President Donald Trump’s administration’s constant discriminatory attacks on immigrants and non-whites opens the door for another hate group to vocalize their hatred.

This past Saturday, white nationalist group Identity Evropa draped a banner with the sentence, “Stop the Invasion, End Immigration.” Members of the group posted three photographs via the group’s official Twitter account. Posted in Fort Tyron Park—not far from a large multicultural immigrant community that includes people from the Dominican Republic, Central America, and Mexico—the image has made many sick to their stomach. Along with the images, they wrote on Twitter, “Identity Evropa will not stand by while we are replaced in the land of our forefathers—this country is ours!” 

Earlier during the day, self-proclaimed “Identity Evropa activists” spewed hate outside the Mexican Consulate, calling for the construction of a border wall and requesting an end to immigration, while repeatedly yelling “Make America Great Again,” Donald Trump’s presidential campaign slogan. 

The ignorant comments by Identity Evropa members demonstrates their lack of knowledge and history. As noted by ESENDOM, immigrants and people of color have made substantial contributions and are an integral part of the United States. 

Founded by racist, ex-felon, Nathan Benjamin Damigo, Identity Evropa is nothing more than an organized hate group. Damigo has been associated with white supremacist groups including American Freedom Party and National Youth Front. Reputable source Southern Poverty Law Center wrote a detailed article about Damigo and his questionable background. 

According to the Identity Evropa website, Identity Evropa’s “main objective is to create a better world for people of European heritage – particularly in America – by peacefully effecting cultural change.” In January, Trump asked, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Racist and discriminatory comments such as these fuel white nationalists, who are both protected and in some cases supported by the government.

Several individuals and organizations have warned their communities about Identity Evropa. In late July, the Croton-Harmon school district warned members in their community about fliers posted by the white-nationalist group. Unfortunately, the law seemingly protects hate groups. Although they were initially informed police officers would remove the fliers, the Croton Police Department sent an email to the community claiming they could not remove the fliers on the advice of legal counsel.

Unlike the Trump administration, several communities have come together to fight hate.

Shortly after hate groups organized at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville last summer, Trump failed to disavow white nationalist groups. However, there are many who do not support the president’s stance in protecting hate groups. In several New Jersey communities and other parts of the U.S., residents along with community leaders, have publicly decried hate groups such as Identity Evropa.

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