Community pushes back against hate messages

SANDPOINT — The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force was joined Wednesday by members of the faith, business, political and education communities Wednesday to push back against a resurgence of hate propaganda in the area.

The task force convened a press conference urging the community to denounce calls by white supremacists to rise up against those of African-American and Latino descent, in addition to those who worship Islam and Judaism. Those calls have come in the form of handbills that have been distributed in the community and online.

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.

One of the more frequent targets of the campaign has been Shelby Rognstad, Sandpoint’s mayor.

Rognstad opened his remarks by addressing claims that there are efforts underway to resettle refugees in the city. Rognstad unequivocally disputed those claims, although he said the United States’ resettlement program is an “ethical, humane and responsible solution to a humanitarian crisis.”

However, Rognstad noted that Sandpoint lacks sufficient economic, healthcare and cultural resources the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement needs to sustain the program.

But fears about refugee resettlement is not the crux of the problem, Rognstad said.

“The real problem that we are here to address is an underlying fear of difference. It is a fear that divides us our community along racial, gender, religious and ethinc lines,” Rognstad said.

The source of some of the flyers appears to be The Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi and white supremacist news and commentary website whose stature gained increasing prominence with the election of President Donald Trump, the candidate The Daily Stormer heartily endorsed during the election.

The site traffics in crude low-brow Internet memes and unabashed hate speech. It has also mobilized an army of trolls known for their harassing attacks on people whose views run counter to the website’s.

In some of the Stormer-labeled flyers, the group claims has a regional office in Sandpoint. One flyer depicts Rognstad in women’s makeup inside a gas chamber and a cartoon frog in Nazi regalia pressing a button to release the gas.

The site is currently subject to lawsuit filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center over its targeted harassment and the site itself has reportedly moved to the dark web after hosting platforms stopped carrying the site in response to its attacks on a counterprotester who was killed during the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., last month.

Local and state officials and lawmakers, meanwhile, voiced support for the community’s decision not to let the campaign of hate go unanswered.

State Sen. Shawn Keough called the flyers “unacceptable and cowardly.”

“I urge all of us to stand together against this hate and not allow it to fester and grow. To do nothing only emboldens those who wish to foment division and, apparently, violence,” Keough said in a statement.

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter also provided a written statement of support. He said white supremacists are not welcome in Idaho and never will be. “Idaho joins the rest of the nation and the world in condemning white-supremacist violence and bigotry of any kind,” Otter said in the statement.

Bonner County’s spiritual community is also pitching in on the opposition to the ideals of white supremacy.

First Presbyterian Church of Sandpoint release a statement underscoring the church’s commitment to social justice and equal human rights.

“Over the decades we have stood against the attitudes of a few individuals that advocate hate, violence and racism. We stand against that message consistently and believe the voice of a minority of people should not be heard as the belief of the majority,” said Bill Love, a member of the church who spoke on behalf of its lay community.

Cedar Hills Pastor Colin Moody also advocated against racism and for peace, diversity, equality and civility. He pointed to the parable of the Good Samaritan, who advocated for the care of strangers and those of different religious or political stripes.

“At significant personal cost, the Good Samaritan assists, shelters and advocates for someone far different than himself. Why does he do this? Because it is the right, the good, the humane and God-honoring thing to do,” Moody said.

Retired Methodist Minister Paul Graves admitted he was concerned by the resurgence of hateful attitudes, although also conceded reluctance with denouncing white supremacists without a coda, as it would simply demonize or perpetuate the tired dynamic of scapegoating. Jesus Christ, Grave said, spoke about loving the enemy despite conflicting views.

“It’s hard work. It’s not pie-in-the-sky stuff. It’s hard work,” said Graves.

Norm Gissel, a member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Rights and a former Sandpoint High School fullback, noted that each community defines its own culture or risks others defining it for them.

“We are challenged by a political philosophy of hatred, contempt and nullification and we must vigorously and aggressively address that set of beliefs or it will change our culture the way they want it rather than the way we want it,” Gissel said.

Kate McAlister, president and CEO of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, said racism and bigotry has no place in the business community.

“Our businesses leaders are focused on growing their businesses and creating a thriving economy for our entire community,” she said.

Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Shawn Woodward admitted he was saddened by the distribution of hateful flyers.

“It is time we held held firm in our stance that there is no place for such intolerant and hate in our community,” Woodward said, adding that the school district promotes inclusivity, equality and equitable learning environments.

Lynn Bridges of the human rights task force said it is sending the message that hatred an racial inequality is a far cry from what the community represents.

“We believe in working for a community where everyone feels safe and where every person is treated with dignity and respect, and where they enjoy the rights and freedoms granted to them by the founding documents of our country,” said Bridges.