Fliers Identify Alleged Neighborhood White Supremacists
DENVER (CBS4) - Ominous fliers are being distributed throughout an area of East Denver.
Tucked onto car windshields were warnings fliers that read, "Community Notice … White supremacists live in this neighborhood … Please be aware and stay safe."
The fliers are written in English and Spanish. CBS4 made the decision not to show the faces on the fliers because no crime has been committed and those pictured say they have received threats.
CBS4's Rick Sallinger spoke with a woman of Hispanic heritage who received one the fliers.
"If someone comes in our house, I don't know if he would like it or not," she said. "But the thing is, I will be prepared for this."
The pictures of the men also appear on Facebook. Sallinger was invited into the home of those on the flier. He asked one if he is a white supremacist. He said he does not discuss his politics, but on his arm is a tattoo of what appears to be swastika.
Outside the house was a sign saying "Skinheads at Play." The men say a friend of theirs was attacked and other threats have been made. They added they do work to help the homeless.
The Anti-Defamation League is familiar with the men on the flier. Scott Levin is the regional director.
"There are some individuals that who appeared on the flier that are members of the Hammerskins group -- a white supremacist group." Levin said. "People are entitled to their beliefs; unfortunately, some of those are very ugly beliefs."
Levin said some people have become emboldened since the election. He said they are part of a loose conglomeration of people -- some of whom have racist and anti-Semitic beliefs.
There is no name of who put out the flier.
First Amendment attorney Steve Zansberg says it would be libelous under certain conditions.
"Saying someone is a white supremacist may well be deemed defamatory if it lowers someone's reputation, but it also has to be false," Zansberg said.
A woman who received a flier feels the election has triggered acts of hate.
Denver Police told CBS4 it was aware of the fliers, but have not taken any action because no law has been broken.
CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.
