Masked men again display ‘white pride’ banner on SLO County overpass, sparking protest
A group of masked men once again displayed an “Embrace white pride” banner on a Highway 101 overpass in San Luis Obispo County on Saturday, prompting a response by protesters and outrage from passing drivers.
At around noon, four men showed up on the Vineyard Drive Highway 101 overpass in Templeton and unfurled the sign, which looked much like the one two men held up in the same spot two weeks ago.
The words were printed on a white sheet with the same erratic letter spacing, except the version this weekend added three symbols.
Dan Cook, a member of a pro-democracy group that has counter-demonstrated against far-right activists on the overpass, noticed the display as he drove past on Saturday, three days after he and others held a ”Rally Against Hate” there on Wednesday in response to the first display of the “white pride” sign on April 29.
Cook stopped and asked each man why they were wearing masks, he told The Tribune, saying they should take them off if they believe in the sign they were displaying. But the men refused. Another woman also stopped and argued with the men, he said.
The black masks featured a skull jaw imprint, and the men wore T-shirts that had ‘The White Race’ emblazoned on the front.
One man, who Cook said seemed to be the spokesperson, raised his arm to passing cars in a “sieg heil” salute.
“People were shouting at them and giving them crap,” Cook said of the response by drivers, some of whom stopped to yell at the men.
Cook said the man told him that the Nazi salute goes back to the Roman Legions and is no different than the raised fist used by Black Lives Matter protesters.
“We’re protecting our families,” he said the man told him.
After about 20 minutes, Cook said he went home and notified his fellow activists, several of whom came out with their own signs to protest the display.
The CHP did arrive on the overpass about 1 p.m. after receiving numerous calls about the banner, CHP Sgt. Steve Warzee told The Tribune.
“I arrived on scene and spoke with the individuals about the legal requirements and it was their right do to what they were doing,” Warzee said.
“People were pulling over speaking with the men and parking their cars on the overpass,” he added. “They had a legal right, but we have to maintain lawful order and maintain public safety. ... We warned drivers to not block the roadway.”
Eventually, the men packed up their sign and left in a silver sedan, with one giving a Nazi salute as they drove away. It remains unclear who they are and whether they are from SLO County or outside the area.
Cook said he was disgusted by the display.
“I have moderate Republican friends,” he said, “and we can discuss policy reasonably.”
“This MAGA crowd is different,” said Cook, who was among a group of activists pepper-sprayed while holding a peaceful demonstration on the overpass in September. That incident led to the arrest of an Arroyo Grande man.
“These people don’t want a democracy. They want an autocracy. I’m doing this (speaking up) for my children and grandchildren. We can’t go down this road.”
