Patriot Front Stickers Appear On Utility Poles, Gas Pumps Across Wicomico County
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. — Stickers bearing the name of the white nationalist group Patriot Front have appeared on utility poles, gas pumps and other public spaces around Wicomico County, drawing attention from residents and community organizers.
Patriot Front is a white nationalist organization known for distributing propaganda and holding militaristic demonstrations across the country. Community organizer Jared Schablein said the stickers appearing around Wicomico County are concerning.
“The Patriot Front is an organization that’s stemmed out of a neo-Nazi. This is not some, like, community service organization. This is a group with extremely violent and extremist beliefs that try to push division in our country to try and solve some of the really big issues in our nation,” Schablein said.
Schablein said the group uses phrases such as “America First” and “Protect American Workers” to attract people, while promoting an ideology he said goes back a dark chapter in world history.
“The Patriot Front does nothing for American workers. But I can tell you, a bunch of Jewish folks who stepped up in the labor unions in this community, even recently, stepped up following energy bills. You know, some of these key issues as they talk about, you know, I don’t see them at those events, but I do see members of the Jewish community. I do see members of the Muslim community, members of some of these other communities that they’ve attempted to demonize,” Schablein said.
Schablein also said people have a constitutional right to express their beliefs on their own property but said placing stickers on property belonging to someone else is different.
“If someone owns a property and they want to put the sign up, you know, that’s their First Amendment right. They can have those reprehensible beliefs,” Schablein said. “But you see them at the gas station or utility poles or something that is owned by other people in the community.”
Residents have encountered stickers promoting the group in everyday public spaces, including at gas stations. A local resident, Sebastian, said he believes the stickers cross a line when they are placed on someone else’s property.
“It’s one thing to do with your own personal property. But now you’re just touching other people’s stuff,” Sebastian said. “It’s honestly excessive, if you want me to be honest.”
The stickers have also drawn attention following a March event in which the Maryland Federation of College Republicans brought self-described “white advocate” Jared Taylor to the area.
Another resident, George Morrison, said people have a right to express their political beliefs but questioned efforts to organize around those beliefs on a college campus.
“Everyone should have a voice, whether it be wrong, whether it be right. However, when it comes to trying to band together an entirety of a college campus for issues like that, because now we’re starting to rally together what we would call a political army,” Morrison said.
Schablein said there has been an increase in similar signs and stickers around Maryland. He said county and city officials have been working to remove stickers placed on utility poles and gas pumps.
“I appreciate that they’ve been willing to have these conversations with us and move swiftly,” Schablein said. “We appreciate them taking the time and taking this seriously.”
Schablein is advising residents who see the stickers to report them to the appropriate county or property authorities so they can be removed.
If you see stickers or signs, you can report the location to MDLeg.JewishCaucus@mga.maryland.gov
DISCLAIMER: WMDT has blurred the name & web address of the white nationalist group attached to these stickers in our broadcast coverage in an attempt to deny them traffic and engagement online. We remain committed to reporting on the issues that impact our local community.
