One of two postcards appear to mock next week’s UI LGBTQA event
A pair of racist postcards appearing to mock a coming University of Idaho LGBTQA-hosted event and comparing the UI to Moscow, Russia, in 1912 were reportedly delivered this past week to 500 people or doorsteps in Moscow.
UI LGBTQA Director Julia Keleher and Moscow Police Department Capt. Will Krasselt said they had not heard of or seen the postcards, however, the Daily News was alerted to the postcards by Steven Simmons, a Moscow Human Rights Commission member.
After being provided copies of the postcards Monday, Keleher said she forwarded the documents to the appropriate UI officials, but she declined to comment further other than writing in an email that the UI “is an inclusive campus that welcomes the exchange of ideas, while being respectful and considerate of others.”
One postcard provides details of Safe Zone Training scheduled for Monday at the Bruce M. Pitman Center on the UI campus. The program promotes the understanding and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual and ally people on campuses across the country, according to the UI website. The two-hour training will provide information on sexual orientation and gender identity and suggestions and best practices for creating inclusive spaces for all LGBTQA people on campus.
Below the event details, the postcard appears to mock Monday’s program. The postcard starts with, “…where mental illness will manifest as political and social progressivism. Be conditioned to confabulate your fictional recollections of victimhood and be eligible to win an authorized POTUS DJT MAGA hat signed by Jussie Smollett or come in blackface to receive one of many EBT cards abused by Rachel Dolezal … Participate in hate hoaxing breakout sessions; rope for every participant … and much more!!”
The other side of the postcard shows a man scratching his head with a thought bubble saying, “IS IT POSSIBLE TO DIE FROM IRONY?”
In front of the man are people holding various signs, reading “DEATHCAMPS 4 ALL FASCISTS,” “EQUALITY! DEATH TO WHITES!” and “SHOOT ALL SECOND AMENDMENT ADVOCATES ON SIGHT!!!”
An individual posted on www.infowarsarmy.com that 500 postcards were delivered in Moscow “for the U of I mocking.”
Simmons said he received both postcards Friday at his West A Street residence.
“Personally, it made my heart sink,” Simmons said.
He said he thought about posting photos of the postcards to his Facebook page but ultimately decided against it.
“Then I thought I have trans friends and there’s some transphobic stuff on here. There’s racist stuff on here,” Simmons said. “These are not images that I want to reproduce.”
He said he believes whoever handed the postcards out simply want to elicit a reaction out of others.
“I think it’s important that people know that there’s people out here who think like this,” he said. “I also almost don’t want to give them any more attention than they already get.”
He said most Moscow residents do not share the thoughts described in the postcards but “all it takes is a small handful of people to make life miserable for vulnerable people.”
According to the Spokesman Review, similar postcards and flyers were distributed at North Idaho College and at least one nearby neighborhood in Coeur d’Alene, with some materials targeting the college’s fourth annual Diversity Symposium, happening today.
