What makes someone join and actively participate in a white nationalist or white supremacy group?
According to experts on the matter, there could be a number of factors that can turn someone to this direction. Feelings of isolation or alienation; an identity crisis that drives someone to seek belonging or an identity; fear, misinformation and insecurity regarding societal changes; family influence and peer networks that help drive an individual’s beliefs in these matters.
And, then there is the political and social polarization that helps create an environment where extremist ideologies can take root.
There’s another factor in that some of these groups that have popped up can sound innocuous. They say they are focused on “preserving history” or “preserving American or Western values.” Folks who are insecure or unsure about their sense of belonging can easily fall into the trap of beginning with a group that seems harmless – but, ultimately, extreme factions take over.
Commissioner Judd Blevins, second from left, addresses the censure resolution against him at the Nov. 21 meeting. See the video of the meeting on the City of Enid Facebook page.
The community of Enid, OK continues to struggle with a troubling identity problem that has been created with the February 2023 election of a city commissioner with documented ties to a white nationalist group. So far, the community hasn’t received much explanation from this commissioner about his reasons for his past actions. The controversy has been the subject of state and national media.
It’s a situation that continues to cause division and rancor among several factions in the community, and it’s not going to go away no matter how much the commissioner in question and community leaders may wish it so. And it’s a problem common-sense conservatives should be concerned about.
Judson Blevins announced his candidacy for Enid City Commission in December 2022 and campaigned as a conservative Republican. Not long afterward, the local newspaper learned of articles by a progressive political organization that chronicled his alleged ties to a group called Identity Evropa. The organization was able to uncover and tie Blevins to a number of activities and social media posts promoting white nationalist and neo-Nazi talking points.
The newspaper, of which I was publisher and editor at the time, spent several weeks working to verify the validity behind these allegations. We spoke with individuals associated with Right Wing Watch and Unicorn Riot, which had basically doxed Blevins’ posts and activities in 2018, including photos of him at the torch rally and the Charlottesville riot. They convinced us their reporting was accurate, and we reached out to Blevins for a response.
He came back with a non-response and a non-denial. His response was to chastise Right Wing Watch as a left-wing extremist organization that hates Christianity, among some other statements. Throughout the election process, he continued to refuse to comment directly on the allegations. He gave an interview to a right-wing radio station in Oklahoma which didn’t address the allegations, only tore into “left-wing” activist groups that uncovered the posts and photos.
He was elected anyway, by fewer than 50 votes. Since that time, a group in Enid called the Social Justice Committee has been actively protesting his election, and after the obligatory six months in office, they filed a recall petition, which has been successful.
The continued controversy has caused rifts among the other sitting commissioners. Twice they have tried to address this in recent meetings, including a meeting to censure Blevins. Those meetings have resulted in nothing but more rancor. The censure resolution was tabled.
In all of this, Blevins finally tepidly acknowledged his participation in the events of the Right-Wing Watch article, and has also tepidly “disavowed” his previous actions. But he still hasn’t been contrite or explained his actions. He continues to believe the original article was a left-wing hit piece and says he has been the target for many years of “left-wing fringe groups.”
He also continues to call the group organizing the recall effort “antifa-adjacent” activists. Others with continued ties to national white nationalist and western supremacy groups are echoing those sentiments and supporting him, sending letters to the City of Enid and posting on their own websites their support of Blevins.
Groups advocating for Blevins include VDare.com and the American Freedom Party, both linked to white nationalist agendas and talking points. VDare’s web site states its mission is to “inform the right to keep America American,” has posted a couple of articles with their view of the Enid controversy. The American Freedom Party web site clearly states what its agenda is. They even have an “Aryan Archive” on their website.
The Enid Social Justice Committee is calling for the city commission to take up the censure motion again. They have posted a petition to that effect, which as of this writing has more than 300 signatures.
This kind of chaos simply can’t stand. While some may want to forgive Blevins and say these actions are “in his past,” his recent comments and his lack of separating himself from his current supporters indicate his continued sympathy with the white nationalist activities he was involved in.
A recall election is expected in April of 2024, and I hope that residents of Enid Ward 1 wake up and do the right thing and remove Blevins as commissioner. However, more concerning to me is the number of people in Enid who sympathize with Blevins and support him.
There can be no excuse or sympathy for expressions of support for antisemitic comments, Nazi sentiments or racist comments by a person sitting in the seat of city government. Just because Blevins calls himself a Jesus-loving conservative and an honorably discharged Marine doesn’t mean his past behavior and unwillingness to repent or explain should be tolerated.
When people tell you who they are by their words and their actions, believe them. Blevins has told the community who he is – as many of his supporters nationally and in the community have told us who they are as well.
This is a critical time for Enid to find out what kind of community it is and what it is willing to tolerate.
Cindy Allen 