Redefining a Town

What lengths will a town go to in order to maintain its reputation? One town in North Dakota has approved a “moratorium” on any new construction to stop a white supremacist from building up an “Aryan enclave,” according to an article posted today on the USA Today web site.

Leith is a town in southwestern North Dakota that was founded in 1910 as a Milwaukee Road Railroad town and at its height had a population of as many as 170 people (Ghosts of North Dakota). Now it has just 23 people (USA Today) and is considered “a fairly clean and fairly intact near-ghost town” (Ghosts of North Dakota).

This has created a situation conducive to the plans of Craig Cobb, a 61-year old white supremacist. Cobb is a hate crimes fugitive, who was previously arrested in Canada on charges of the “willful promotion of hatred” (Jezebel). He moved into the North Dakota town and bought a home and 12 other lots in the town (USA Today) and encouraged others with similar views to follow his lead and become active citizens.

What are active citizens? According to Cobb, as posted on Vanguard News Network, these are people who will:

1. Always (24 hrs a day) fly at least one racialist banner: examples--Nazi flags, Creativity flags, SA triple 7 flags etc. The larger the better. It would be best if your flag(s) were spotlighted during night time hours. I may be able to provide fresh ones say, 4 times per year. (Or I may let you pay and get your own).

2. Try your best to import more responsible radical hard core WN.

3. Register as a ND legal resident of this town and vote in our local election. Residency to vote is 30 days.

City officials are trying to stop Cobb’s plans by putting ordinances in place that require him and his followers to install water and sewer services, as well as an ordinance to prevent tents and campers from being on city lots for more than 10 consecutive days (USA Today).

If you were a PR professional working with the city of Leith, or a supporter of the neo-Nazi movement, how would you approach this situation? Looking at Smith’s proposal of different tactics in the article from last week, which ones do you think would be the most useful for both sides of the argument?

References:

1.      AP. “N.D. town OKs building ban to deter Aryan enclave.” USA Today. N.p., 28 Oct 2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2013

2.      Cobb, Craig. “North Dakota ND Rents Free Rent WN Community Intentional.” Vanguard News Network Forum (VNN). N.p., 22 May 2012. Web. 28 Oct 2013.

3.      “North Dakota’s ghost towns and abandoned places.” Ghosts of North Dakota. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.

4.      “Terrifying White Nationalist City Slowly Forming in North Dakota.” Jezebel blog. N.p., 24 Aug. 2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2013