a b Beauchamp, Zack (2024-08-27). "An inside look at how the far right is mainstreaming itself". Vox. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ^ a b Breland, Ali (2024-06-10). "The Far Right's New 'Badge of Honor'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
The far-right publisher known as "Lomez" kept his identity private, and for good reason. His company, Passage Publishing, has printed books from a German nationalist, anti-democracy monarchists, and white supremacists promoting "human biodiversity."
- ^ "Extremism Headlines: Pelosi attacker, Atomwaffen plot, far-right university lecturer". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ Wilson, Kit (24 November 2021). "The rise of the neoclassical reactionaries". The Spectator. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Passage Publishing". Passage Publishing. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Passage Publishing (11 December 2023). "Announcement". Twitter. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Passage Classics". Passage Publishing. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Why is the media out to get Jonathan Keeperman?". www.theblaze.com. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ Friedman, Vanessa (14 September 2023). "Post-Pandemic Dressing Finally Takes Shape". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Testa, Jessica (13 September 2023). "Should Making It in Fashion Be This Hard?". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Tashjian, Rachel (12 February 2024). "Fashion's problematic fave is Elena Velez". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Moore, Booth (13 February 2024). "Elena Velez Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear: Finding Opportunity Beyond the Runway". Women’s Wear Daily. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Lee, Justin (19 September 2023). "What I saw at the Longhouse Fashion Show". First Things. Retrieved 9 May 2024.