White supremacist pamphlets dropped at Old Lyme homes again

Boston Globe/December 25, 2001

Old Lyme, Conn. -- Several people in Old Lyme found something unexpected on their doorsteps Christmas morning; racist hate literature from the World Church of the Creator.

It was the second time in 10 days the pamphlets, which are signed by the World Church of the Creator, an Illinois-based white supremacist organization, appeared on driveways in the area.

On Dec. 16, the pamphlets were wrapped around copies of Employment News, a Hartford-based publication.

Matt Hale, the organization's leader, has spoken twice in Wallingford. He attracted about 70 supporters and 200 protesters during a speech in April.

The fliers delivered on Christmas Day accuse Jews of launching a conspiracy against humanity and claim white people are more intelligent than black people.

Residents told WVIT-TV the message had no place in Old Lyme.

''You know, they have their own opinion, but I think that's taking it too far,'' said Lisa Courtney.

Similar pamphlets were distributed anonymously in Lebanon in October.

The Anti-Defamation League has tracked an increase in the distribution of hate literature over the last few months, said Marsha Stein, associate director of the Connecticut regional office of the league.

Distributors often take free publications found in supermarkets, such as Employment News, and use them as a cover to distribute their own literature, Stein said in an earlier interview.

She said there is nothing illegal about the distribution.

''It's a freedom of speech issue. They have a right to express their opinion,'' Stein said.

One resident said she had a simple way of dealing with the pamphlets.

''Crumple it up and toss it in the trash, because that's what it is, it's trash,'' said Gail Jantz.