Editor’s note: This story contains links to a neo-Nazi blog that some readers may find offensive
Neo-Nazis have a history of pulling their kids from public schools, out of a desire to indoctrinate their children into their own world view. But one white supremacist in California’s Inland Empire may be mulling the opposite strategy: Getting the school system to conform to his own views.
Dan Schruender, a former president of the Aryan Nations’ California chapter, says that, if elected, he won’t let his political views affect his job as school district trustee. But Schruender’s blog entries suggest otherwise.
“We must set realistic goals and go for them,” Schruender wrote on his blog Tuesday, in announcing his candidacy. “[T]hen we, and our respective organisations can start to work our way up to the higher levels. Success comes one step at a time.”
Since Schruender made his announcement, he has been the subject of intense media coverage in southern California, most of it — not surprisingly — unfavorable.
On Saturday, Schruender responded to the controversy.
“The Jew Media is really doing a hatchet job on me since they found out I’m running for school board and in Aryan Nations,” Schruender wrote. “I’m in six or more papers, including the LA Times.”
Some parents in the Rialto school district want Schruender banned from running in the race.
“I don’t think anyone that is doing something like that should run for an office like that because it’s not going to teach our kids anything better than hate,” resident Bobby Walker told KABC in Los Angeles.
But the school district’s communications director said it would be up to the voters to decide on Schruender. “The decision of who is elected in the Rialto Unified School District — that agenda lies in the hands of the voters in the community.”
Voters in Rialto aren’t likely to be friendly to Schruender: KABC reports that the school district is about 75 percent Hispanic and 15 percent black.
But Schruender argues he has a shot because he is one of only two candidates running for two open seats.
“There are two seats up for election. As of today, only myself and one other have filed. The deadline is this Friday. If no one else files, then I’m in!” he wrote.
As of press time, Raw Story was unable to confirm if anyone else had filed for the race by yesterday’s deadline.
The Contra Costa Times notes that Schruender has stirred controversy by going through his minority-heavy neighborhood handing out fliers promising that the white race was not “going to go out with a whimper.”