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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-25-23 Public Comment - C. Devries - Follow-up concerning White Lives Matter operatives in MissoulaFrom:Cherilyn DeVries To:Dani Hess; council@billingsmt.gov; BPD,; Commissioners; BSB LED; Gallagher, J.P.; kukulskic@billingsmt.gov;rnelson@belgrademt.gov; mmeis@belgrademt.gov; rmattimoe@belgrademt.gov; kmenicucci@belgrademt.gov;jdoyle@belgrademt.gov; jsimon@belgrademt.gov; jguffey@belgrademt.gov; generalinfo@belgrademt.gov;askgfpd@greatfallsmt.net; Krista Artis; publiccomment@kalispell.com; jvenezio@kalispell.com;helenapolicedepartment; Wilmot Collins; edean@helenamt.gov; slogan@helenamt.gov; mreed@helenamt.gov;ashirtliff@helenamt.gov; council@ci.missoula.mt.us; mayor@milescity-mt.org; mhowke@cityofwhitefish.org;nicosias@cityofcolumbiafalls.com; staalandb@cityofcolumbiafalls.com; cfchiefpeters@colfallsmt.com;jbattlesward1@gmail.com; tdurbinWard2@gmail.com; redlodgeward2@gmail.com; sdanielsward3@gmail.com;heatonward1@gmail.com; ronningward3@gmail.com; gsrock@cityofredlodge.com; Agenda Subject:[EXTERNAL]Follow-up concerning White Lives Matter operatives in Missoula Date:Wednesday, October 25, 2023 2:51:18 PM Attachments:White Lives Matter October 2023.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear city officials across Montana, MHRN has additional information to share with you about the appearance of White Lives Matter members and other White nationalists in the Pacific Northwest. We should all be concerned about their collaboration and their decision to harass Jewish. immigrant, and Muslim communities in one day. Earlier this year, WLM members aggressively targeted LGBTQ+ events in Montana, which means that the number of people they are trying to intimidate in Montana is quite large. In the face of this hostility, we repeat our recommendation for local leaders to publish public statements that speak up for community values and denounce discrimination, racism, and divisiveness. People in the targeted groups would like to know that their elected officials understand their concerns and openly reject the activity of literal neo-Nazis in their town. The attached letter provides more information. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or you would like support crafting a statement. Cherilyn Cherilyn DeVries she/theyCommunications Managercherilyn@mhrn.org October 25, 2023 Dear city officials across Montana, In August, we warned you about the activity of White Lives Matter in your communities and urged you to make a public statement denouncing their racist, dehumanizing messages and attempts to start violent confrontations in your community. On Saturday, these neo-Nazis appeared in person at a synagogue and other locations in Missoula with other White nationalists from the Pacific Northwest. Many of us might not fully understand how horrifying it would be to drive up to our houses of worship and see masked people holding hostile signs and know that they both celebrate the deaths of our ancestors and deny the Holocaust. MHRN received many photos of these extremists from Missoula residents who were appalled at the message that the neo-Nazi groups were trying to send. White Lives Matter and other neo-Nazi groups are appearing in our communities to create conflict and intimidate people who have repeatedly faced discrimination over generations. We again ask you to prepare a public statement, so residents understand that the intimidation, bullying, dehumanizing rhetoric, and racism that violent extremist groups amplify do not define your town. I have attached materials that may help you draft a statement for your city. More information on White nationalists’ visit to Missoula It appears that Montana WLM members collaborated with other neo-Nazis in the Pacific Northwest in order to appear more powerful. Here’s more information about the Northwest Nationalist Network, known as 3N, from our colleagues at the Western States Center. • Many of the groups involved in the counter-protests are members of a newly formed neo- Nazi coalition in the Pacific Northwest called the Northwest Nationalist Network (3N). 