UPDATE: White-nationalist group’s flyers strewn in West Seattle neighborhoods

11:42 AM: Thanks to everyone who texted/e-mailed about this: Storm debris aren’t all that people are cleaning up this morning. Someone littered multiple West Seattle neighborhoods overnight with flyers like that one, in plastic bags with small rocks, promoting a white-nationalist group called Patriot Front. So far, we’ve received notes and photos (including the one above) from people in the Alki area and in neighborhoods west and northeast of The Junction. One finder reported it to SPD and tells WSB that police were coming to pick up the bagged flyers and had already responded to at least one other report, with a plan to consolidate the reports in one case. Though we haven’t heard of this group circulating its materials in West Seattle before (at least one other has), web searches show it’s turned up in other Puget Sound communities including Bellevue, as well as other states, such as Texas, where the group is reported to be based, with its founder having been cited there last year for breaking a postering law. The group’s website also lists “actions” such as having vandalized an anti-hate billboard in Tacoma.

1:35 PM: We’ve since heard from multiple sources that this was done last night in Edmonds, too.

11:35 AM MONDAY: SPD confirms the investigation and has just posted about this on SPD Blotter. The post says tips can be called in to SPD’s Bias Crimes Unit at 206-684-5550.

142 Replies to "UPDATE: White-nationalist group's flyers strewn in West Seattle neighborhoods"

  • justme January 6, 2019 (12:25 pm)

    We are all immigrants and/or descendants of immigrants. We seem to forget that. Such a simple truth.

    • Florence Kay Fiddler-Lovell January 6, 2019 (10:02 pm)

      I’m not an immigrant,  nor descendant of.  Please remember some of us were here before all that.

      • Phil Polizatto January 7, 2019 (8:30 am)

        We are ALL immigrants. Stop the phony pride. Even if you had come over on the Mayflower you would be an immigrant! Such hubris. Only the Native Americans whose land we stole, are Not immigrants.

      • Elton January 7, 2019 (11:14 am)

        Aside from any Native Americans, we are all immigrants or descendants of immigrants to America (some, sadly, involuntarily). Just a fact.

    • Spencer Francis Barrett January 7, 2019 (12:01 am)

      Some of us are descendants  of slaves. 

    • Iré Taylor January 7, 2019 (12:37 pm)

      Not all of us are immigrants,my friend.

      • Alan Motley January 7, 2019 (1:43 pm)

        African American DOS (Descendants of Slaves) ARE NOT immigrants. We were forced here. Do NOT get it twisted.

    • Michael January 7, 2019 (6:23 pm)

      That “simple truth” is simply false.  There are native people still living here.

    • CatLady January 8, 2019 (12:05 am)

      Oh my god, stop. Slaves were not immigrants. There are a lot of people in this country who aren’t descended from immigrants, and a lot more who should call the truth what it really is – being descended from colonizers. 

    • pamseattle January 8, 2019 (11:15 am)

      What if everybody that found them just threw them in the recycle bin and put the rocks where they belong?   This thread wouldn’t exist and you wouldn’t be so upset.

  • Kathy January 6, 2019 (12:25 pm)

    I found one, but I can’t find a category to report it under to the police. Graffiti?  Illegal dumping? Phone? Online?

    • WSB January 6, 2019 (12:57 pm)

      Non-emergency phone # 206-625-5011 worked for the person who told us they called police.

  • D January 6, 2019 (12:44 pm)

    Disgusting…trump supporting nationalist are not welcome in our town.

    • Bradley January 6, 2019 (2:35 pm)

      Uh, I’m a Jewish Trump supporter with an Asian-American wife, so I find your comment inappropriate and offensive. I thought WSB didn’t allow such hateful comments?

      • Trish January 6, 2019 (4:57 pm)

        LolThat’ll work well for you in the long run. Good luck brother, you’ll need it

      • Frank January 6, 2019 (5:00 pm)

        First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

        • Ezekiel January 7, 2019 (2:47 am)

           From the Refuse Fascism Call to Action: “We
          are horrified and angered at the shocking damage already done to lives
          here and around the world by the Trump/Pence regime.  We recognize that
          they are poised to do far worse, including threatening WAR, even nuclear
          war.  Through an unrelenting barrage of daily outrages and twitter
          outbursts, the Trump/Pence regime is radically remaking society – step
          by step hammering into place a vicious American fascism. This is not
          insult or exaggeration, it is what they are doing. Therefore, WE RESOLVE
          that nothing short of removing this whole illegitimate regime from
          power will stop this nightmare. There is a way to do this…”  read https://refusefascism.org/

        • sc January 7, 2019 (11:20 am)

          This quote is fromMartin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany. He emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of nazi rule in concentration camps.

      • Wy January 6, 2019 (8:29 pm)

        GL.From another Asian conservative. This is why we can’t have polite discussions in this town.

        • E January 6, 2019 (10:03 pm)

          Not that being a self-proclaimed liberal is a sign of moral character, not at all, but your ideological position has forfeited a civil response.

      • Ari January 7, 2019 (6:19 am)

        Im Jewish and NOT a Trump supporter and have a Chinese (American) wife, and we both think your making this up.  While there are undeniably some Jews that support Trump, only people who don’t know any Asians refer to Asian-Americans as Asian-Americans.  

      • Gary Trenton January 7, 2019 (6:20 am)

        Why do the current white nationslists like to point out their own non-white ir Jewish heritage? It’s like they think it’s a free pass to be a hate monger. 

