Students at Salt Lake Community College were shocked when they found alt-right propaganda plastered over various surfaces around campus.
The fliers were distributed by the white supremacist group Patriot Front, calling for students to “Keep America American” and report any illegal immigrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
https://twitter.com/ilovebagals_/status/1098271825107275776
Staff charged with maintaining campus facilities were told to take down all known fliers, something that proved to be difficult as most of the papers had been glued to the surfaces where they were placed.
Utah Highway Patrol informed concerned students and faculty that while a work order had been filled to repair the damages, no other measures had yet been taken.
UHP Sgt. Donovan Lucas says that this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Similar fliers were posted last year on SLCC, Westminster College, and University of Utah campuses but were deemed not a threat by UHP.
Lucas says that the fliers are less of a threat and more of an attempt to recruit for the organization.
Patriot Front, the organization behind the fliers, is a white supremacist group that promotes anti-Semitism and neo-Nazi ideologies. They hold strong beliefs that non-white Americans aren’t “real” Americans.
One line from their manifesto reads as follows:
An African, for example, may have lived, worked, and even been classed as a citizen in America for centuries, yet he is not American.
They also believe America as a nation to be weakened by its strong sense of democracy and call for a strong, single ruler reminiscent of Julius Caesar in the Roman Empire.
The fliers caused strong reactions among students and staff.
“I’m a little horrified that this happened here,” says Jude Owen, who works in the Communication Department. “I definitely think that a case could be made for vandalism if nothing else, but the fact that this, frankly, disgusting material was on campus at all is extremely disturbing.”
“It just makes you feel so unwelcome, especially because you go through so much to come here,” says one source who wished to stay anonymous. “You always dream that everyone’s going to be welcoming. To see [this messaging] so close to your home and your college, you just freak out.”
Currently, it is unknown who hung the fliers, but students are encouraged to report any they find to a facilities member.
Photos by Elijah Earl
What are you guys talking about! I am latino and I do not see any problem with those fliers. If it is leftist propaganda tho, you guys would not even be talking about it.
I looked at their website and found nothing racist about it. I would ask what exactly makes them racist? If you don’t agree with them, that doesn’t make them white supremacists or Nazis. (Those words are thrown around so loosely, they hardly carry a feather’s weight.)
I heard no racial slurs, I saw no racial insignia. It’s pretty childish to scream racist with no proof. Supporting deportation of illegal immigrants is not racist. But nice try with a racial blanket slander.
This is the first time I’ve heard of them. You gave them another supporter.
This paper needs to teach its reporters to report facts, not opinion. A person that opposes illegal immigration does not necessarily make a racist.
I guess the freedom of speech does not reside at SLCC.
I’m not saying I agree or disagree with this. But, the First Amendment guarantees the right to speech whether you agree with it or not. It doesn’t matter whether or not you find it offensive.
When you suppress someone’s speech for ANY reason you are standing against the Constitution, no matter if you’re an institution or a student. No one has a right to suppress anyone’s speech.
Since when is one group’s opinion/feelings more valid than anyone else’s? If you support one side and not the other, THAT is discrimination.
Probably a leftist hoax to generate fear.
That being said, if you are illegal then just go start taking the steps to become legal and pay your taxes.
My wife had to do it the right way and pay her fair share of time and money. When you decide you’re too good for that and you want to cut the line it’s not fair for the people who are doing it right.
No freedom of speech here. If people can post left wing propaganda, then right wing propaganda should be allowed.
Ima post make america diverse again posters just to spite them
Possible hoax.
How do you figure?
So upsetting. We have such a wonderful and diverse student body. Nobody should be made to feel unwelcome.
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