'White Lives Matter' Banners In Danville Spark Division

DANVILLE, CA — Banners displayed in Danville over the weekend have created a lot of discussion and some division in the town.

A group of people stood at Blackhawk Road and Camino Tassajara with masks on as they held signs that read "White Lives Matter" and "Watch Europa the Last Battle," that latter of which many tied to a neo-Nazi propaganda film.

One resident, who saw the group but didn't want publicity in sharing her name, told Patch she’s been living in Danville for almost 10 years and that this activity is not typical.

“We’ve never had such moves, except before the last presidential election,” she said. “From my opinion, Trump speeches on TV had a bad impact and caused what we’re going through with racism campaigns. It’s really sad.”

Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich responded to the banners Monday, calling them hate speech and referencing Saturday's deadly mass shooting in Buffalo, New York.

"The horrific mass shooting that took place this past weekend in Buffalo, New York, demonstrates the incredible division that exists in our country. The shooter, who is now in custody, posted a document prior to the mass shooting, centered on a far-right conspiracy theory that baselessly posits that the white population in western countries is being reduced or replaced by immigrants in a deliberate plot," he said.

Patch has not been able to make contact with the group or anyone who held one of the signs.

Some readers commented support on social media, and others voiced their concerns about the message.

“Why is it that 'White Lives Matter' is hate speech and BLM is not? They are the violent ones!” one reader said.

“White lives have always mattered,” another reader responded. “The same can't be said for Black Lives.”

The banners were displayed on private property that falls in the jurisdiction of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the mayor's office said.

“The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office responded to this incident and determined there were no law violations,” spokesperson Jimmy Lee said.

The group's actions have been deemed offensive but not illegal.

"Free speech is very painful and hurtful at times. We do not have to listen or give them any credibility," Arnerich said.

The resident Patch talked with said she just hopes for peace and believes most residents in Danville agree.

“I want our town to be a secure and loving area to live in,” she said.