      • Danny January 7, 2019 (12:13 pm)

        Are you a white nationalist in addition to being a Trump supported? No? Okay, this comment and post is about nationalists, not all Trump supporters. White nationalists believe that it is ethical to maintain racial purity by creating a white ethnostate. It is impossible for such an ethnostate to exist while permitting interracial relationships such as yours. Trump dog whistles to these nationalists constantly, which is why they support him and are emboldened by him. If you don’t find the idea of a white ethnostate that would criminalize interracial relationships disgusting, then we have different ideas about what beliefs and agendas can exist in peaceful society. I think denying people’s autonomy over some bullcrap notion of racial purity is as disgusting as it gets.  If you’re still upset that you get vilified when you choose to align yourself with a man that demonizes people of color and surrounds himself with white nationalists, then maybe that’s the price of associating with him. 

    • C January 6, 2019 (6:18 pm)

      Such hate is disgusting! THAT’S WHAT NOT ALLOWED IN THIS PART OF TOWN!! Such a hypocrite. You’re as bad as ‘they’ are. And I hate to say it, but there’s trump supporters all around you. They keep their mouths shut because of people like you. They take the higher ground. 

      • wscommuter January 6, 2019 (6:51 pm)

        I’m all for respecting different political beliefs, including those of the inexplicable Trump supporters.  But I must correct you in that that there is absolutely nothing about Trump and his supporters that includes “taking the higher ground”.  If you think otherwise, you aren’t paying attention. 

      • Wild One January 6, 2019 (7:00 pm)

        I’ve never been a Trump supporter, and I won’t go into what I think of him but it ain’t good, nevertheless I just have to say that the condescending and ignorant attitudes of some of my more liberal friends towards Trump supporting Americans  is sickening. Voting Republican is not the equivalent of being a White Nationalist for crying out loud! All this vitriol against the other half of this country is what’s driving reasonable liberal leaning independent types (such as myself) away from the progressive left. How about engage in some political conversations that don’t devolve into calling people Nazis when they hold a different opinion than you. Instead of engaging in an intelligent conversation you’d rather fling poo and plug your ears. Lol. Well I say good luck with all THAT in the long run. Yeesh.
        P.S. White Supremacists get out of my town!

        • CommonSenseVeteran January 6, 2019 (9:22 pm)

          agreed!! first off the flyers found are denouncing COMMUNISM not any particular race, religion, immigration status, etc.did anyone not get that?? I have no idea who Patriot Front is or what they stand for but we are not and never will be a socialist, communist country. second if you want evidence of socialist, commie tactics look no further than WA Dems and city council with their endless tax ideas and constant crying about freedom of speech from anyone with a different opinion…

          • Manu January 6, 2019 (11:30 pm)

            You have the internet at your fingertips. Why haven’t you bothered to look them up? They are fascists.  Second, taxing isn’t a communist idea. It is a capitalist idea and is required so that we can have nice things like roads and emergency services. The problems is some people think they don’t have to pay their fair share. Again that’s not a communist or socialist idea. If you hate communists and socialists so much then next time you go to work tell your boss you don’t want a 40 hour work week, paid breaks, days off, workplace safety, child labor laws, a guaranteed  minimum wage and you will be foregoing your social security benefits because all that came from communist and socialists labor movements of the 1920s.

        • motorMike January 6, 2019 (11:00 pm)

          Can we agree that Trump himself is at least border line racist? His reaction to the disgusting events in Charlottesville was slow and underwhelming. Meanwhile he is tweeting constantly about things he doesn’t like. Imagine if there was a sport player who was knelt during the anthem. How quickly that tweet would be sent.

        • Manuel January 6, 2019 (11:35 pm)

          You are wrong. Here’s why. This current incarnation of the RepubliKKKan party is the most racist, mean spirited and ANTI-democratic I’ve ever seen in over 50 years of life.  If you knowingly support them at this point you are all those things. These people want to undo democracy and have a permanent single party rule. If you don’t see that then you have been asleep. it’s right there in front of you and has been for almost two years. WAKE UP!

          • seattlepoet January 6, 2019 (11:50 pm)

            Yeah!!! You are a badass!!!!!! AND I LOVE….The RepubliKKKan spelling… I am going to use that… I am a Native American rights activist for 30 years and a state Bernie delegate and an unemployed writer and I am so proud of you for stating your opinion so eloquently!!!! I am WITH YOU….THE SAD PART IS TO KNOW ALL OF THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN YEARS AGO AND PEOPLE NOT WAKING UP…I KNEW THINGS WOULD MANIFEST THIS WAY 30 YEARS AGO BUT PEOPLE ARE NOT WAKING UP!!! WE MUST MARCH IN THE STREETS AND IMPEACH!!!! WE MUST MARCH EVERY DAY!!!!

          • Steve January 7, 2019 (7:33 am)

            I’m sorry, but if there’s a party that wants to cause a shift to a single party system, it’s the Democrats. They’re the ones who want to remove the electoral college because without it they would win every Presidential election and deny representation to rural communities. They’re the ones who have been crying for impeachment of a legally elected President since before he took office when it couldn’t even be argued there was cause.There is a single party in the current US political sphere that is actively acting against democracy and it’s not the Republicans.

        • Rf January 7, 2019 (6:54 am)

          Well said , couldn’t agree more , I’m tired of extremists from both sides name calling … grow up and understand we can have different opinions without ( for example ) your name calling the president in your arguments .  