3N is part of the bigger “Active Club” movement that centers around combat sports and preparing for political and racially motivated violence. • 3N officially formed in February of 2023 and consists of multiple groups: The Rose City Nationalist Club around the Portland area, the Evergreen Active Club in Eastern Washington, the Big Sky Active Club in Montana, White Lives Matter Montana, the Rainforest Active Club on the Pacific Coast and the Vinland Rebels. There are a few themes with regards to the targeting of these events: • The targeting is not being publicly discussed by members of the 3N coalition on their social media channels. This targeting is happening without prior warning. • Members of the coalition are traveling across state lines to engage in these mobilizations and are working with other white nationalist groups like the Montana Chapter of White Lives Matter. • The Oregon-based Rose City Nationalists were in Centralia for the June 10 protest. • 3N teamed up with the Wyoming Active Club and Patriot Front for the Lander mobilization. • It appears the same racist banner was used in multiple mobilizations including the Lander, Bozeman, and Spokane mobilizations. • The mobilizations are designed to intimidate Pride attendees with bigoted signs and rhetoric espoused via megaphone. 3N members also film any interactions and post videos later on. • 3N groups are attempting to get as close as possible to Pride attendees, which has led to occasional violence. In Bozeman, one Pride attendee was attacked with pepper spray by several of the neo-Nazis. In Oregon City, 3N members engaged in a brawl with Proud Boys who also showed up to counter-protest Pride. One more pattern that may not be directly related, but to keep an eye out for: • During the weekend of June 24th - 26th, homophobic vandalism was carried out in both Lewis County and the Spokane area, two locations where Pride events were previously targeted by 3N. And here’s how Pride organizers have successfully protected their events: • In Centralia, Washington, organizers made sure 3N members were physically separate from Pride attendees and ensured that bars across the county were aware that 3N had tried to go out drinking before their attempt to disrupt Lewis County (WA) Pride. 3N subsequently was thrown out of several bars they tried to enter. • In Spokane, event organizers and allied organizations quickly shared information on social media about 3N, informing Pride attendees about the group’s track record, advising Pride attendees not to engage with the group, and letting attendees where they could go for help or to find a safe space. They quickly mobilized members of Free Mom Hugs – Eastern WA to create more separation between Pride attendees and the 3N protesters. They also connected with nearby bars and restaurants to warn them that 3N might try to come in. 3N left after just two hours of attempting to intimidate Pride attendees. Professional researchers that we work with are very concerned about these groups’ willingness to collaborate and drive long distances in order to bully people, get attention for themselves, and incite violent confrontations. However, they tell us that these groups are not cohesive. Infighting, problems with law enforcement, and difficulties recruiting new members are keeping them small. When these operatives show up to harm our communities, we have an opportunity to educate people about the trouble they are intentionally trying to cause and reinforce the shared values like kindness, safety, opportunity, equality, and understanding that make our communities stronger. We hope this information helps you respond to the threats in your area and create a statement that reflects your community’s values. Cherilyn DeVries Communications Manager SUPPORTING MATERIALS – White Lives Matter incidents Examples of effective statements against White supremacist activity Police investigating flyers left in Folsom neighborhood as hate crime “The City of Folsom condemns any discrimination based on a person’s race, as well as racially motivated messaging and hate crimes that seek to divide us rather than unite us,” said City of Folsom officials. Racist flyers found in Rocky Hill: police “It doesn’t uphold the values that we have here in Rocky Hill. We’re very inclusive, we show a lot of respect for all of our community members, and that’s why I believe this is so outrageous,” said Rocky Hill Police Sgt. Foss-Rugan. What can police do when racist pamphlets are distributed? “The Springfield Township Police Department condemns any message promoting the KKK, anti- Semitic commentary, and any other statements that promote hatred. We encourage residents to contact the police department if there is a recurrence of hateful fliers distributed on their properties, and we will respond and investigate the incident.” Hampton and FBI investigating distribution of racist flyers “The city of Hampton is disgusted by and condemns the actions of those responsible for the distribution of these hateful leaflets throughout our city,” the statement read. “They are in no way representative of our city, our citizens, or our values. The Hampton Police Department, in conjunction with the Atlanta field office of the FBI, is investigating this matter.”