LANCASTER – More than two dozen community leaders, civil rights activists, city commissioners and concerned residents joined local law enforcement captains Monday morning in a press conference to address the hate fliers recently circulated in Lancaster and Palmdale.
“The NAACP has called this press conference today to say in no uncertain terms and no uncertain language that we will not allow these fliers to divide our community,” said local NAACP President V. Jesse Smith. “We have worked too hard in our community to come together as a united community… Black, white, brown, red and yellow, we’re working together as a united front, and we’re not going to allow anyone who desires to divide this unity to come between us.”
“In this community we’ve already set the precedent for change,” said Nigel Holly, founding member of The Community Action League. “These fliers are just a mere reflection of those who resist that change.”
In mid-December, several 8 1/2 x 11 papers containing derogatory language and racial slurs were found in a Lancaster neighborhood. The fliers referenced a Lancaster address in the 44000 Block of 11th Street West, where people would get “shot at” if they had a problem with the fliers.
“I would like to point out that the address that’s mentioned in the fliers is a vacant home, so whoever is putting these out isn’t actually calling anybody to that location other than to cause problems for that particular home,” said Lancaster Sheriff’s Station Captain Pat Nelson.
Nelson said there had been an ongoing investigation in that neighborhood, even before the fliers were reported.
“There’s been some reported problems with those particular properties in the past,” Nelson said, adding that the problems included vandalism and a number of minor incidents, all possibly related. “As that investigation progressed, these fliers began appearing,” Nelson continued. “We’re certain that it’s going to be the same individual that’s causing problems for those particular houses on 11th street, so we’re going to continue to work that angle.”
About a week after the hate fliers were reported in Lancaster, fliers containing similar language were found scattered on a public roadway in the 900 block of East Avenue Q-4 in Palmdale. The Palmdale hate fliers contained threatening messages aimed at African Americans and referenced the same address as the fliers found in Lancaster.
“These hate fliers that have been found in the streets of Palmdale and Lancaster represent some of the worst that we’ve seen in this Valley, but we wanted to point out that this Valley is not about racism…,” said Palmdale Sheriff’s Station Captain Don Ford. “For a Valley of nearly 500 thousand people, last year there were 17 reported hate crimes… and they range not only against race, but against sexual orientation, against religion, against other things.”
The Sheriff’s Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force is handling the ongoing investigation, which is being classified as a “hate incident.”
“We’re going to do everything we can to make every attempt to identify who’s responsible,” said Task Force detective Christopher Keeling. “We do have some leads, but things that we can prove are what’s important.”
At Monday’s press conference, community leaders urged the public to unite against hate.
“Unfortunately, we’re coming out behind this, but the challenge is that we begin to organize and mobilize like never before,” said Stan Muhammad, local director for the Nation of Islam.
“It is our responsibility and obligation as community residents to come forth and speak out against this kind of racism…” Smith said. “It’s now time for us to speak up as one united front. We’re not going to allow the weapons of hatred or racism to try to destroy it.”
Other speakers at Monday’s press conference included Xavier Flores, President of the Antelope Valley Chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); Darren Parker of the Antelope Valley Human Relations Commission; Jeanine Militello of the Lancaster Human Relations Tapestry Commission; Lancaster Mayor Emeritus Bishop Henry Hearns; Morris Thomas, District Director for Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon; and Gwen Cole of the High Desert Alliance of Black Educators.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact Detective Melissa Sullivan of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Hate Crimes Task Force at 661-940-3857.
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Tom says
I remember this!
GreenTree says
I don’t.
Tom says
Really?
Matt K. says
It’s funny how these fliers stopped being produced as soon as people in the Valley stated to demand that a forensics unit get involved in determining their origins. Very, very interesting….
Convenient, Political, Manufactured Hate.
The Truth says
Wow Xavier Flores sure uses the word “racism” a lot. I have two words for that..”Guilt Peddler” give it a break Flores. Not all people are weak, and in need of a bloated Government to “look out” for them. Go back to being a school hallway monitor.
Red says
@untruth, how is an ignorant act obviously racist. If you’re next thought is something to personally attack a gentleman and then rant against our government. This is America, if you are unhappy, chsnge locations, because that is the face America you are in the minority, you are experiencing fear. If you get medicare, social security, like having the greatest military, drive on roads, call the cops, you’re talking about yourself. Find out if your kids or grandkids go to public school, the park, in WIC, after school programs or college aid, then you are speaking of them, if you can’t ever see anything but thru the lens of race and class, is distrubing. No more Grumpy Old People
Scam says
I call BS, this is set up.
Richard says
Where where these “organizations” in regards to the knockout game? Hmmm…
Doc Rivers says
This crap is all coming out of Henry Hearns church, They should stay out of Palmdale.
