November 13, 2000 For Immediate Release
Hate Group Targets Onteora School District
S.T.A.N.D. (Support Tolerance and Nurture Diversity) recently received copies of virulently anti-Semitic internet material asking for support by racist white nationalists for the effort to restore the "Indian" mascot to the Onteora Central School District. The material appeared on the white nationalist Final Conflict web site in August, shortly before the Onteora Board of Education moved to rescind its policy against racial stereotypes.
The use of 'we' and 'our' in the August 25th Final Conflict piece suggests that the writer (supported by the Final Conflict editor) has local connections to a group advocating the use of native based mascots. This coincides with a series of attacks on tires and other personal property of people working to remove racial stereotypes from the schools. We therefore ask that the Ulster County District Attorney begin an immediate investigation into the existence and operation of any hate groups in our county.
Shortly after the publication of the article in Final Conflict, Board President Martin Millman received a supportive letter from a Final Conflict reader. When initially asked about such correspondence, Mr. Millman denied its existence. Several hours later, Millman faxed a copy of the support letter to attorney Charles Yow. The full Board of Education was never told of the correspondence from Final Conflict supporters. Mr. Millman never publicly repudiated or rejected the support offered by the hate group.
S.T.A.N.D. calls on all members of the community to renounce and repudiate these racists and their message of hate. Members of the community organization believe that a failure to reject the support of racists is tantamount to aligning with them.
While this material specifically concerning the Onteora district is quite offensive, other viewpoints expressed in the Final Conflict magazine are even more extremist, and promote hatred of Jews, blacks, and other groups. Final Conflict is allied with the "International Third Position" movement (ITP), which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as "a mix of 'left' and 'right' ideas with strong neo-fascist overtones." The posting of the letter and article was traced to an Aryan Nation server in England.
Following is the letter sent to Millman, as received by Charles Yow (including misspelled word)
8 September, 2000
Dr. Martin Millman Onteora Central School District
4166 Route 28
Boiceville, NY 12412Dear Dr. Millman:
Upon learning recently of the unconscienable, and far too common, injustice to which you, Dr. Rowe, the school board, the administration, and of course the good residents of your district are being subjected, I want to inform you, for what it may be worth, that I am, as are many other decent men and women world-wide, now aware of the purposeful suffering and humiliation which is being inflicted upon you. (We were appraised of your plight through the daily News Email 'Final Conflict', (e-mail address: finalconflict@dial.pipex.com, website: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/finalconflict/)).
Although not a resident of NY State, and unable to offer anything more than moral and spiritual support, I urge sir, to please stand fast and do not compromise with nor capitulate to the would-be destroyers of your district's, and the region's traditions, solidarity, and peace-of-mind.
Good Luck and Godspeed to you in your struggle.
A Concerned Patriot