KKK Flyers Present in Huntington Seashore Forward of This Weekend’s ‘White Lives Matter’ Rally

Huntington Beach, Orange County, California residents raised concerns about an influx of propaganda from the Ku Klux Klan ahead of a April 11 rally on White Lives Matter.

Pamphlets containing KKK propaganda were found on 18th Street in downtown Huntington Beach, according to the Los Angeles Times. The leaflets, which were wrapped in plastic bags with stones, contained drawings of a hooded figure and a burning cross under the words “White Lives Do Matter” and “Say No to Cultural Genocide”.

Huntington Beach Mayor Kim Carr said Monday that she was alarmed by the spread of KKK paraphernalia in her town and that countless residents had expressed anger over the situation.

“The KKK Airmen are in a cowardly attempt to raise support for a hateful cause that runs counter to Huntington Beach’s values ​​of integrity, respect and inclusivity,” Carr said in a statement. “We have no tolerance for racism in our city, and while we absolutely support the First Amendment, we are firmly against hiding behind it to promote hatred.”

Despite the mayor’s condemnation of the KKK leaflets and the upcoming rally, a Huntington Beach Police Department spokesman confirmed that there was little police can do to stop the rally, calling it “free speech.” However, he stated that the police would be monitoring the situation.

Huntington Beach City Council held a meeting Monday evening to further discuss the brochures. This eventually led to a vote in favor of terminating the KKK and condemning hate crimes against minorities. However, during the open session meeting, several local residents who attended the virtual meeting accused Mayor Pro Tem Tito Ortiz of empowering white supremacists.

“You have your time to shine; Talk to your people and tell them not to come to our town, ”one caller told Ortiz. “You empower these people and it’s bloody disgusting.”

Ortiz – the former UFC champion turned MAGA politician – has been a lightning rod for controversy since his election to the city council last November. He routinely used his platform to spread dangerous conspiracy theories related to the far right QAnon movement as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, which he routinely referred to as a “plan”. He publicly chastised a popular burger franchise after being denied service for not wearing a mask, and he was banned from attending a council meeting at the Huntington Beach library for the same reason. His antics led to a vote of no confidence by his fellow councilors, which was eventually postponed when Ortiz apologized for his behavior.

The former UFC champion is also a passionate Trump loyalist and used his platform to reinforce the former president, team up with far-right groups, and spread dangerous conspiracy theories like QAnon while campaigning for the Trumpian slogan, “Huntington Beach Safe Again.” make ”began. “Ortiz even tried selling QAnon shirts on his clothing website during his campaign. (Author’s Note: Read Right Wing Watch’s long-form coverage of Ortiz here.) Despite his controversial track record and limited political experience, Ortiz was elected to the city council with 14.3 percent of the vote, finishing first among 15 candidates.

While Ortiz’s antics may have encouraged far-right activity in Huntington Beach; Orange County already had a long history of extremism. The KKK thrived in Anaheim, California in the 1920s, while Orange County was known as a recruiting center for neo-Nazi groups in the 1980s and 1990s. The county remains a haven for extremism, with far-right and white supremacist groups growing in popularity during Donald Trump’s presidency.

This article was originally published by Right Wing Watch and is republished here with permission.

KKK Flyer’s post, found in Huntington Beach ahead of this weekend’s White Lives Matter rally, first appeared in the New Civil Rights Movement.