Neo-Nazi fliers find their way to homes

The fliers state that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks happened because of "an alliance with Israel.''

By MELIA BOWIE

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 2, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Some St. Petersburg residents, including a former city mayor, woke up Monday to find fliers from a neo-Nazi group on their lawns, in mailboxes or doors.

The fliers from the National Alliance, one of which states "the Jewish cause is not the American cause" and attributes the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to "an alliance with Israel," were discovered encased in clear plastic bags predominantly at homes in the Old Northeast area of the city.

The second page exhorts people to "take back our country" from "corrupt politicians, and minority special-interest groups" in order to secure the future for white children.

Residents in the North Shore area said it was unclear why some neighbors received the pages, which appeared in the early morning hours, while others did not.

"How did they know I wasn't Arabic or Jewish?" questioned Leigh Wallace, who found the propaganda on her mailbox where she said it must have been left between 8:30 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday.

Random distribution of such writings is typical of the National Alliance, said an antihate group spokesman who noted the organization is one of the most active in the United States and has a history of violence. Its leader authored The Turner Diaries, said to be a favorite of Timothy McVeigh before the Oklahoma City bombing.

The National Alliance has "somewhat increased their membership and activity in the Tampa Bay area in the last couple of years," said Art Teitelbaum, southern area director for the Anti-Defamation League. He added that circulating fliers is "a crude effort to gain publicity and sway public opinion toward their views."

Police said Monday afternoon they were unaware of the fliers and received no calls about them.

Congregation B'nai Israel said at least one of its members faxed the synagogue a copy when it was discovered.

Former Mayor Bob Ulrich said the missives, which showed up on his door stating "it's time to ... stay out of Middle Eastern affairs" is akin to an ostrich hiding its head in the sand.

"I wouldn't give it any credibility whatsoever," he said.

Calls to a phone number listed on one of the fliers are routed to a two-minute, recorded message by the organization's leader. Callers are instructed to leave their name and address so that members from a local affiliate can contact them.

Teitelbaum said the neo-Nazi group has long been monitored by authorities. He added, "I don't think people should be panicked in any way, but they should be prudent."

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