The 3-2 vote on the anti-hate measure was a disgrace. Blaming SLO County Political Tribalism

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The haters were back on Wednesday, a day after political tribalism prevented the County Board of Supervisors from passing a unanimous resolution condemning white supremacists and their heinous message of hate.

Well-timed, someone plastered a Paso Robles neighborhood with fliers riddled with anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ bigotry so toxic that local police want to know who did it. Some recipients of the plastic-wrapped stink bombs live across from an elementary school.

Local activists, many of whom recently counter-protested against masked white pride provocateurs on the Vineyard Drive freeway overpass in Templeton, swung into action again in Paso Robles via a quick-response chainmail launched after the first incident on the bridge.

Neighbors sad and upset over toxic flyers

A friend of mine who lives in this neighborhood said some of the homes in her neighborhood had received the driveways and gates flyer, a note writer said. She was very upset because they lived right across from Kermit King Elementary. The police have been notified and an investigation is currently underway. I understand they are still collecting evidence from cameras, said the writer, whose name I have omitted for privacy reasons.

She also said that her neighbors were very upset and sad. There are families that received the flyers that have LGBTQ family members and there are Jewish families in his neighborhood. An elderly neighbor came to her door in tears yesterday and looked sad and scared, according to the note.

That’s exactly what the hatemongers on the bridge and now in Paso Robles want: to make us sad and scared. As a rule, these cowards want to draw attention to their evil, but are too ashamed to come out from behind their masks and veils of secrecy to own it.

Which makes the Oversight Board’s 3-2 vote to condemn hate all the more shameful.

What is it to foment hatred and malice in the community that supervisors John Pesching and Debbie Arnold cannot despise?

The story continues

Downplaying the very real, very bad things going on in North County is not a good idea. Do they understand the signal they have sent, that racist, anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ provocateurs will not be condemned here at least by Peschong, Arnold and their supporters?

Peschong and Arnold were unwilling to identify Templeton as the location of the original provocations, but this bridge is known to anyone who has driven over or under it over the past two years as a platform for far-right activists waving flags MAGA, Gadsden flags, elections. – signs of refusal and others.

Peschong denies that radicalism is a problem here: (T)it’s not who we are, he said at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Why Choose the Vineyard Drive Bridge?

Sure, but why did the masked white supremacists choose this bridge, of all places in SLO County, to do their stunts on? How did they know to go to that bridge, that they could find comfort there?

These vile provocations may not be who we are. But, for some reason, our district of North County Peschongs is apparently viewed by racists and fanatics as a safe space to defame, scapegoat, and dehumanize certain segments of our community.

The lame excuses notwithstanding, it almost seems that Arnold and Peschong voted against the anti-hate resolution because the three so-called liberal board members voted in favor. As if Peschong and Arnold should appease the who in who we are.

The rationalization, glorification and minimization of hate are not bipartisan. The tribal asymmetry is anchored on the far right of the aisle.

This episode comes days before Paso Robles celebrates Juneteenth, intended to foster unity and cultural sharing, to mark the achievements of the black community, to come together in peace, love and camaraderie.

If Peschong and Arnold think showing up for Juneteenth will buy redemption, they must know that this county has a long memory. Their message of tolerance towards racists, anti-Semites and haters intentional or not has been delivered.

Most of us in SLO County don’t. We will not be lowered to their level.

Tom Fulks is a longtime local political columnist and campaign consultant. He recently advised the Bruce Gibson Supervisors campaign for District 2.

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