White supremacist stickers found posted outside Henrico County library
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Four stickers affiliated with the white supremacist group Patriot Front were discovered posted on light poles outside the North Park Branch of the Henrico County Public Library. The stickers, which were removed earlier today, have sparked concern and frustration within the community. The Anti-Defamation League classifies Patriot Front as a white nationalist organization, with ties to the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville. The group, which split from Vanguard America in 2017, uses such stickers and other forms of propaganda to spread its ideology, often targeting diverse and minority communities, per the ADL. The stickers found at the library featured various designs and messaging, but all conveyed the same extremist views associated with the Patriot Front. The placement of the stickers, situated on the four light poles closest to the library’s entrance, seemed deliberate, though the exact timing of their installation remains unclear. Patriot Front stickers posted on light poles outside the Henrico County Public Library. Photos by Sahara SriramanPatriot Front stickers posted on light poles outside the Henrico County Public Library. Photos by Sahara SriramanPatriot Front stickers posted on light poles outside the Henrico County Public Library. Photos by Sahara SriramanPatriot Front stickers posted on light poles outside the Henrico County Public Library. Photos by Sahara Sriraman Monica Hutchinson, President of the Henrico County NAACP, spoke out against the incident, describing the act as "an act of aggression" aimed at intimidating Black residents in the predominantly African American neighborhood surrounding the library. Hutchinson expressed frustration and anger but noted that such tactics are not new to the community. "I wish I could say I was shocked but I'm not," Hutchinson said. "I mean, this is an act of aggression, an act of intimidation towards Black residents. We know exactly what this is, this tactic isn't new." After 8News alerted the Henrico County Public Library about these stickers, the library called authorities about the stickers, and a police report for vandalism was filed. The stickers were removed and collected as evidence. At this time, no other reports of similar stickers have been reported elsewhere in the county, according to Henrico police. Community leaders, including Hutchinson, emphasized that the presence of such hate-driven messages would not deter their ongoing efforts for equality and social justice. "We're going to continue doing what we're doing, we're going to continue making progress, we're going to continue pushing forward because our kids need us to," Hutchinson emphasized. "If they want to sit in their hate, let 'em stew in it because we're going to continue pushing forward because we have to because our community depends on us continuing." The Henrico County Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident.
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HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Four stickers affiliated with the white supremacist group Patriot Front were discovered posted on light poles outside the North Park Branch of the Henrico County Public Library. The stickers, which were removed earlier today, have sparked concern and frustration within the community.
The Anti-Defamation League classifies Patriot Front as a white nationalist organization, with ties to the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville.
The group, which split from Vanguard America in 2017, uses such stickers and other forms of propaganda to spread its ideology, often targeting diverse and minority communities, per the ADL.
The stickers found at the library featured various designs and messaging, but all conveyed the same extremist views associated with the Patriot Front. The placement of the stickers, situated on the four light poles closest to the library’s entrance, seemed deliberate, though the exact timing of their installation remains unclear.
Patriot Front stickers posted on light poles outside the Henrico County Public Library. Photos by Sahara Sriraman
Patriot Front stickers posted on light poles outside the Henrico County Public Library. Photos by Sahara Sriraman
Patriot Front stickers posted on light poles outside the Henrico County Public Library. Photos by Sahara Sriraman
Patriot Front stickers posted on light poles outside the Henrico County Public Library. Photos by Sahara Sriraman
Monica Hutchinson, President of the Henrico County NAACP, spoke out against the incident, describing the act as "an act of aggression" aimed at intimidating Black residents in the predominantly African American neighborhood surrounding the library.
Hutchinson expressed frustration and anger but noted that such tactics are not new to the community.
"I wish I could say I was shocked but I'm not," Hutchinson said. "I mean, this is an act of aggression, an act of intimidation towards Black residents. We know exactly what this is, this tactic isn't new."
After 8News alerted the Henrico County Public Library about these stickers, the library called authorities about the stickers, and a police report for vandalism was filed. The stickers were removed and collected as evidence.
At this time, no other reports of similar stickers have been reported elsewhere in the county, according to Henrico police.
Community leaders, including Hutchinson, emphasized that the presence of such hate-driven messages would not deter their ongoing efforts for equality and social justice.
"We're going to continue doing what we're doing, we're going to continue making progress, we're going to continue pushing forward because our kids need us to," Hutchinson emphasized. "If they want to sit in their hate, let 'em stew in it because we're going to continue pushing forward because we have to because our community depends on us continuing."
The Henrico County Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident.
