Neo-Nazi vandalism in Kernville shocks residents


Published on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 8:02 AM PST

Cathy Perfect
Kern Valley Sun

Linda Block of Kernville made a gut-wrenching discovery as she entered Kernville on her way home Saturday night from Bakerfield, where she and a group of friends had attended a showing of “The Laramie Project,” the chilling, true story of Matthew Shepard who was brutally beaten and tied to a fence in Laramie, Wyo. in 1998, and left to die alone simply because he was gay.

A vacant building in the 11000 block of Kernville Road, the Kern Valley Museum, the “Welcome to Kernville” sign as well as various community groups’ signs were defaced with Neo-Nazi graffiti that had been spray painted on them.

(Use arrows above to view more photos)

“I was upset to begin with,” Block said commenting on the play, “but then to see signs and buildings defaced (with swastikas and ‘N___ go home’) in Kernville. It’s just more hate.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Montgomery, Ala., counted 888 active hate groups in the United States in 2007, including 80 in California - the highest number in the country. Nearer to home, the Aryan Militia, in Bakersfield, consists of various Neo-Nazi chapters such as American National Socialist Workers' Party, American Thule Society, Aryan Nations Youth Action Corps, and White Revolution. In Porterville, a Racist Skinhead chapter, Skinheads of the Rahowa, is active, as well.

The Southern Poverty Law Center was founded in 1971 as a small civil rights law firm. Today, SPLC is internationally known for its tolerance education programs, its legal victories against white supremacists and its tracking of hate groups. For more information visit the organization’s website at www.splcenter.org.

Comments

15 comment(s)

    Peg wrote on Dec 10, 2008 9:22 AM:

    " Barbara said...If the "gays" would just stop trying to push their "agenda" down peoples throats, they would be considerably more comfortable in this community. "

    You anti gay people aren't pushing your "normalaliy" down our throats? Why can't you just live the way that works for you and let others make their own choices...why do they have to live the way YOU think is right? Diversity is the backbone of this country. Why is gays in quotes anyway? "

    Rod Rowland wrote on Dec 8, 2008 9:34 AM:

    " Here's a thought ladies.... My grandmother was a guest of the Nazi camp, 'Sobibor'. She survived and lived to tell the horrors there-in. What I learned from my grandmother was tolerance of all people, religions and cultures. In the end, we're all the same; good, bad or indifferent. There is no 'normal' or 'right'. Only thing that matters is how we choose to live our lives and how we govern our actions. "

    bonnie wrote on Dec 5, 2008 7:38 PM:

    " This was nothing more than kids doing what kids do., shock appeal and impact .. sound familiar girls? Its meaningless and is as much a reminder of history as anything else. Next to whats ahead of us in this country, the Nazis may be welcomed. After all, they never killed as a nation 50 million unborn - whatever "

    Weekender wrote on Dec 4, 2008 6:03 PM:

    " No Peg, I'm not sure that we're on the "same side". I think that the moral decay in the valley is closely linked to drugs, the tolerance of drugs, and the manufacture of drugs. There's a subculture that believes that there's no harm done by drugs, and they are the ones that raise little neo-nazi's. These are "visitors", these are full time residents. "

    Julie wrote on Dec 4, 2008 12:14 PM:

    " Judge not lest ye be judged. We all get it in the end. "

    thinker wrote on Dec 3, 2008 12:39 PM:

    " Barbara

    You sure are telling us a lot about yourself...and it isn't pretty.With your twisted "logic", it is legal in some countries to beat ones wife, female castration without pain control among other barbaric practices. If you like the idea of living with those ideals, why don't you move to one of those countries? I'm sure you could find a husband who would treat you the good ol tradition way...... "

    Barbara wrote on Dec 3, 2008 11:34 AM:

    " Peg:
    I am not the one who has "societal difficulties"...I am one who is considered "normal" by the majority of society throughout the world. If "gays" want "parity" in this world, then stop trying to convert society to your way of thinking. "It" still is called "deviant" by the majority of the world population, and crimes committed in this catagory are still prosecuted by law enforcement. If the "gays" would just stop trying to push their "agenda" down peoples throats, they would be considerably more comfortable in this community. "

    Peg wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:09 AM:

    " weekender, your last post clearly display's your intolerance of people who may have societal difficulties and places you above others.You'd be surprised to find that this movement is not all about a lower class of people. I have a firm grip, we're on the same side re this topic of neo-nazism but there's no call to generalize and insult, is there? People stop listening when it gets insulting and emotional...keep your grip! "

    Peg wrote on Nov 27, 2008 10:47 AM:

    " "NORMAL"? What's that, Barbara? Living the way YOU think people should is normal? Guess what, homosexuality IS normal for a homosexual. And...if you think the Sun stinks, why do you bother spending time reading it and commenting on line? There are other papers you can read. "

    Weekender wrote on Nov 26, 2008 5:44 PM:

    " Oh good God, these are the spawn of meth-labbers who think that people with education and teeth should be ridiculed. Get a grip. These weren't VISITORS. "

    Julie wrote on Nov 26, 2008 12:13 PM:

    " The children I speak of are in their 40's - 50's now. . . . And they pass it down to those in their 20's and 30's.
    No matter.
    Hate is hate and those that practice and preach it suffer all the more. "

    Barbara wrote on Nov 21, 2008 12:26 PM:

    " I am amazed the "so-called" journalists who write for this newspaper, fail to see the simularity between the article about the "Laramie Project" and this "previously never happened before event" in Kern River Valley.

    This is a thinly veiled attempt to hype the agenda of the homosexuals in this community; with this graffiti, now the normal people in this valley are seemed to be "in-tolerant" just as many normal people are labeled these days when they protest deviant behavior as abnormal & criminal! You stink Kern Valley Sun and your agenda is transparent. "

    Peg wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:40 AM:

    " Of course we will not accept this behavior in our valley but don't blame the parents; it could or could not be their teachings. This was obviously done by kids because there is no responsible adult who would do such a thing and, the kids probably don't even know what it really means. My bet is that it was a "visitor".... "

    Weekender wrote on Nov 20, 2008 4:28 PM:

    " We don't need this sort of activity around here. Neo-nazi's are little more than a gang. Find them, turn them in, and jail them. "

    Julie wrote on Nov 20, 2008 9:45 AM:

    " This is not acceptable and most likely the result of children born to individuals who actually GREW UP WITH THIS ATROCIOUSNESS until 1964 when it was discovered that HeY!!! THESE people ARE HUMAN BEINGS...there's something wrong with US, not THEM. But, alas, could not let it go and grow with it. PEOPLE!!!! Raise your children in TODAYS STANDARDS. I am embarrassed for you. Your children will never know TRUE freedom no matter what color their skin happens to be. . . and will never know TRUE love of SELF. "

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