Donald Trump-supporting white nationalists are planning a national effort to suppress black votes on Election Day by giving out 40s and weed, reportedPolitico. The groups involved in the effort include Neo-Nazi leader Andrew Anglin, Ku Klux Klan factions, the National Socialist Movement, and the white nationalist American Freedom Party. Last month, Trump was endorsed by the official KKK newspaper.
According to the report ,white nationalists will monitor polling places by either setting up cameras, like Alt-right website The Right Stuff has discussed, or by having people undercover keep a watchful eye on polling places. Militia group the Oath Keepers (made up of current/former law enforcement and military members) is reportedly advocating the undercover tactic to its members.
“We also have some teams going in to the ghettos in Philly with 40s and weed to give out to the local residents, which we think will lead to more of them staying home. We have had success with this in the past,” wrote the representative of TheRightStuff.biz.
The voter suppression could lead to violence, said Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center: “The possibility of violence on or around Election Day is very real. Donald Trump has been telling his supporters for weeks and weeks and weeks now that they are about to have the election stolen from them by evil forces on behalf of the elites.” Other indicators of possible violence include a black Mississippi church being burned and vandalized with the words “Vote Trump” on Tuesday night.
Alternatively, Potok said the voter suppression could have a reverse effect, saying: “If on the morning of Election Day it turns out that we have white supremacists standing around looking threatening at polling places, I think it would arouse anger. People would vote just to prove they’re not being intimidated by these radical racists.”
Trump has repeatedly said the election is going to be “rigged” seemingly convincing many. A recent poll found 41 percent of all registered voters thought the election would be “stolen” from Trump.
