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Welp, the saga of The Folks of Enid vs. The White Supremacist They Put in Workplace has lastly come to an finish as Enid, Oklahoma, voters have efficiently recalled metropolis council member Judd Blevins, the politician who as soon as served as a tiki torch-wielding chief of neo-Nazi group Identification Evropa, who was photographed whereas taking part in 2017’s lethal Unite the Proper rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
In keeping with NBC Information, Blevins misplaced his seat on Enid’s six-member Metropolis Council by 268 votes after practically 1,400 individuals confirmed as much as vote, which is a whole lot greater than those that voted within the unique election. (Enid is a extremely, reeeeally small city, but, by some means, phrase of Blevins’ neo-Nazi ties was sluggish to get round.)
As we beforehand reported, Blevins ran a profitable marketing campaign as a conservative veteran who adheres to “conservative Christian values” and acquired himself elected to town council final 12 months. This occurred simply after two Enid residents, Connie Vickers and her pal, Nancy Presnall, blew Blevin’s spot up with a blown-up picture of him on the Unite the Proper rally, leading to an article within the native paper outing him as a once-active chief of Identification Evropa, which “praised Nazis, denigrated racial minorities and professed the prevalence of white individuals,” based on NBC.
However Blevins’ Klan-destine exercise turned broadly recognized someday after he was elected, which apparently led to in-fighting between Enid residents who nonetheless supported him and people who wished him out. In reality, the Republican who will substitute him on the council, Cheryl Patterson, mentioned she’s pleased and hoping for a return to “normalcy” in Enid now that the recall vote is over.
“I feel the residents of Enid know who I’m, as a result of I’ve been right here for 40 years and been actually concerned in the neighborhood,” Patterson mentioned earlier than the votes had been in, including that she was wanting ahead to “a convincing message that Enid is a good place to be.”
“Enid just isn’t a city that promotes white nationalism or white supremacy in any manner,” she continued. “And the individuals are good. And I’m hoping that the outcomes of the election will present that.”
One may surprise how a white nationalist acquired elected within the first place if its not promoted within the metropolis “in any manner,” however, once more, those that voted in opposition to him say they merely didn’t know.
From NBC:
Most individuals in Enid will let you know they didn’t hear a lot concerning the allegations in opposition to Blevins till after he was elected final 12 months.
As voters trickled into polling stations Tuesday, many mentioned they didn’t vote in that race and had no concept again then that Blevins, a former Marine who now works for his household’s roofing enterprise, had been lively in white nationalist teams. Almost everybody mentioned they didn’t need their metropolis to be often known as a spot that tolerates hate.
“It does matter what you’ve carried out. Who you’ve related to,” mentioned Paul Martin, a cattle farmer and Democrat who mentioned he votes for candidates no matter occasion and discovered of Blevins’ white nationalist ties solely after his election.
“It didn’t come to gentle till after the vote,” Martin mentioned. “I used to be actually upset.”
But, earlier than the vote, Blevins mentioned he was “fairly assured I’ll come out on high,” however, “if not, I fought the great combat.” (He in all probability determined to depart out the phrases, “…for white supremacy,” however no matter.) He additionally mentioned if he does lose his seat, he’s carried out with politics.
“I simply return to personal life,” he mentioned. “Life goes on.”
After the votes got here in and he came upon he was out, he known as the recall election “a trial not only for me, however for a lot of on this neighborhood.” (Seems like he’s saying there are numerous Nazis in Enid, however, once more, no matter.)
So, now, all is nicely within the city of Enid. You recognize, until the right-wing leanings below the guise of “conservative Christian values” in that city trigger voters to elect one other white supremacist.
SEE ALSO:
Enid, Oklahoma Voters Resolve Whether or not Confirmed Neo-Nazi Will Stay On The Metropolis Council
Oklahoma Residents Scramble To Recall White Nationalist Chief Elected To Enid Metropolis Council
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