Current Affairs

Gay politician receives Ku Klux Klan threats saying: ‘We know where you live, faggot’

Sep 01 2017
Written by Josh Jackman

An out gay politician has received letters threatening that the Ku Klux Klan “know where you live faggot”.

James Schneider, who’s running for office in Cape Coral, Florida, said his partner found the first letter just outside their front door on Saturday.

The disturbing message, sent just weeks after white supremacists killed activist Heather Heyer during a march in Charlottesville, Virginia, read: “We know where you live faggot…

“We are going to win…

“Quit now.”

Underneath a drawing of a Klansman pointing at the reader, the letter continued: “When you girls least expect it, we will be here for a nice visit.”

Schneider, a prospective city councilman, said the terrifying message deeply affected him.

“I didn’t know what to do with that, he told NBC.

“I was spooked by it immediately. It really shakes you to the core.”

The incident is being investigated by the Cape Coral Police Department, NBC News has reported.

“The incident to which you are referring, involving a flyer placed on a resident’s door, is an active/open investigation,” a spokesperson told the publication.

“As such, I won’t be able to get into detail at this time.”

The Southern Poverty Law Centre, which tracks hate groups across the US, has Cape Coral marked as an area in which the KKK is still active.

But the police spokesperson said that the SPLC “is listing Cape Coral only because a subject that listed they lived in Cape Coral on the KKK’s website was selling KKK memorabilia online last year.”

The spokesperson added: “In this incident, the only connection to the KKK thus far is unverified claims of affiliation by the flyer’s author.

“We have not had any significant incidents of organised hate groups committing criminal activity in Cape Coral.”

Schneider said he “almost quit” after receiving the threatening letter.

But he pledged to carry on campaigning after news of the letter provoked loads of messages of support from his followers.

“We are shaken but not beaten,” Schneider wrote on Facebook.

“Thank you so much for those who have huddled around us at this time.

“We live in a messed-up country,” he added.