      • seattlepoet January 6, 2019 (11:54 pm)

        Higher Ground? Trump Supporters don’t take the higher ground.

      • Scott Davis January 7, 2019 (3:01 am)

        I’m sorry but that’s too much! The idea of Trump supporters  being suddenly quiet because they are “taking the high ground”. I don’t know ANYONE who will admit to supporting Trump face to face because they are embarrassed and starting to wake up to reality. He is dragging our whole country down a hateful dark hole as evidenced by EVERY comment thread EVERYWHERE. Regardless of your background, EVERYONE can see that the country has gone down hill since he became president, nobody is tired of winning as he promised we would all be. Before you hatefully label me, you should know I also bought his message in the beginning because i wanted the change Obama promised. Since that never happened I thought any drastic change was better than Clinton. I do not think that anymore. Trump would sell the USA to the highest bidder if allowed.

    • N January 7, 2019 (7:12 am)

      I find it interesting that you ASSUME that this material comes from a Trump supporter.  That also seems to assume that all Trump supporters are white supremacists and you would be wrong.The political thing is so devisive and unnecessary.

      • Bob January 7, 2019 (8:20 am)

        Not all Trump supporters are White Nationalists, but all White Nationalists are Trump supporters.

  • Kristina January 6, 2019 (12:54 pm)

    Dear neighbors,This group does not speak for me or my community. They are frightened little boys, afraid that recognizing the humanity in others somehow reduces their own humanity; a great irony, because their fear makes them foolish and inhumane (and they fulfill their own fears with this ugly foolishness). I read their manifesto (from the link in the article) and it is nonsense and self contradictory. West Seattle needs to let it be known that this group, with its racially and sexually devisive views, will not be welcomed here. We are a quirky community with room for all kinds of differences, but only love, not hate. 

  • Mj January 6, 2019 (12:57 pm)

    Diversity = Strength

  • Merilieu January 6, 2019 (12:59 pm)

    I threw out the first 6 that I found on my way up to the Junction from Seaview this morning, but still have 16 more that I picked up on the way back. Do you think SPD wants them for their case?

  • Mike January 6, 2019 (1:16 pm)

    Well said, Kristina.  They also are cowards, slinking around in the night.

    • WSB January 6, 2019 (1:21 pm)

      Apparently ours wasn’t the only community in the region where these things were tossed around overnight – Edmonds, for one, was too.

      • Winston January 7, 2019 (12:46 am)

        I had a co-worker post on Facebook but they also hit Olympia the same night.

      • Curious January 7, 2019 (8:49 pm)

        Curious what exactly SPD in investigating?  The flyer didn’t appear to contain any threats (from what I can see here) and simply holding or expressing racist or bigoted views isn’t against the law and is protected by the constitution.   Just curious what the crime is.  WSB your article doesn’t explain this.  

  • Terry Smith January 6, 2019 (1:31 pm)

    Imagine being so gutless you have to spread your vile msg in the cover of darkness.  Suck it Trump and your cowardly mouth breathing followers

  • T January 6, 2019 (1:45 pm)

    Really tired of people lumping in Trump supporters with white nationalists!

    • R January 6, 2019 (3:04 pm)

      T, I’m sure you’re able to understand why they do.

    • M January 6, 2019 (4:15 pm)

      Of course not all Trump supporters are White Nationalists, but Trump clearly is and has done nothing to distance himself from these people. And you supported and voted for him. Guilt by association

    • U January 6, 2019 (4:57 pm)

      Yet, all the white nationalists love Trump. Ever wonder why that is?

    • KBear January 6, 2019 (8:23 pm)

      Trump has repeatedly praised white nationalists. If you voted for Trump and continue to support him, that makes you a white nationalist.

    • TJ Reynolds January 6, 2019 (9:15 pm)

      Are you serious???  Lol. Wow dude. Supporting racism is being racist. What planet are you from?

    • Manuel January 6, 2019 (11:20 pm)

      If you support Trump you are not only a white nationalist but your are racist , xenophobe etc. Here’s why. Trump’s policies aren’t a buffet where you get to pick and choose. If you support him at this point you knowingly support ALL OF IT. YOU OWN IT ALL.

      • Bradley January 7, 2019 (12:06 am)

        Manuel, it’s that sort of finger-pointing and stereotyping that’s going to make minorities like my family and I vote for Trump again in 2020. The Left cannot win on a message of doom, gloom, and hate. Obama won in 2008 with a positive message and a promise of a brighter future. That’s why millions of us Republicans voted for him. If the economy is still great in 2020, Trump will win again. If it isn’t, he won’t. Regardless of rhetoric, most voters are concerned about their jobs and the economy above all else.

        • A-Red January 7, 2019 (9:59 am)

          Okay, but just to be clear on the economy, please remember what you wrote in 6-12 months when the next Great Recession starts. You do know that the government slashed revenue (tax cut), but hasn’t yet matched it with spending cuts, right?  The Republicans who voted for the cut did so on the premise the economy will grow at 5% indefinitely. Because that simply will not happen–it is the very rare fiscal quarter in our country’s history when it has grown at that rate–this means even bigger deficits ahead, OR they’re going to start slashing services that many good people rely on (Medicare, Medicaid, etc). Keep in mind some of the sources of growth to our economy (immigrants) are also being reduced, meanwhile the Boomer generation is leaving the workforce (they are cashing in on the benefits, and contributing less).If you lose your job, but keep spending money on your credit card unabated, do you say you’re financially stable? Maybe if you have a good nest egg in your bank account, but that doesn’t exactly describe America.I hope I’m wrong too.

        • CAM January 7, 2019 (10:58 am)

          Bradley, are you suggesting that Trump had a positive message? You are criticizing someone you disagree with for using the exact same tactics of the person you are endorsing. If you’re accepting of one doing it you can’t really suggest someone else can’t do the same. 

        • John January 7, 2019 (11:09 am)

          So you are willing to accept a race baiting narcissistic sexist pathological liar as President as long as the economy is ok?    I would much prefer an honest and respectful person in the office with a weaker economy than have someone there that we cannot trust to run the nation.   Remember, the German economy roared back to life in the late 30’s under Hitler.  Does that give him a pass and and allow him to run the country just because the economy was strong?

  • Swede. January 6, 2019 (1:46 pm)

    I find it very ironic that they use an old anti communism phrase while being supportive of the current administration that’s been proven to work with Russia/Putin! But it’s maybe not so strange since rasism is well known to be based on ignorance right. 

    • Bradley January 6, 2019 (2:38 pm)

      Aryan supremacists are socialists, and use the same anti-communist logos and slogans as Hitler’s gangs in the 30’s.

      • CAM January 6, 2019 (5:00 pm)

        Aryan supremacists are not socialists. If you don’t know the meaning of the word socialism please educate yourself. Any white supremacist would be offended to be associated with even the most basic principles of socialism. You may have intended to refer to the concept of fascism. People inaccurately defining socialism are the reason we have a white nationalist for a president. 

        • Bradley January 6, 2019 (6:58 pm)

          Please educate yourself, CAM. Aryan supremacist groups have all ABSOLUTELY embraced socialism, just as the Nazis they worship did. The main economic component of Aryan Nationalism is wealth-distrubution and revenue-sharing and socialized utilities, medicine, industry, and resource management. I’ve researched these groups for years due to my Jewish heritage and mixed-race marriage as people like me are their biggest target.

          • G. Goldstein January 7, 2019 (9:14 am)

            Bradley , are you a member of a local synagogue? If not I would love to sit down with you sometime and talk or email with you regarding the “research” you have done. I might be able to point you to some interesting information. 

          • CAM January 7, 2019 (11:01 am)

            Things aren’t true just because you want them to be that simple. Your comments on this topic have demonstrated a very poor grasp of history and reality. If you think the defining characteristic of any nationalist group is socialism you don’t understand the definition of nationalism. 

          • Joe January 7, 2019 (11:52 am)

            That’s simply wrong. Nazis hater socialism passionately. Hitler equated socialism with Jews and his policies were designed to reward rich corporate interests. Naziism, despite having “socialist” in the name, was a far right-wing ideology. 

  • Millie January 6, 2019 (1:56 pm)

    You can not imagine my initial reaction to the photo .   My family  immigrated to the United States as refugees after World War II.    Starting grade school I was taunted by my classmates with “better dead than red”.   Joe McCarthy is a live an well!   I never imagined  I would see/hear that  phrase used again.   Have we, as a  human beings, not learned anything from past events/history?

  • Diana Alf January 6, 2019 (1:58 pm)

    They were spread around areas of Olympia too.

  • Mike January 6, 2019 (2:03 pm)

    Any local businesses or homes have these people on security cam footage?  Being that my family is multiracial, these individuals are a direct threat to the lives of my family.  I will protect my family, by any means needed.  They should understand some of us euro white guys that they might feel they are kin with, don’t want them around, at all.

  • Yma January 6, 2019 (2:17 pm)

    While I am not a fan of Trump – this vile act has no connection to the Presidency. Yes, I agree that divisiveness is on the rise. Please, let’s put the blame on those awful cowards who put this crap out.

    • Mike January 6, 2019 (3:08 pm)

      Trump has empowered these hate groups.  He’s gone so far as to all them good people.  My grandfather fought in WWII to put an end to this hateful type of mindset.  True patriots are not part of and do not support those who allow hate groups to thrive.

    • Ernie January 6, 2019 (3:28 pm)

      I don’t agree. Trump’s words and actions have emboldened people with these views. After the disgusting display of racism that took place in Charlottesville last year he had a chance to condem the racist’s actions, but he chose not to because he didn’t want to offend his base, which is made up of many people who believe this kind of crap. 

      • Yma January 6, 2019 (7:39 pm)

        Again – let’s focus on THIS vile act & not extrapolate. Yes – my grandfather fought in WWII as well . So what?  It’s this particular stupid, offensive act I’m talking about.

        • Mike January 6, 2019 (9:27 pm)

          Do you have any clue what this group stands for?  I’m guessing you don’t as you’d not say “So What”.  

  • emo January 6, 2019 (2:36 pm)

    All Trump supporters may not be white nationalists, but all white nationalists are Trump supporters. Not only has the President not discouraged them, he has actively encouraged them. So if you are a Trump supporter, by that very fact you are supporting white nationalists – there are no two ways about it.Either you speak out against white nationalists, or your silence enables them.

    • dianeseattle January 6, 2019 (4:09 pm)

      Emo is right. I’ll go a bit further and use the word “evil” to describe Trump supporters. He has demonstrated repeatedly that he embraces evil. You cannot align yourself with him without also being evil. People spend too much time trying to sound fair and behave rationally in the face of evil. But NO. Do not say “we” when you talk about these people. They are enemies of good. Call them what they are and don’t back down. If you’re a Christian  (I’m not) and want to do the right thing, read (The) Revelation 3:16 & take a real position. Regardless of your spirituality, you know the difference between good & evil. Flyers may not be illegal, but it’s worth noting that Hitler was the first despot to use them to spread his doctrine.

      • Jethro Marx January 6, 2019 (6:05 pm)

        My position is, we ought not take a book out of context any more than we ought to take a sentence in a book out of context. If you have something to say about John’s revelation than say it, but do not leave out the rest of the story; if you are trying to use support of a single president as a Christian litmus test than you are worse than lukewarm, you missed the point of the temperature scale altogether. I guess ultimately “we” are all in this together, and you are all linked together with the litterers of this ideology like a Lego set. But wouldn’t it be easier if we could divide people up into “good” and “evil?”

    • RationalWestSeattleitte January 8, 2019 (4:33 pm)

      Did you support Bill Clinton? If so, does that mean you support infidelity?You can agree with someone’s politics and not support their personal beliefs. 

      • CAM January 9, 2019 (12:24 am)

        I’m not certain that racism and xenophobia are equivalent on the spectrum of negative traits to infidelity. I’m not praising either but the two are not interchangeable and your comment is a very basic example of whataboutism. 

  • Valid ? January 6, 2019 (2:41 pm)

    I did not know that distributing heinous, racist, sexist, homophobic, white nationalist  or any other type of disgusting  literature is illegal in the USA, Seattle, or West Seattle?What is the crime that is being reported to the SPD?

    • Mike January 6, 2019 (4:31 pm)

      It’s also harassment.

    • Elle Nell January 6, 2019 (6:43 pm)

      Really, Valid.?? What do you think hate intimidating flyers are? Ok?? We here in Seattle denounce, ON THE SPOT, any and all hateful perpetual material, behavior and any thing else that gets in the way of a safe and nurturing life..!! Illegal or NOT. Now IF that does not make sense, well there are lots of other cities or towns that may accept self serving ignorance. 

      • Kevin January 6, 2019 (8:14 pm)

        Elle, Hate speech is still free speech. As much as I dislike white supremacy ideas, I love that idiots have the right to express their opinions in this country and THIS city.  You are in a very bad spot when you try to silence others because you don’t agree with their message. 

        • Mike January 7, 2019 (6:13 am)

          Kevin, there are limitations to every right, it’s when they infringe upon other peoples rights.  You can’t run around shooting a gun in the air just because you have the right to have a gun.  You put other people in  danger, you cannot do that, it’s agains the law.  Once these people put these pamphlets around town trying to spread the word of how they want an only white existence in the USA, that is a direct threat to my families rights.  They can have opinions, they just can’t threaten with them.

          • blbl January 7, 2019 (9:41 am)

             Actually, Mike, they absolutely can spread the word of how they want an only white existence in the USA.  And you can spread the word arguing how wrong that is.  That’s how this works. 

          • Mike January 7, 2019 (6:46 pm)

            There are limitations when it takes away somebody else’s rights, that’s how it works.  

          • blbl January 8, 2019 (10:27 am)

             What rights of yours have been taken away by the words in this pamphlet, Mike?  Freedom of speech is literally The Number 1 Right in America.  While it does have limits, those limits are extremely few and narrow. 

        • heyalki January 7, 2019 (9:31 am)

          one smart comment in here. i don’t support them either, but i’d hate to live in a world where people aren’t allowed to say what they want

    • Lisa January 6, 2019 (7:35 pm)

      Seems like this falls under hate speech laws…

      • Andy January 6, 2019 (9:39 pm)

        Best I can find out, Washington State calls it Malicious Harassment. I haven’t read the pamphlets, so I don’t know if they violate. My guess is not. People who make these things generally know what they’re doing and where the legal line is.  the code/law or not. (and bear in mind I have never tracked down a law to cite it before, so my reference may be tremendously lacking)Ugly? Sure. Unpleasant? Totally. Illegal? Not likely. 

        • Andy January 6, 2019 (9:55 pm)

          Edited:Best I can find out, Washington State calls it Malicious Harassment. I haven’t read the pamphlets, so I don’t know if they violate  the code/law or not. My guess is not. People who make these things generally know what they’re doing and where the legal line is. (and bear in mind I have never tracked down a law to cite it before, so my reference may be tremendously lacking)Ugly? Sure. Unpleasant? Totally. Illegal? Not likely. 

  • wetone January 6, 2019 (3:01 pm)

    We had one of these in our driveway  (50th & Alaska) this morning as did some of our neighbors. Interesting thing was the white rocks that seem common, and they were not there at 3am when I was checking on things during the wind storm.  Found it when I was getting the news paper about 7:30am from the driveway and flyer was about 5′ away right at property line as were my neighbors.

  • Steve in West Seattle January 6, 2019 (3:09 pm)

    I say keep them! Use them and the plastic baggy to pick up dog pooh! Leave them sealed for all to see, Pooh and all. 

    • Susan January 6, 2019 (5:39 pm)

      Steve in WS:    I applaud your creative spirit.  A most appropriate use and visual statement!

    • P January 6, 2019 (7:30 pm)

      Hey – I’m in favor of anything that gets people to pick up after their own dogs. Maybe I could get a bunch and set them around my place? 

  • WS January 6, 2019 (3:19 pm)

    The local folks affiliated with this group who do flyers g/postering are well known to anti-hate groups. They’re based out of the Tacoma area. No need for footage to identify them, but since the only laws they’re breaking are the same as putting up any posters, it’s hard for any legal action to be taken. 

  • valvashon January 6, 2019 (3:24 pm)

    Idiots!  As if Soviet style Communism is still an actual threat.

    • Mike January 6, 2019 (4:32 pm)

      The presidential candidate these hate groups voted for IS supported by communist countries.

  • Thee January 6, 2019 (3:41 pm)

    Had some friends in from out of town and they commented that everyone in a certain west sea tavern looked like they were all antifa.”We are,” I said.

    • ELLY January 6, 2019 (4:08 pm)

      Love it :)

    • Brian January 6, 2019 (5:03 pm)

      Some of us are anti-fascists and we are here and willing to protect our community from this sort of hate. Antifa isn’t the enemy, nationalists are.

  • ELLY January 6, 2019 (3:44 pm)

    I found one on the sidewalk near my driveway. Thought it was for a video game, thew it away.  LOL.  Didn’t see anyone as I sat and watched the storm from 2-3am.  Cowardly little racists, hiding in the dark, or just driving by, scared to stop and be seen. Grow up.  Go to school. Get a job.  Stop scapegoating and go to therapy.  Your “cause” is not welcome here so knock it off before you get into real trouble. There are many more of us and we stand up to bullies. 

  • LAintheJunction January 6, 2019 (4:09 pm)

    Hate has no home here. I picked up about 15 of these baggies on my walk this morning – fitting that it was on a neighbor-organized “trash cleanup day” in the Junction. Trash indeed. 

  • AJP January 6, 2019 (4:34 pm)

    Disgusting! 

  • BB January 6, 2019 (5:14 pm)

    Socialists want basic equality and access to the things necessary for survival for all people.Aryan supremacists want those things for their so-called ‘master race’ only.It’s not hard to tell the difference.

  • J January 6, 2019 (5:45 pm)

    Out of curiosity, I read this thread and then the comments after it. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the commenters on this thread condemn hate with a breed of their own hate. The more you point out others “short comings” as you see them, the more you expose your own. And the more you label, the more you divide. We all know Trump is an idiot but leave him and his voters out if it. It’s not the point of the article. Those flyers did exactly what the person who made them, wanted them to do. Get you all riled up. It would be better if you just ignored it rather than put a spot light on it. Or better yet, takes Steve’s idea and use the bags to pick up dog poop. 

    • seattlepoet January 6, 2019 (11:59 pm)

      Ignoring got us into this mess.  As a Native American and activist for Native American rights for 30 years, ignoring is what landed Leonard Peltier in jail without a fair trial during the Second Battle of Wounded Knee when our government orchestrated the Goon Squad and killing of innocent women and children.  So, we are currently in the “Third Battle of Wounded Knee” where we are not living in a free country and we must fight for our freedoms or we will all die. Don’t know what I am talking about? Sadly, most white liberals don’t.  So, check out “Incident at Oglala”.  Incidentally, it was produced by Robert Redford who I have met, and who is a hard core Native American activist. This has long been prophecized by Black Elk and many other tribal chiefs shamans.  The fliers actually help to show that we are NOT in a free country, and that we must be willing to march until our feet bleed as I did for Leonard Peltier and Native American rights in 1992. 

  • mm January 6, 2019 (5:50 pm)

    Not welcome in our West Seattle neighborhood! Love not hate ❤️❤️❤️❤️

  • dc January 6, 2019 (6:20 pm)

    Obviously, any group suggesting that one or more races are superior or inferior to other races are, by definition, racist groups. But I haven’t seen or heard what was within these fliers.Being for or against illegal immigration, or even legal immigration, doesn’t make one a racist. Nor does having a different opinion than one or both major political parties. It would behoove us all if we save the “racist” tag for people that are truly racists. This may or may not apply to the group in question here; I don’t have enough information to make an informed judgment either way. 

    • WS January 7, 2019 (6:57 am)

      Patriot Front is a known neo-nazi group.  It definitely applies to them.  Leave your both sides at the door, these guys are not welcome anywhere in west seattle and should be resisted by all means available.

  • zipda January 6, 2019 (7:03 pm)

    White Supremacists- More pink than white and insignificant.

  • Sue Libow January 6, 2019 (7:08 pm)

    Apparently, the same notices were found in our Everett neighborhood, as posted on our neighborhood facebook group.

  • WuT aBoUt AtReIdEs January 6, 2019 (7:26 pm)

    Since when is being anti-communist and anti-collectivist punishment bad?

    • Derp January 7, 2019 (12:48 pm)

      Nazis have all kinds of positions that you probably agree with, like the importance of brushing your teeth, and the fact that pizza is delicious. They’re still Nazis though.

  • WSmom January 6, 2019 (8:15 pm)

    If you find these kind of flyers please also report them to the Southern Poverty  Law Center. They keep track of incidents of hate crime amd hate speech all over the country.

    https://www.splcenter.org/reporthate

  • esaboda@gmacom January 6, 2019 (8:23 pm)

    Okay, no matter how offense it is, we still have freedom of speech.  

  • E January 6, 2019 (8:23 pm)

    Okay, no matter how offense it is, we still have freedom of speech.  

    • KBear January 6, 2019 (8:54 pm)

      Yes, E, but every freedom we have, including the freedom of speech, has legally imposed limits. It’s necessary to prevent your freedom from impinging upon mine. Are you in support of hate speech, or are you just making a straw man argument?

