Incidents of white supremacist propaganda in Massachusetts this year have already sured last year's numbers, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
More than three dozen incidents — such as fliers, posters and stickers that contain white supremacist messages or promote known white supremacist organizations — were reported by the ADL so far in 2019.
In all of last year, 34 incidents were reported. In 2017, it was only ten.
Robert Trestan of ADL New England credits the increase to an active chapter of a white supremacist organization in Massachusetts. He said the propaganda is meant to recruit people and insert certain ideas into the mainstream.
“The danger is that people become immune and numb to daily hate, and that's a dangerous outcome,” he said. “We don't want to live in a country, or in a city, or a community where everyone is immune to hate, and we're suddenly bombarded with it every day.”
Trestan said when these incidents occur, public officials should promptly condemn them.
“You have a responsibility to set the tone and set the moral com for your community,” he said.
The ADL numbers include propaganda found both on and off college campuses.
