Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on February 23, 2020

Distribution of white supremacist propaganda hit an all-time high nationwide in 2019 and nearly quadrupled in Massachusetts the same year, according to the Anti-Defamation League

There were nearly 30 incidents of white supremacy propaganda distributed in the Brockton-Taunton area between 2018 and 2019, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

"Incidents in this area spiking doesn't surprise me," said Brian Frederick, a political science professor at Bridgewater State University.

There seems to be a higher level of "cultural conservatism" in southeastern Massachusetts where hostile views against Jewish people and minority groups can thrive, he said.

ADL tracked incidents of white supremacist propaganda and events, anti-Semitic incidents, and extremist incidents and found that distribution of white supremacist propaganda had the highest record for activity across the United States.

There were a total of 412 extremism or anti-Semitic incidents in Massachusetts between 2018 and 2019, according to data from ADL.Most of the activity happened in the Boston area followed by incidents in the Worcester area and southeastern Massachusetts.

"Even though Massachusetts overall has a liberal reputation, there are pockets of white nationalism that exist in thestate," Frederick said.

Every state in New England reported double the number of propaganda incidents in 2019 than the previous year, according to ADL.

Robert Trestan, New England regional director for ADL, said in a statement that the data demonstrates that white supremacists are doubling down on propaganda distribution across the nation and New England,with a particular focus on campuses and the public square.

Through stickers, banners, posters and other material, the groups are able to normalize bigotry and recruit, while remaining anonymous, according to ADL.

In the Brockton and Taunton area, all but one of the 27 reported incidents were related to the distribution of white supremacist material.

In November, stickers belonging to a white supremacist group Patriot Front were placed on street signs and utility poles in Middleboro and West Bridgewater featuring messages like "Reclaim America."One of the stickers was on a pole directly across the street from Middleobro Town Hall.

The Middleboro and West Bridgewater police chiefs said previously in a joint statement that their departments don't tolerate the spread of hateful messages in their communities. Stickers placed on public property would be considered vandalism and would be taken down.

Patriot Front has publicly shared on its social profiles which cities, towns and campuses it has visited and placed what it calls "promotional material."

Going back to July 2019, members have posted Patriot Front stickers on street signs and utility poles in Brockton, Easton, Hanson, and Stoughton,according to a review of posts on the social networking site Gab for the group.

Those stickers have featured other messages includingAmerica First, Not stolen conquered, Better dead than red, and To ourselves and our posterity.

The group continued to place stickers in the area. Several were posted in Brockton on Thursday and in December in Raynham and Taunton, according to Patriot Front's Twitter.

Patriot Front is responsible for distributing about two-thirds of white supremacist propaganda around Massachusetts, according to the ADL.

A representative from the group was not available for comment. A note on its website states: "The organization does not participate in interviews with journalists."

Frederick, of Bridgewater State, said the national political climate may be a contributor to an increase in extremist or anti-Semitic incidents in Massachusetts.

"It's been clear since the president came on the scene since 2016, peoplewho share ideas feel muchmore unrestrained to expressthose views," he said. "The president has given them a license to express views that might have been seen as politically incorrect."

Frederick doesn't think the president is the cause of this expression. But because he doesn't actively combat those views, that may send a message that they aren't problematic, Frederick said.

"It's a very worrying trend we're seeing in society," he said about the white supremacist propaganda and anti-Semitic incidents in the state. "Sometimes spreading hate like thattranslates into actual action and that can have deadly consequences."

Following the November reporting by The Enterprise about Patriot Front stickers found in the Brockton area, anti-hate group Bridgewater Citizens for Civility and Respect demonstrated to spread messages of inclusion.

"We felt that we need to make a stand when incidents happen locally, nationally and internationally," said Sam Baumgarten, co-chair of the group. "Truthfully we could stand out every day for something, but we try to focus on civility and respect."

BCCR formed in 2016 after two hate speech incident aimed at Muslims occurred in town. The group helped the town pass a proclamation that formally condemns racial and religious discrimination.

It has also participated in and held bystander training to help people respond to incidents of hate and verbal harassment.

To discuss contentious topics in a respectful way, BCCR hosts forums that have included topics like immigration, gun safety and white nationalism.

The goal of holding standouts is to get people to see messages about respect and civility and think about them, said Sherley Phillips, who also serves as co-chair of BCCR.

"The community changes when it becomes aware," she said.

Staff writer Mina Corpuz can be reached at mcorpuz@enterprisenews.com. Follow her on Twitter@mlcorpuz

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Brockton-Taunton area had nearly 30 incidents of white supremacy propaganda between 2018-19 - Enterprise News

Category: Anti-Defamation League
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