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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhite nationalism on rise in California as Bay Area girds for rallies next weekend
OAKDALE As the Central Valleys flatlands give way to the rolling hills of California horse country, this quiet city that calls itself the Cowboy Capital of the World and features weekly rodeos seems but a blip on Highway 120, halfway between San Francisco and Yosemite National Park.
But Oakdale, a city of about 22,000 people in Stanislaus County, is facing a new and frightening renown: A few miles from downtown, Nathan Damigo, one of the most prominent new white nationalist leaders in America, runs a group that helped organize last weekends bloody rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
From a five-acre compound on a winding road along the Stanislaus River, Damigo, a 31-year-old former Marine and ex-con, has launched Identity Evropa, which experts say is a growing hate group recruiting young people and college students. He also attends California State University, Stanislaus, in nearby Turlock, where students say hes agitated on racial issues.
Ultra-blue California may seem to be the last place youd find right-wing extremist groups like Damigos. But experts say the Golden State is becoming a center of white nationalist activism, with more active hate groups than any other state.
This is not getting better. It is getting worse, said Brian Levin, a San Bernardino State University professor who studies extremist groups. So many people are amped up. They are now emboldened.
Oakdale residents interviewed this past week said they knew little about Damigo, who attended Liberty Baptist High School in San Jose, but they didnt express surprise that the white nationalist movement had a presence in Oakdale, where Donald Trump won all five of the citys precincts in November.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/08/19/white-nationalism-on-rise-in-california-as-bay-area-girds-for-rallies-next-weekend/
BigmanPigman
(51,593 posts)and anything else that is safe but ridicules them. The guy blowing the tuba was classic. Same with the guy dressed up in full clown costume. When THEY confronted me I smiled and waved my flag and gave them the "peace" sign. Maybe next time I will bring bubbles to blow at them while wearing my American flag cape. The Proud Boys like to be ridiculous with their BS get ups and play military soldiers so we can play it our way and make them look silly (I mean sillier).
SunSeeker
(51,557 posts)I imagine Silicon Valley is lousy with gamergate types.
CA's jobs, beauty and great weather attracts everybody, including the Reich wing.
rpannier
(24,329 posts)Not like they haven't been in CA for many years
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)that they have the highest number of hate groups.
The only relevant figure would be what percent of the population was in a hate group.
Hieronymus
(6,039 posts)especially Orange County and San Diego.
Initech
(100,076 posts)Who has been known by the nickname of Putin's favorite Congressman.
Hieronymus
(6,039 posts)Rohrabacher is nuts.
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)Jeff Denham is their Rep and he's been stuck there like a bug. I guess they like him.