White supremacists dramatically stepped up their propaganda efforts in the United States in 2018, according to newly released data from ADL (the Anti-Defamation League). ADL reports 1,187 distributions of white supremacist material across the U.S. in 2018, up from 421 incidents reported in 2017, an increase of 182 percent.
The propaganda included everything from veiled white supremacist language to explicitly racist images and words, frequently targeted minority groups, including blacks, Jews, Muslims, immigrants and the LGBTQ community. It often featured a recruitment element, ADL reports.
The number of racist rallies and demonstrations also rose last year, ADL reports, although on a more modest scale. At least 91 white supremacist rallies or other public events attended by white supremacists were held in 2018, up from 76 the previous year. Hate groups increasingly employed flash mob tactics to avoid advance publicity and scrutiny, ADL reports. Identity Evropa and Patriot Front held more than 30 flash demonstrations last year. These groups were also responsible for the two largest white supremacist flash demonstrations in 2018, held in Nashville and Washington, D.C.
The number of non-campus community propaganda efforts skyrocketed to 868 in 2018, up from 129 incidents in 2017, according to ADL. The Texas-based Patriot Front led the way with 324 literature distributions, while 312 incidents were linked to Identity Evropa.
ADL recorded 319 incidents of white supremacist propaganda appearing on 212 college and university campuses in 37 states and in Washington, D.C. in 2018. This was up from 292 campus incidents in 2017. Identity Evropa and Patriot Front were responsible for the bulk of campus incidents. Heartland campuses with incidents included Washington University, Fontbonne University, Webster University, the University of Missouri, Missouri Southern State University and Truman State University.
Klan groups noticeably increased their propaganda efforts last year, ADL reports. In 2018, there were 97 incidents in which Klan fliers were left on doorsteps or driveways in neighborhoods, a 20 percent increase from the preceding four-year average of 77 annual incidents. At least 11 different Klan groups took part in leafleting efforts across the U.S.
The 2018 propaganda incidents were predominantly concentrated in large metropolitan areas, with the highest activity levels in California, Texas, Colorado, New York, Illinois, Florida and Virginia. But many smaller communities were targeted, too.
White supremacists continued to use banners to promote their message as well. In 2018, ADL counted 32 instances where white supremacist banners were hung in high-visibility locations such as highway overpasses. Patriot Front used banners the most in 2018, deploying them 21 times, ADL reports.
ADL’s Center on Extremism has gathered the 2018 data on ADL’s H.E.A.T. Map, an interactive online tool that allows users to geographically chart white supremacist incidents and events nationally and regionally. Visit https://tinyurl.com/ADL-racist-map.
