SHS targeted by racist propaganda

SANDPOINT — A person of interest was identified after Sandpoint High School students became the latest targets of racist propaganda that has hit the area in recent months.

A SHS student, who discovered a compact disc on his windshield around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, contacted Spencer Smith, the Sandpoint Police Department's school resource officer. A total of 56 discs were then collected by Smith from the windshields of vehicles in the SHS parking lot, according to a statement by city officials Friday.

The CDs, titled "What are They Hiding From You," included several versions of the flyers previously distributed throughout Sandpoint, among other materials. Distribution of the CDs on school grounds was in violation of LPOSD policy.

According to the statement, Sandpoint Police obtained video surveillance from SHS to identify a person of interest. Contact was made with the individual on Friday, who was then trespassed from school district property at the request of LPOSD officials. Officials have not released the individual's name at this time.

According to an article by McCalee Cain in the Sandpoint High School Cedar Post, the CDs contained a collection of anti-semitic documents bearing titles such as "The White Man’s Bible," "Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews" and "White Power."

The discs nod to Red Ice TV, a website that "covers politics and social issues from a pro-European standpoint."

According to the article, students are advised to turn in any CDs or other solicitation to the office and to report any suspicious activity to Smith.

Flyers falsely representing the views and policies of Mayor Shelby Rognstad began circulating in April. The flyers reportedly contained false, inflammatory statements in quotes that have not been made or authorized by the mayor, officials said at the time.

One of the flyers argues African-Americans will ruin Sandpoint because of their genetic inferiorities, while another posits that Jews are behind a campaign to purge the white population through interbreeding.

Other flyers target members of the task force and the local media as traitors, degenerates and liars who seek to dismantle western civilization.

Rognstad was also the target of an automated phone message during the 2016 mayoral election. The "robocall" branded Rognstad as a feminist intent on purging blue collar Caucasians in Sandpoint in favor of low-income minorities. 

A mass email circulated as well, depicting Rognstad in a Nazi gas chamber with Pepe the frog in a Nazi helmet pushing the button.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.