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Evergreen State College

One day after administrators cancelled classes at Evergreen State College following threats to campus safety, Atomwaffen Division, a neo-Nazi group, posted a video of members descending onto the Olympia campus at night to post racist flyers on school buildings. Some of the posters read "BLACK LIVES DON'T MATTER" while others sought to recruit members. The neo-Nazi group is recognized by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an active hate organization.

"At Evergreen, campus safety is our number-one priority," Zach Powers, Evergreen's communications and public relations manager, wrote in an e-mail. "Law enforcement is reviewing online activity related to recent events on campus." When asked whether administrators would notify students and staff if neo-Nazis came on campus, he added, "If law enforcement identifies a credible threat the college will act immediately to ensure the safety of everyone on campus."

Neo-Nazi flyers are appearing all across Seattle. This one was posted at the University of Washington.
Neo-Nazi flyers are appearing all across Seattle. This one was posted at the University of Washington. Courtesy of Tamsen Glaser

The flyering comes on the heels of national coverage of the Olympia college in late May when protests erupted over a biology instructor's criticisms of a student action inviting white students to leave campus for ‘A Day of Absence’ equity workshop. Groups of student activists led demonstrations calling on college administrators to implement equity initiatives to address longstanding issues of racism, sexism, and transphobia on campus. Videos from the demonstrations, including footage of students confronting Weinstein, were widely publicized and scrutinized—thanks, at least in part, to outlets such as Fox News, Breitbart, Heat Street, and the New York Times.

Neo-Nazi propaganda is becoming a common sight in the Puget Sound area. Posters and bumper stickers have been plastered on theatres, lampposts, car2gos, Bellevue Community College, and University of Washington.

Have you seen hateful messages at your school or in your neighborhood? Report them to The Stranger as part of the Documenting Hate project.