UNDATED (WKZO-AM/FM) — There have been more racist incidents in west Michigan since the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va.
Grand Rapids police are looking for a man with dark hair who hung a U.S. flag with a painted swastikaoff the Coit Avenue overpass on Interstate 196 early Monday morning. It was up for about 10 minutes before an officer removed it.
It happened two days after a noose was discovered hanging from a swingset at a preschool in Muskegon and a day before racist graffiti was sprayed on a statue of Charles H. Hackley.
Police are reviewing surveillance video and following up leads to identify the vandals
The flag incident was mentioned by Kalamazoo County commissioners, who felt compelled to react to recent events in Charlottesville and in west Michigan.
Commissioner Tracy Hall went a step further, suggesting that they follow the lead of the Illinois State Senate, which took action to reign in white supremacist groups by declaring them domestic terrorists.
Hall says they should ask local law enforcement agencies to do the same. She doubts the Michigan legislature would consider taking similar action.
Commissioner Michael Seals was disappointed to find that fellow veterans have joined white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups, and that the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified a Klu Klux Klan chapter in Battle Creek.
