MHRN Calls on Montanans to Say No to White Nationalism

In mid-January, white nationalist fliers were distributed on doorsteps in Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley. The Montana Human Rights Network received reports of the fliers Tuesday and Wednesday from recipients who were disturbed by the content left on their steps. The hate fliers target members of our community by promoting hostility toward the Jewish community, immigrants, and men of color.

Rachel Carroll Rivas, Co-Director at the statewide research, organizing, and advocacy organization said, “This material is a stark reminder that anti-Semitism and xenophobia are collaborators in the current white nationalist agenda. When white nationalism threatens our communities, we must call it out, condemn it, and offer support to those targeted. Collectively, we must say, ‘White nationalism is not a community value.’”

The hate fliers focus on border walls. The U.S. border wall is has been used as the means to talk about immigration and, in many cases, vilify immigrants as a whole. The Trump Administration is currently holding the government hostage with a shutdown and refusing to negotiate with both Democrats and moderate Republicans who want to fund the government without funding his border wall. Closer to home, Montana Senate President Scott Sales (R-Bozeman) has announced he will sponsor legislation to send $8 million of Montana taxpayer money to help pay for the wall.

The Montana Human Rights Network has created a sign-on letter in response to the bigoted fliers. The letter calls on Montanans to stand with friends and neighbors who are Jewish, people of color, and/or immigrants in condemning white nationalism’s attempt to divide our communities. It also calls on the leadership of the Montana Legislature to make it clear that white nationalism in its various forms is not welcome in the state.