White Nationalist Fliers Found in Superior

Same group posted fliers in Duluth earlier this month

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Recruiting efforts by white nationalist group, Patriot Front, have moved into Superior after first making an appearance in Duluth.

The Southern Poverty Law Center says Patriot Front is a hate group that believes white people in North America are being pushed out of town by non-European immigrants and that people of color are not Americans.

Photos were tweeted by the Patriot Front of the posters they distributed around Superior.

We are told by a UW-Superior spokesperson that a student discovered one poster near the campus on a light pole. University officials looked for more but none were found.

Professor Khalil Dokhanchi of the UWS Department of Social Inquiry tells us he thinks the flyers are “despicable” and show there are people organizing around these ideas.

“There is a trend that people are often using in the U.S., something called ‘browning of America’ and the idea is that there are increasing number of minorities and people are worried about what this means and the entire thing is misplaced,” said Dokhanchi. “Minorities have been in this country for a long time.”

He says this is something everybody in the Twin Ports should be concerned about regardless of where the posters were found.

“Even though it may not affect me, I am sure somebody will be affected by it and I think we need to keep that in mind,” said Dokhanchi.

Superior Mayor Jim Paine also strongly condemned the posters saying, “White nationalist groups have no place in Superior. Whoever put it up is an absolute coward and has no place in our public discourse.”

Meanwhile, activists are organizing a public showing of solidarity to deescalate the situation.

“What we can’t do is be divided by them or be afraid of our unity,” said community activist Michele Naar-Obed.

They are inviting people of all backgrounds to the plaza at the corner of Lake Avenue and Superior Street in Downtown Duluth to show unity.

“We are going to come together and stand together to say that we the people of Duluth, the good people of good will of Duluth, that we’re not going to tolerate this kind of hate in our community,” said Naar-Obed.

That gathering will happen Tuesday, April 23rd from 4-5 p.m.

Police say they are aware of the posters. There have been no reports of violence or arrests related to them.