That a group of people who pride themselves on being white and superior to other races and ethnic groups should target parts of this city to distribute their racist garbage should come as no surprise to anyone who has lived here for any amount of time.

Over this past year, we have been unmindfully witnessing the signs of just how much this city is no longer a city with a small town atmosphere or not really the kind of city we hear about in so many commercials. No, I’m not being negative about the city, but I am being realistic and only stating the obvious. We all know every city has its dark side, its social problems. And racism and all the ugliness surrounding racism is a part of any city in this country; Lubbock is no different in that regard.

And although significant progress has been made in the area of race relations; we do not do ourselves any favors by burying our heads in the sand and pretending that these problems do not exist in this city. Or, in believing that something like this could never happen here; it has.

Examples that these types of racial undertones have always been simmering are evident but they have been so subtle that unless we have been paying attention; we’ve missed them.

This year alone, Lubbock police have arrested at least 10 individuals with ties to the gang organization known as the Aryan Brotherhood. This particular organization is predominately white, and identifies itself with tattoos of German swastikas and other body markings which links them to the SS, or Security Service police of Nazi Germany: whose role it was to protect Adolph Hitler. Which by the way; leads me to believe that they are not very fond of those who don’t resemble their skin color.

In April of this year, Lubbock police arrested a man with explosives in his car with connections to the same organization.

Just a few weeks ago I made reference to the racial implications contained in some of the letters coming in to the local newspaper which quoted at least one writer drawing comparisons between the illegal immigration issue and Nazi Germany. He was a Lubbock resident.

And now, here we have this garbage; distributed in the front yards in some Lubbock neighborhoods.

I haven’t seen the flyer that was distributed, but I can almost guarantee you

that the words “illegal aliens” and other references to “Mexican invasion” appear on it. I can assure you that whoever distributed this trash is familiar with Lubbock neighborhoods and was well aware of where exactly they wanted to distribute their garbage. I can guarantee you that they know that at times there is at the very least an undercurrent of racial tension in this city. They had to have; otherwise, why waste their time?

In other words, if there was no potential for recruiting members to their cause, would they have really targeted this city? Would one of the “2 National Socialist Movement Units” in the entire state be based here?

That’s right; believe it or not, a check of the national web site promoting the group who was responsible for distributing the flyer has links to 2 Texas web sites. One is Dallas, and the other one is in, you guessed it, right here in Lubbock; complete with an email and postal address. Surprised? I’m not.

They even cite the person this city is named after; here’s an excerpt from their web site: “Like in our State past people of great character, like Col.Lubbock and General Hood..they faught (sic) to keep personal liberties alive and state freedom in the peoples hand! They also urge “likeminded” people to join them in their efforts to preserve their “proud Aryan Heritage”. In a reference to immigration, their web site says that “All non-White immigration” must be prevented and they “demand that all non-Whites currently residing in America be required to leave the nation forthwith and return to their land of origin: peacefully or by force”.

If you’re wondering why I am writing about this incident instead of just ignoring it and hoping that it will go away, it’s because I am a firm believer that we should all be aware of these kinds of things and not just pretend that all is well in our fair city; which is what some people in this city like to do.

For instance, even though this incident was widely reported in the local broadcast media, (all local television stations reported on it) on Thursday morning after it happened, not one word or even a mention of it appeared in the local newspaper. Why a story like this would be ignored by the major newspaper in this city is beyond my comprehension.

I also understand the position

of those that would say that we should just treat these things as trash and throw them away; the problem with that is that the people who are responsible for the distribution of this garbage will not go away. They will continue to distribute their literature; cloaking themselves in their first amendment rights until they convince some people to start believing in their cause.

No, unfortunately, they will not go away until people in this city, elected city and county officials, and local law enforcement, publicly denounce their actions and visibly put them on notice that their actions are despicable and that they will do whatever is necessary to make sure that their movement does not grow; allowing them to spread their message of hatred, intolerance, and ignorance.

Because until we do, they will be out there, festering like a cancerous sore; preying on people’s fears; just waiting to spread their hatred to those who already half-way agree with them.

And don’t kid yourself, there are some out there.



Email: acruztsc@aol.com