KKK invitations, jelly beans left on Gresham, Oregon doorsteps

[L. Coyote]

Imagine going out for the morning paper and finding a Klan invite. You'd definitely wonder if you are in the wrong hood!

KKK invitations, jelly beans left on Gresham doorsteps
Associated Press and KGW Staff November 10, 2015

GRESHAM, Ore. (AP) -- Residents in parts of Gresham say they received invitations to join the Ku Klux Klan on their doorsteps last week.

The invitations came with a plastic bag full of root-beer flavored jelly beans. They included a list of the group's goals, its website and the address of its national headquarters.

"It was disgusting," said neighbor, Riley Lewis, who found a flyer in front of his house.

"I'm sorry that's still going around and obviously we don't participate or believe in any of their beliefs," Lewis said. "It was about the KKK and how they wanted to cut back on illegal immigration, white supremacy, yippee, it was disgusting."

Gresham police spokesman John Rasmussen tells Oregon Public Broadcasting that officers don't believe the letters are a hoax because they were delivered over such a large area. ................

[CentralMass]

1. Wow, that is unfathomable. I've been in Oregon about a year Still trying to make sense of the place.

[Midnight Writer]

2. Similar event in my Illinois town a few years ago

This was from the Matt Hale group called, if I remember correctly, The Church of the Creator.

Thousands of households woke up to a pamphlet left on their porches, with racist and anti-semitic rants mixed with Biblical quotes and invitations to attend a revival or just donate money. They were also going door to door wearing suits and politely handing out literature and asking for donations.

Imagine my reaction when I stopped by my 90 year old father's home. He had a stack of racist literature on the table near his front door. He told me that they had been left by a couple of very polite young religious men and that he had a very pleasant visit with them and gave them a $20 donation. He hadn't even looked at the stuff, assuming it was just the usual religious pamphlets (although he is not at all religious, he often gives a few bucks to Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter Day Saints who visit him and leave literature). He was mortified when I opened one up and showed him a racist cartoon inside. I told him it was from a White Supremist group in the area. He was scared to death that these maniacs would come back, but they never did.

Matt Hale is currently in jail for conspiracy to commit murder (I believe he put out a hit on a judge, and someone in her family was killed. Don't quote me on this, I only vaguely remember).

[ProfessorGAC]

4. You're Correct About Hale

He's in jail for the reason you stated.

I live in IL too. We had a neo-nazi group show up in town for a rally. Their "leader" apparently stopped in to do some fishing in the river. He went to a local bar and must have struck up a conversation with a couple of our local knuckledraggers. Must have left there thinking he had found "his kind of town".

So, they hold this street rally, and about 500 local people showed up and simply marched in a circle right in front of this group carrying "go home" and "not in this town" type signs. Nobody could see them, nobody could hear them. Totally peaceful.

Their 3 hour rally lasted 40 minutes and they packed up, tucked their tail between their legs, and headed to where they belonged. (Under a rock, i suppose.)

[davidpdx]

3. I believe this isn't the first time this has been reported in the news in Oregon

It's been going on for a few years. I remember not too long ago seeing a similar article.

On the jellybeans, I would hope people would have enough sense to throw out anything put on their door step that is edible. It could be laced with a number of different things that could make one ill or kill them.