HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-18-23 Correspondence - Montana Human Rights Network - Update on White Lives Matter and community responsesFrom: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]Update on White Lives Matter and community responses
Date:Friday, December 15, 2023 6:16:55 AM
Attachments:United Against Hate Week 110723.pdf
Update to MT city officials WLM 2023_12_12 Final.pdf
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Dear city officials across Montana,
We'd like to give you some good news along with and update about extremist activity in
Montana.
White nationalist operatives haven't slowed down in recent weeks, but we're encouraged to
see the community-building responses from the City of Great Falls and the Great Falls Public
Library.
Please see the attached files for more information about WLM agitators' decision to place
their flyers in library books and an excellent proclamation from the City of Great Falls.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Cherilyn
Cherilyn DeVries
she/theyCommunications Managercherilyn@mhrn.org
December 12, 2023
Dear municipal officials across Montana,
Neo-Nazi agitators operating under the name White Lives Matter are continuing their aggressive
campaign to spread White supremacist propaganda across Montana, so we would like to share some
information about current activity and responses.
The good news – Great Falls has a great response!
The onslaught of flyers hasn’t waned (see below), but businesses and communities across Montana are
publicly rejecting messages that promote antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-immigrant rhetoric, anti-
LGBTQ+ misinformation, and other forms of discrimination.
On December 6, the police blotter in the Hungry Horse News reported, “A man was fired from Super 1
for distributing white supremacist propaganda and advised of a lifetime tresspass [sic] order for all
Montana Super 1 stores, additionally flagged for carrying a firearm and handcuffs.”
As you know, it is incredibly hard to catch people in the act of placing racist stickers or flyers, so we are
impressed that this action was discovered and addressed with such strong consequences. Law
enforcement data show that racist flyers and stickers are associated with other criminal activity, and a
rapid response can help prevent additional disruption in Montana communities.
The Great Falls City Council deserves recognition for responding to White Lives Matter flyers and stickers
by declaring November 12-18 as “United Against Hate Week”. Please see the attached proclamation.
The Great Falls Public Library started its own “Hate Has No Home Here” campaign after finding racist
flyers in several library books, some of which were in the children’s section. The library found out about
the flyers after community members who secretly monitor White Lives Matter’s social media accounts
saw a video clearly showing a WLM supporter placing flyers in specific books. We have also seen the
video and can confirm that it was created to brag about neo-Nazi propaganda. The video also shows a
WLM operative placing stickers on street signs and a flyer in a Free Little Library.
The Great Falls Public Library should also be commended for responding quickly and clearly to the White
supremacist propaganda. Community members will now be able to recognize this hateful material
immediately and report it to library staff, police, and MHRN.
The bad news – WLM agitators plan to cause more disruptions
We are concerned about WLM’s new strategy to attack libraries. For years, MHRN has collected reports
of racist flyers in businesses and bookstores, but not libraries. Now, White supremacists are exploiting
the controversy over removing books from libraries to spread their hateful message, radicalize people to
follow their ideology, and pit neighbors against each other. We believe that they placed racist flyers in
these books to trick people into believing that the library placed them there and inflame tensions in the
local community.
WLM agitators have also encouraged other White supremacist activists and groups to follow their
example and place propaganda in public libraries around the country. Please warn your local libraries to
be vigilant about such activity and to seek assistance in responding as necessary.
The City of Great Falls and the Great Falls Public Library did an excellent job crafting their statements
against discrimination and in support of community values like respect, inclusivity, civility, and the
Constitutional principle of equality for all. We encourage you to use their statement as a model for your
community’s statement and reach out to MHRN for any additional information and assistance. In
addition, this new guide from the Western States Center is a helpful tool for speaking out against
dehumanizing rhetoric.
If you have any questions or need any additional resources, please reach out to team@mhrn.org.
Cherilyn DeVries
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, recent events occurred in our community that neither represent our values nor reflect the views of
those who live here. Through the lens of these events, and events occurring around the country, we
hereby issue this proclamation to publicly condemn bias and hate in all forms and reaffirm our
community values of respect, inclusivity, civility and equity for all, and urge every organization in
our community to stand with us; and
WHEREAS, the United States is a nation of immigrants, whose strength comes from its diversity; and
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the United States confers equality on all individuals, regardless of race, gender,
orientation, religion, or political beliefs; and
WHEREAS, the number of hate crimes across the United States has increased dramatically over the years; and
WHEREAS, education, compassion and cooperation are key to unlocking understanding and embracing
differences between people; and
WHEREAS, we recognize that a Proclamation or single action, in and of itself, will not change a community but
rather acknowledge that we are all responsible, both individually and collectively, for creating and
fostering an anti-racist and unbiased community.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BOB KELLY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GREAT FALLS, do hereby proclaim
November 12 - 18, 2023 as
UNITED AGAINST HATE WEEK
and that the City of Great Falls, along with the citizens of our community, have a shared value that all men and
women are created equal, and we will defend anyone who is mistreated because of race, ethnicity, sexual preference,
or religion. The City of Great Falls strongly condemns all forms of racism, discrimination, bigotry, bias and hate
speech in our community, and stands steadfast in our commitment to foster an inclusive civil environment where
everyone in our community is treated with dignity and respect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my
hand and caused the Seal of the City to be affixed
this 7th day of November, 2023.
____________________________________
Bob Kelly, Mayor