COEUR D'ALENE -- The Southern Poverty Law Center estimates there are 17 chapters of the Aryan Nations across the country. While the Aryan Nations were bankrupted out of North Idaho eight years ago there are small signs their hate is making an attempt at a comeback.

It wasn’t uncommon several years ago to see downtown Coeur d’Alene turn into a battleground each summer, with Aryan Nations supporters parading through downtown, flanked by angry protestors and police officers up and down Sherman Avenue.

The last time the Neo-Nazi group marched down Sherman Avenue was several years ago but now followers claim to be regrouping.

“We hold monthly meetings and weekly church services. We try to get four major functions each year,” Paul Mullet, the self proclaimed national director of the Aryan Nations says.

Mullet’s goal is straightforward: He aims to pick up where Richard Butler left off.

Richard Butler, the founder of the Aryan Nations, first brought his brand of hate to North Idaho in 1974 when he moved to Hayden and established the Aryan Nations World Headquarters. For more than two decades Butler shared his dream of a White-only homeland with recruits who came to his 20-acre compound.

In 1998 Butler’s dreams came to an end when Aryan Nations security guards shot at a woman and her son driving by the compound. Victoria and Jason Keenan sued and won a $6.3 Million lawsuit against the Aryan Nations three years later in 2001.

“For too long the Aryan Nations compound has been a haven for racists and I hope this jury verdict will put an end to that," Morris Dees, Chief Trial Counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Keenans’ attorney in the Aryan Nations case, said.

That judgment forced him into bankruptcy and kicked Butler off his compound. Several months later his retreat was bulldozed over. Butler later died in 2004.

The voices of hate were nearly silenced but now new voices are starting to emerge.

“The Aryan Nations’ goal is to have an area where it’s an all white homeland and state, country," Paul Mullet said.

Mullet, 36, is originally from Ohio but has now made a new home for himself in Athol. He denied requests from KXLY to attend one of his group meetings and only agreed to be interviewed after pre-screening the questions he would be asking.

Mullet says that this time the group is operating differently.

“If we're confronted we will protect ourselves but as far as us going out and doing violent acts like recent media attention has been giving the Aryan Nations, no. What was in the past is in the past what's now is now,” he said.

While the violence, according to Mullet, might be gone, the message of hate remains the same. His goal, according to his website, is asking for recruits to “Fight the Jews and the mud people of the world."

“The black pride, the Zionist pride, the Indian pride, the list goes on where it’s OK for them to do that. But it's not okay for a white person to stand up and be proud of who they are,” Mullet said.

Mullet goes on to say today’s Aryan Nations members aren't who you might think they are.

“The skinhead mentality is really losing ground and it's more of white collar people, good jobs,” he said.

Over the summer the Aryan Nations group was caught circulating white pride fliers on front lawns in North Idaho and Spokane. The Coeur d'Alene Police Department charged Mullet and two followers with littering.

This month, three men were charged with malicious harassment. Court documents show they threatened a Hispanic family with a gun and a Pit bull while passing out hate literature in another Coeur d'Alene neighborhood.

“This is like basketball being played by very under talented short people,” Attorney Norm Gissel said.

Norm Gissel was also part of the team that helped bankrupt Butler back in 2001.

Gissel says this new attempt at a resurgence isn't as organized and doesn't hold the same political power that Butler's group managed to gain in Kootenai County.

“There is no place that they're wanted. I can't think of a single place in the world that would welcome Nazis at this time,” Gissel said.

To underscore Gissel’s point the community isn't turning a blind eye to the Aryan Nations’ presence. In August, law enforcement agencies, mayors, politicians, and other local leaders got together at the state line. Their message: Hate won't be tolerated here.

Denouncing racism is one thing but the reality is that it continues to exist. Just ask Coeur d’Alene DJ “Juice”, who skin tone makes him an automatic target for white supremacist hate.

“They just yell the "N" word and keep driving. Most of the time I don't hear them because I have my headphones on,” he said.

For 25 years now Juice has been connected to the area. Despite a few negative mishaps, Juice remains positive.

“North Idaho is a great place. Don't sell it short because a couple of knuckle heads don't agree with the majority of America," he said.

“We're Americans,” he continued. “We earn the right to be free and say what you need to or whatever you want to say. It might not be right, it might not be the politically correct thing to say but nevertheless they can say it."

Freedom of speech is one thing but if you ask Norm Gissel what can happen when hate is left to its own devices his answer is simple. Innocent people can get hurt.

“Tell me a point in history where being silent about Nazis benefited anybody but Nazis. You have to talk about it. You have to raise that issue," Gissel said.

Mullet remains undeterred toward his detractors. He says North Idaho is his final stop and it’s where he’s setting up shop.

“In September we're going to have a congress in Idaho. I've got plans and a permit for a rally in Hayden,” Mullet said.

The City of Hayden says it has not issued a permit for an Aryan Nations rally but did say someone came and asked about the process. Mullet has also said that he plans to buy land and build a new Aryan Nations compound in North Idaho.

Despite Mullet’s plans for the Aryan Nations in North Idaho attorney Norm Gissel doesn’t see the hate started by Richard Butler making a comeback with Mullet’s arrival.

“Do they have any staying power? No. Is that a victory for all of us? Yes,” Gissel said.