Stickers advertising the white supremacist group Identity Evropa have been found along Metairie Rd.

Identity Evropa, also known as the American Identity Movement, is a white supremacist and neo-Nazi group that was established in early 2016. They are identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group.

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), hate groups like Identity Evropa have increased recruiting tactics like stickering and leafleting since 2018. Last year, the group participated in a “bannering” of the Andrew Jackson statue in Jackson Square. The ADL has labeled them as one of the most active hate groups in Louisiana.

The stickers were found by members of The Creole Alliance, a local film maker’s group. Their mission is to “make content for change” in Louisiana and in the U.S. According to the Alliance, the stickers span from at least the Causeway to Labarre along Metairie Rd. This stretch includes popular spots such as the new Ruby Slipper Cafe and Rock N Sake.

The appearance of white supremacist propaganda comes just days after the arrest of 21-year-old Holden Matthews for the arson of three historically black churches in St. Landry Parish, just two hours away. Matthews is the son of St. Landry Sherrif deputy Roy Matthews.

While Louisiana State Fire Marshal Cheif Butch Browning has speculated that it was Matthews’ association with Norwegian “black metal” music that lead to the church burnings, many feel this ignores the racial history of church burnings in the southern U.S.

Burning African-American churches has been a common tactic of intimidation since the time of the civil rights movement. From 1955 to today, more than 71 primarily black churches have been firebombed, burned, or attacked in the U.S., mainly in the deep south. Churches were often used as centers of organization for civil rights protests and other actions. They also serve as a center of culture and symbols of unity for the black community, making them popular targets for white supremacists.

Publisher’s Note: At Big Easy Magazine, we have always rejected white supremacy and all forms of hate. We would encourage all New Orleanians to join us in spreading a message of tolerance. If you would like to support our efforts, please purchase one of our “Reject White Supremacy” t-shirts available in our shop.