He’s definitely trying to make a statement. Not the way to protest masks.
In Santee, California, a Vons supermarket customer donned a Ku Klux Klan hood after the county ordered the public to wear protective masks against COVID-19.
Suraj Lakhani
The latest Tweets from Suraj Lakhani (@surajlakhani). Academic @sussexsociology @SussexUni | Researching all things terrorism, incl. radicalisation, online extremism, Prevent Strategy and Prevent duty
However, Santee Mayor John Minto was quick to appear on air and make it clear that this kind of behavior wouldn’t be tolerated. He was joined by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department and the Anti-Defamation League, along with a representative from the Vons store where the incident took place.
At the time of the incident, a Vons supervisor asked the customer (who was in the checkout line) to remove the Klan hood or leave at once. Other customers took photos of the shopper and circulated them on social media. No one else approached the shopper in the Klan hood.
Tammy Gillies on Twitter
Thank you to @CityofSantee Mayor Minto, Supervisor @dianne_jacob @vons for your strong response to this act of hate. One year after the tragic synagogue shooting in @Poway we must ALL continue to stand up together against hate in our community and in our world.
Santee has a history of white supremacism, lending the city the nickname “Klantee.” The fact that no one said anything could be attributable to the fact that shoppers were shocked but not surprised. It could also be because in a time of uncertainty and rising tensions, fear might keep others away from approaching a man openly wearing a symbol of hate.
As a former leader of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement, Jeff Schoep understands that fear is a key motivator behind extremist propaganda:
Jeff Schoep
The latest Tweets from Jeff Schoep (@SchoepJeff). *Former NSM National Ldr* Peace Advocate * Former Nazi speaking out against extremism *Motivational Speaker* Civil/Human Rights Advocate* CVE Consultant *RT≠E *. Detroit, MI