Bagpipe-playing Oregon racist's message backfires as community unites against hate

A rally was held on Saturday in Springfield, Oregon, with citizens pushing back against a man who distributed racist "diversity is white genocide" at a local high school earlier in the week, reports KMTR.

A man identifying himself as Jimmy Marr attended the rally and took credit for the flyers, explaining he was trying to “breakthrough the media blackout with white genocide… (and get) a chance to say my piece and get exposure so people know what white genocide is.”

Marr, who maintains an account at white supremacist website Stormfront, explained that “white genocide” partially refers to how the U.S. was founded by white Europeans, and how minorities have changed U.S. culture. He frequently wears a Scottish highlands outfit and plays the bagpipes while distributing his message.

Last year, Marr and some associates displayed banners on a bridge over a major freeway reading, "Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white." According to Marr, his viewpoint is part of the diversity of the area, saying, "This is where old hippies go to die, right? And we honor diversity, so it’s time people can honor mine.”

The phrase “Anti-Racist is a code word for anti-white'' has a long history in white supremacist circles,  developed as part of a strategy by for­mer Repub­li­can con­gres­sional aid and minor Rea­gan admin­is­tra­tion appointee Bob Whitaker after he embraced "White Power" following his stint in government service.

While speaking with reporters, Marr was surrounded by protestors who described his message as disturbing and hateful.

“There is no place for (those comments) here," said Dr. Hertica Martin, the Superintendent of Springfield Schools. "We cannot continue to hate other people and so we need to make sure we are working together as a community in order to bring people together and let them know this is a safe place."

Michael Carrigan, program director for the Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC) and the father of a daughter adopted from India, rejected Marr's views.

"I'm here to tell teens I have their back. I have my daughter's back, and I have the back of those kids at Springfield high school." he said.

Following the rally, attendees spread out through the neighborhood handing out "Hate Free Zone" flyers and speaking with neighbors.

Watch the video below from KMTR: