White supremacists keep showing up in SLO County. Now they have a name
A group of white supremacists in San Luis Obispo County has given itself a name: the California Blackshirts.
The group appears to be made up of the same masked men who were first seen holding an “Embrace white pride” banner on the Vineyard Drive overpass in Templeton in April, before later displaying other banners in Paso Robles and more recently in San Luis Obispo.
In each case, the members stake out a high-profile overpass or street corner to display their banner, sometimes engaging with passers-by.
In their most recent appearance, the men held a banner that read “White men unite” with Nordic runes associated with Nazis and white supremacists. They showed up briefly in both San Luis Obispo and Atascadero.
On Saturday, the group also distributed bags holding fliers on South Street in San Luis Obispo.
“Live with pride, die with honor,” the flier said, while touting the group’s Telegram page.
During Pride Month in June, two similarly anonymous men unfurled a sign that read “Pedophiles not welcome” on a overpass in San Luis Obispo. “Pedophiles” was written in rainbow colors.
Who are the California Blackshirts?
The name “blackshirts” seems to be a reference to Italian fascists during World War II.
Members of the Voluntary Fascist Militia for National Security went by that moniker under Italian authoritarian dictator Benito Mussolini, according to Brittanica.
In their mission statement posted on Telegram, the California Blackshirts describe themselves as “pro-white activists who advocate for the well-being of white Americans.”
Their aim is to continue displaying banners, fliers, “digital propaganda and all other legally protected methods of activism,” the mission statement said.
The group’s Telegram chat was created on June 29, about two months after the first demonstrations in Templeton. It has since grown to 58 subscribers.
As to who the men are and whether they live here, that remains a mystery, as they always wear masks and sunglasses to fully obscure their faces.
The Tribune reached out to the group for an interview, and they agreed — at first.
But they then quickly reversed course when the reporter asked to meet in-person, calling the journalist several anti-Semitic slurs.
Community members have snapped photos of the men unmasked after one of the Templeton demonstrations, and at least one of the men involved in that demonstration drives a 2000 Toyota Camry LE.
SLO County leaders call out banner displays
Several city and county leaders have condemned the hate speech since its inception.
San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart addressed the group’s racist demonstrations on social media.
“In San Luis Obispo, we believe in the power of unity, acceptance, and love. Our vision is a city that is welcoming, inclusive, and safe for all,” Stewart wrote in an Instagram post accompanied by a video. “We stand firmly against racism, bigotry, and discrimination of any kind.”
San Luis Obispo City Council member Emily Francis also denounced the men’s beliefs on social media.
“I’m heartbroken that ignorant, cowardly people have come to our community to spread hate. This is the time for us to make sure our neighbors and loved ones know that we stand together and will not normalize extremism,” she said in an Instagram post.
Earlier this month, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors also passed a resolution denouncing the racism, bigotry and hate speech in response to the group’s demonstrations.
Community members also held a Rally Against Hate event at the Templeton overpass in response to the men.
If you have any news tips about this group or the members in it, please contact Tribune reporter Chloe Jones at cjones@thetribunenews.com.