      • Jethro Marx January 6, 2019 (10:14 pm)

        For one, that’s not what a straw man argument is; for another, communists ain’t a protected class, so as hateful, racist, and stupid as the group associated with these flyers may be, this particular action is not hate speech, under the law. If you read their manifesto, congratulations for your perseverance, first of all, because damn that’s some long-winded and nonsensical $#!%, but also you will be reassured that they are not going to be gathering many followers here in West Seattle.

  • PotKettleBlack January 6, 2019 (9:02 pm)

    The white rocks are most likely to give the bags some weight. They are being thrown from a moving vehicle, not dropped off on foot. No fascist would be out on foot in that storm. Remember, they’re lazy and like pretty uniforms.

    • wetone January 7, 2019 (6:00 am)

      In our neighborhood they were placed, not thrown, about 5’ from newspaper.

    • Pothead January 7, 2019 (10:06 am)

      Or so they won’t blow away. What a waste of rocks, and plastic, geez what litter bugs. 

  • Andy January 6, 2019 (9:12 pm)

    Well, whatever is in these pamphlets must be pretty rough stuff (I haven’t seen one firsthand, so I have no idea). The cover says that the people distributing it would rather die fighting communism than live under its rule, so it must be whatever is inside that has everyone riled up.

  • Merilieu January 6, 2019 (9:34 pm)

    It was surprising to find this alt-right propaganda in West Seattle, of all places. This is one of the most inclusive and tolerant parts of the city, and I have lived in nine different Seattle neighborhoods in my life here. Also surprising? That some of the commenters here seem to be strangely supportive of the distribution of plastics bags of rocks and paper. Yes, of course we support free speech. And we support all human beings, as well. If you support the organization that did this – what is the controversy, really, from your perspective? Unless…you do not support all humans, and/or are totally ok with littering.

  • seattlepoet January 6, 2019 (11:47 pm)

    I am not going to be afraid by these cowards.  They are emboldened by their Nazi Leader Trump.  It sickens  me. I am a Native American activist for 30 years and for Leonard Peltier…and I was a proud State Elected Bernie Sanders Delegate. So, I will have my radar up.  I cannot wait to find these bastards.   I will not be scared away by Trump supporters. Nazis, K. K. K….I have been out here 12 years….I am from Washington D.C., but ironically, I do not have to travel to the depths of Selma to have racism in my backyard. Anyone ready to march every day to impeach this f—r?  I am ready. 

  • alkistu January 7, 2019 (12:26 am)

    When you consider this an act conducted by an insinificantly small group of people, remember our presidential election was decided by a smaller group of voters than the opposition. That makes me think we have an obligation to overwhelmingly out number these anti-democracy ideals to safe from this becoming emboldened. Like in gerry mandered voting district a simple majority is not enough to enact democracy. I hope the Hate Free Delridge group will once again overwhelm this behavour with a rally of support for those who feel these flyers are directed to and a show of higher ground solidarity. Take the time to participate in these rebuffs and to vote for democracy.

  • Ivan January 7, 2019 (2:07 am)

    Had a flier like that put under my windshield wiper on Mt Si parking lot last August 

  • Obie January 7, 2019 (6:48 am)

    The intention of littering people’s property with these pamphlets is obviously to frighten people.  Why else would they only do this in the dark?  When I doorbell for certain causes, I do it during the day and have face to face conversations with fellow civilians.  These white nationalists are cowards looking to scare people and get media attention!  That’s it!  The intention/goal/outcome is obvious 

  • WTH January 7, 2019 (7:50 am)

    Before we proceed further, please look up the definitions of Socialism, Communism and Fascism. You will find they are not interchangeable. They are 3 distinctly different political ideologies.

  • WSB January 7, 2019 (11:37 am)

    Have just added this link above – SPD Blotter now has a post about this. No new info except to say, “If you have any information, please contact SPD’s Bias Crimes Unit at 206-684-5550.”

    http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2019/01/07/police-investigating-white-nationalist-trash-left-outside-west-seattle-homes/

  • TJ January 7, 2019 (12:15 pm)

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    As a Conservative American of Jewish ancestry who also
    happens to be gay, I find some of the comments here absolutely disgusting and
    hate filled.

    It’s disgusting when the left cheapens evil. There are true
    racists out there, but there’s not one in the White House. There are also Real
    Nazi’s, all 15 of them in America. But when you call the President or his
    supporters a Nazi, or even try to have him in the same sentence as people that
    are actually racists, as people that are actually Nazi’s. You know who gets
    happy, The Nazi’s. Because when everyone is a Nazi, No one is. When Everyone is
    a racist, no one is. They cheapen and dilute evil and it is an insult to every
    person that went through the Holocaust.”

    • KBear January 7, 2019 (1:52 pm)

      TJ, speaking out against hatred is not hate. Acting against intolerance is not intolerance. But promoting racism IS racism. Trump is definitely a racist. His own statements throughout his campaign and presidency support that conclusion. I you support him, you’re supporting racism. That makes you a racist, too. 

      • TJ January 8, 2019 (9:14 am)

        KBear, you just proved my point. Without knowing anything about me other than what I listed or my family cultural dynamic, you found it so easy to label me a racist. A word that once used to mean so much has been diminished by people like yourself who throw it around so easily without any valid proof. I don’t know you or your reasoning for using such labels other than maybe your hate filled heart, intolerance or possible bigotry.

    • Beep boop January 7, 2019 (4:00 pm)

      I think this bot malfunctioned. 

