HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10195 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10195
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 30, 2018
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SUBJECT: RECENT ANTI-IMMIGRANT ACTIVITY
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The purpose of this Informal Report is to respond to a request for information on recent anti-
immigrant activities in our community, including the placement of defamatory banners and flyers
on public property.
On October 2, 2018, unknown person(s) placed a cloth banner with the words, "Deport Them All,"
on the pedestrian bridge near Morningside Drive at Interstate 35. Concerned onlookers noticed
the banner and removed it from the bridge.
On October 4, 2018, community members discovered four flyers from the PATRIOTFRONT.us in
the downtown section of the city attached via adhesive in the following locations:
• Main at Street and 1 sl Street on a City fire hydrant
• 220 E 3rd Street at the AMC Palace Theatre on a movie poster
• 500 W 3rd Street on a lamp post across from the Central Library
• 501 Houston Street on a newsstand near Jos A. Bank
Two of the four flyers highlighted the phrase, "Reclaim America," while the last two were entitled,
"Better Dead than Red," and "Not Stolen, Conquered." The persons who located the flyers shared
them on social media as well as with news outlets, but no one reported the literature to the Fort
Worth Police Department.
After the FWPD received notification regarding the banner and the flyers, the Department conferred
with the City Attorney's Office and determined that neither the speech on the banner nor the flyers
constituted hate crimes, but were a form of free speech allowed under the First Amendment.
However, the placement of the flyers on City property violated City Ordinance 23-14 and 23-15
which is a Class C Misdemeanor. The City Code provisions prohibit a person, firm or corporation,
other than the owner of the property, to post, fasten erect or display, or cause to be posted,
fastened, erected or displayed any type of handbill, sign, poster or advertisement on or upon any
structure, tree, pole, curb or elsewhere within the right-of-way of any public street, or upon any
public property within the City of Fort Worth, without the express permission of the Fort Worth City
Council.
The placement of the flyers on the lamp posts and the fire hydrants, which are City property,
violated the City Code. If the flyers were placed on the movie poster and the newsstand without the
permission of the owner, this would also violate the City Code. The overpass where the banner
was placed is owned by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) so permission from
TxDot to hang the banner would be required. The Fort Worth Police Department will work closely
with TxDOT to ensure the prompt removal of any unauthorized signage in the future.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10195
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 30, 2018
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o Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: RECENT ANTI-IMMIGRANT ACTIVITY
1675
In addition, FWPD created a police information report to address the City Ordinance violations for
posting the flyers on city/public property. The FWPD will continue to work closely with City Center
Security and other local stakeholders to review camera footage to determine if any viable leads or
suspects exist. The Homeland Security Unit receives all related information on these incidents and
actively monitors social media forums for potential involved groups. They communicate any
actionable information gleaned to the appropriate investigative division.
The Fort Worth Police Department Public Relations Office (PRO Team) proactively provided
information to local news media partners, and used social media to guide stakeholders who
encounter these type incidents in the future, advising the public to contact the police for a report
and to refrain from removing any posted flyer, banner, or sticker placed on public or City property.
On Monday October 15, 2018, Deputy Chief Alldredge attended the Race and Culture Task Force
and Human Relations Commission meetings and provided information on reporting similar
incidents as well as the a synopsis of the FWPD response to this incident.
As of the creation of this report, there have been no suspects identified and no citations issued for
these incidents. If you have any questions are would like additional information, please contact
Police Chief Fitzgerald at ioel.fitzgerald(a�fortworthtexas.gov or 817-392-0140.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS