Racists see Texas as ripe for hate

by Bud Kennedy,

White racists will gather in East Texas next weekend.

Yes, even more than on any other weekend.

In a battle of the burning crosses, an extremist white neo-Nazi group and a Ku Klux Klan klavern plan competing rallies Saturday, campaigning for white members, money and media in the most conservative part of Texas.

The Michigan-based neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement promises a “show of force” against illegal immigration, starting on the Rockwall County Courthouse steps (where city officials are choosing not to enforce permit rules), and then moving to a private ranch for a swastika-lighting.

Nazi “Commander” Jeff Schoep was stunned to learn about his competition.

The Texas Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, based in neighboring Hunt County, are promoting a noon rally in Nacogdoches against all legal and illegal “mass” immigration, ending with a cross burning.

I’ve lived in Texas my whole life, and I have never heard of dueling cross and swastika burnings.

The New York-based Anti-Defamation League tracks extremist groups and publishes a schedule. Of 11 events in November, four are in Texas, also including two patriot-militia “training” sessions in Dallas and Big Spring.

Roberta Clark of the ADL’s Dallas office quoted from the group’s new website on extremist groups, Combating Hate.

“We believe that if nobody shows up [to counter-protest], there’s less media and less attention, which is what they want,” she said.

“The correct response to hate speech is neither silence nor more hate speech but more good speech, maybe later at an event celebrating diversity and what we stand for as Americans.”

“In Texas, things like this do happen pretty regularly,” she said. “I can’t say it’s a surprise.”

Schoep said he’s bringing the neo-Nazis’ annual November gathering to Rockwall because he had “quite a few requests from local citizens.”

“It’s a natural fit for Texas,” he said.

Not my Texas.

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