  • Valid ? January 7, 2019 (12:35 pm)

    Johah Spangenthal-Lee witty SPD Blotter post (even the title “white-nationalist-trash’),notwithstanding per the SPD Bias Crimes Unit – MaliciousHarassment2017Brochure.pdfThis indicates that it is unlikely that this incident rises to the level of a Bias Crime as explained by SPD.It would be difficult to single out the white nationalists for enforcement of a long common practice that has yard service providers distribute their flyers in plastic bags with white stones to anchor them from blowing off.I must reiterate that some of us that absolutely abhor white nationalism, xenophobes, racists, fascists, sexists…still ardently believe-in and support our country’s unique right to free speech.

  • wsn00b January 7, 2019 (2:44 pm)

    @VALID ?SPD’s headline was super witty indeed.The headline and article could be re-written as “White Nationalist Trash leaves some White Nationalist Trash” Racists are ironically the dumbest people around; their only achievement in life is that they were born (to parents of some purpotedly superior origin).

  • PotKettleBlack January 7, 2019 (2:45 pm)

    Let’s clear something up here. I’m reading a lot of “not all trump voters are racist,”  “not all racists are nazis”, “Not all dogs are poodles, but all poodles are dogs” mental gymnastics here. So here’s the deal.If you voted for trump you are racist. You might not know you are, but you are. You are racist.Donaldo made a lot of promises during his campaign. He promised jobs, a better economy, a more secure border.  Any one of those promises (or many more just like it) may have been what earned your vote. Maybe employment was important to you. Maybe immigration. Maybe you were just ready for something new. Here’s the problem. He also promised to harm minorities. And since you can’t just vote for part of a candidate you have to weigh that in your mind. You have to choose which is more important. When faced with choosing between a job and the lives of brown children you chose the job. A better economy or the lives of brown children? You chose the economy. Maybe you wanted “change” in Washington. Well, you were willing to sacrifice the lives of brown children to get it. You are racist.This isn’t even getting into the fact that the VP you voted for believes that if you send homosexual children to camps (stop me when this sounds familiar) and electrocute them that the ghost of a magic space jew who judges us from another dimension will come down and “fix” them. You were ok with that so long as you got your job/economy/deals/border. When you decide to trade lives for your flavor of the month political promise you don’t get to say you’re not racist. Well, you get to say it because this is America and that right is protected. But so is my right (and our responsibility as citizens)  to tell you you’re wrong.

  • Danzip January 7, 2019 (7:10 pm)

    Yes,  the “master race” throwing doggy poop bags under the  cover of night.

  • CatLady January 8, 2019 (12:02 am)

    Hey everyone – friendly reminder that all white people are racist, and that if your immediate reaction to that statement is “but I’m white and I’m not a racist!”, you’re definitely racist. It’s what happens when you grow up in a racist society, which the U.S. most definitely is. Our racism is systemic and seeps in to every single aspect of our lives. If you want to start unlearning/pushing back against racism, please go read Ijeoma Oluo, Nikita Oliver, and Robin DiAngelo. Do these bags and fliers constitute a crime? Probably not, but nobody should be defending this action. Remember, just because something is legal doesn’t make it morally right. 

    • WSider January 8, 2019 (5:04 pm)

      That is a very dangerous comment. Saying all white people are racist may make that  disenfranchised kid say, “well, if I’m already racist, I may as well embrace it and join the Nationalist movement”.  How about judge the individual and not the race, you know, like a non-racist.

    • PotKettleBlack January 8, 2019 (7:30 pm)

      That’s just an asinine and unhelpful comment. Saying “all -blank- people are -blank-” isn’t how the universe works. Heck, all white people aren’t even white. My ancestors were Sicilian, Jewish, and Gypsy. We’ve only been “white” for a generation or so. Give it a couple decades and there will probably be a new adjetive for me. Right now I’m going with “Mediterranean American.” It makes filling out paperwork fun!

    • CAM January 9, 2019 (12:42 am)

      CatLady- I understand and don’t disagree with the underlying principle you are discussing. I’d quibble with the use of the term racist to apply globally. There is no white person out there, no matter their life experiences, that could possibly grasp the reality a black, Hispanic, etc. individual faces on a daily basis. Our legislative and judicial systems are absolutely filled with inherent systemic bias that harms minorities. That bias no longer exists out of malice though at this point. It exists because of a lack of recognition by people in power of the privilege their power entitles them to and how other people do not have those same privileges and face hardships because of it. People in power don’t want to face this reality (or even the reality that they are in a position of privilege) because the idea threatens certain advantages they have become accustomed to. This isn’t malicious which makes it different from racism or other isms. It is absolutely present though throughout our culture and we need more people with insight into these power dynamics in positions of power to mitigate the actions of our predecessors. 

  • anonyme January 8, 2019 (5:03 pm)

    ” friendly reminder that all white people are racist” is about as racist a comment as you could possibly make.  Racism exists across the entire spectrum of human variability.  Redirecting hate toward another race is not confronting racism; it is perpetuating it.  What nauseating hypocrisy.  It’s also odd that these groups are always characterized as racist, and the discussion ends there.   Not everything is about racism, and making it so does nothing to bridge the divide.  These groups have a long and contradictory laundry list of grievances, and misogyny is usually right near the top of the list as well.  There is also a difference between recognizing the right of others to free speech, no matter how repugnant, and defending the speech itself. 

Sorry, comment time is over.