Red says
@Richard, you think voter discrimination is equal to a knockout game? That’s very interesting thinking, this is why we say No to GRUMPY OLD PEOPLE.
sikntired says
What a crock!
sjgranai says
Nice publicity stunt by Palmdale City Council hopeful…..this circus is a mess. They really let Stan speak about racism and hate speech? Wow
Xavier Flores says
I have been actively fighting racism, mostly in the form of racist or discriminatory policies, since 1965. These policies gave direction to local police departments, school boards, city councils, etc. They served as road maps on how to govern and, for the most part, caused great harm to minorities.
Invariably, throughout my 49 year trajectory, not once did the policy makers acknowledge any wrong doing, not once. In several instances, the policy makers experienced heart attacks denying that their policies had any semblance of racism or discrimination.
What became very clear to me is the ignorance that these policy makers possessed regarding racism and discrimination. They simply could not see it. Fortunately for us, the Courts could see it and we won many cases in the legal courts and also in the courts of public opinion. However, this latter victory took much time and was hard won.
More salient than ignorance as an obstacle to justice, however, was the policy maker’s unshakable tendency to interpret the criticism of the policy as a direct criticism of themselves. They could not separate themselves from the law they purported. It is as if though they were one and the same thing. Therefore, if the policy is racist, then by association, they too must be racist.
Sounds familiar? This is exactly what is happening today with our policy makers in Palmdale. In our perception, part of the reason they refuse to acknowledge any problem with our voting system specifically in the form of racially polarized voting is because, in their minds, this implies that they are racist or discriminatory. Again, if their policy is racist or discriminatory, then they too must be racist.
AV-LULAC is adamantly opposed to this assertion and eagerly awaits the day when our policy makers can get beyond this predicament because it has served as a stumbling block for too long. Not only this, but a more sinister result of their denial that there voting process is flawed is the underlying message that all votes counts except for those of African Americans and Latinos.
They say they are for us while simultaneously thwarting any attempt to give us a political voice. The biggest irony is that they are hurting us with our own tax resources. How can this be happening in a City that is comprised of 70% minorities?
What is the message their actions is conveying to the general public and to those who purport hate against us about their perceptions of Latinos and African Americans? If you were a hate monger, might you not say, “Our leaders don’t believe they deserve justice and equality, why should we?”
AV-LULAC understand the importance of dialogue as a way of fomenting understanding between us. Only through dialogue will we be able to overcome the obstacles that divide us. Until policy makers are open to this dialogue and call us to the table, or come to the table when we call them, we will continue to express our points of view via the media, the only avenue of communication afforded us so far, and only recently.
AVGirl says
Lancaster uses the same voting system (known as “at large”) that Palmdale does, why not also mention them?
AV Folk says
I don’t follow. So minorities are being disenfranchised? Or is it that if they don’t vote how you want them too then they’ve been hoodwinked?
Red says
@AV Folk, you are the minority. Those organizations reflect what America looks like, everyone is from somewhere, unless you are native. No more Grumpy Old People. News flash it’s 2014,
sikntired says
Who died and put you in charge of the” minorities” in Palmdale ? same old Commy rhetoric that’s been going around for years.
Darius White says
The item that jumped out at me was “How can this be happening in a City that is comprised of 70% minorities?” Great question, but this creates another question: instead of writing nine paragraphs highlighting the broken system and those who perpetuate said system, why isn’t the focus being directed at getting the 70% who are minorities to vote? If even half of the 70% who are minorities showed up and voted (based on the historically low voter turn-out every time either city has an election), the demographic of the city leaders would be radically altered. I am looking forward to the responses to this question…
sikntired says
Wouldnt 70% be called a majority? Furthermore, not all “minorities” think the same, do they.And if you are not in the country legally you are not going to be able(hopefully) to vote.
Mr Lulac needs to adress the high number of Hispanic gang members in LA county( majority) , perhaps he could counsel them.
AV Observer says
Some observations to consider………
Hispanic and African Americans Elected in Palmdale–
Palmdale City Council
Fred Thompson
Richard Loa
Palmdale School District
Bo Bynum
Sandy Corrales
Juan Carillo
Joyce Ricks
Palmdale Water District
Robert Alvarado
Westside
Linda Jones
Hispanic and African Americans Elected in Lancaster–
Lancaster City Council
Henry Hearns
Sandra Johnson (appointed then elected)
Westside
Linda Jones
Lancaster School District
None
Perhaps your energies and efforts would be more productive on a city that more closely resembles what you describe.
AV Folk says
It is very brave of them to condemn this. Now hopefully we can plan some more gatherings to talk about how racism is bad. I’m of the opinion that the fliers are easy to ignore and not much is accomplished by these speeches except a certain degree of aggrandizement.
Red says
@A.V. Folk, at least they’re doing something. Why is it when racist bullies act out, it’s the victims who need to shut up and move on. I’ve done that for 6 years, so these days are over. If you are a Grumpy Old Person, stop, we’re jumping of your crazy train, you do not live in reality
Bill paxer says
no more hate! sick of all this hate….
Letlow says
AMEN. Live and let live!