FBI sees recent crime as terrorism

The FBI has classified recent vandalism associated with swastika and racist graffiti in Las Vegas as terrorism, and agents are worried that it may be a harbinger of violence if local white supremacist groups are left unchecked.

This week, the FBI opened a civil rights investigation into racist and anti-Semitic graffiti sprayed on a wall and a truck at a southwest Las Vegas business.

On Jan. 21, two signs with white supremacist messages were posted along Interstate 215 at Tropicana Avenue and Sunset Road with a website address and a phone number for the local chapter of a large, national racist group.

Racist fliers have been popping up on cars at shopping centers and at concert venues throughout the valley.

"What we're seeing in the area are groups of white supremacists who are trying to organize and get publicity; they're beginning to recruit," said Special Agent Daron Borst of the FBI's Las Vegas office.

"These groups are classified as terrorist groups because they are attempting to change social opinions through force or threat of force. We consider this to be a precursor to crimes of violence, and it has the potential to be dangerous."

He said the FBI has zero tolerance for hate crimes, which are defined as: crimes of violence or threats of violence motivated by the religion, race, disability, ethic or national origin, or sexual orientation of the victims.

The FBI has alerted the U.S. attorney's office to the racist activity in the Las Vegas Valley, Borst said. The FBI is involved in national and local hate crime task forces to ensure that violations of local, state or federal law are identified, investigated and prevented, he added.

While it doesn't happen every week, Borst said, more signs, handbills and messages scrawled on buildings have been reported recently.

In 2002, no violent hate crimes were reported to Metro Police, but Sgt. Al Cervantes of Metro's crimes against persons section said 2001 was "a bad year" because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. A number of Middle Easterners were beaten up, he said.

Although Cervantes said police take such incidents seriously, he said the swastikas painted on the business might be directed at the community in general rather than a particular person. He said the group may be using graffiti as a sign that it is active in the area.

Metro receives two or three reports of non-violent, racially motivated activity a month -- mostly incidents of vandalism, racial epithets and phone harassment, he said.

Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said that while vandalism is illegal, racist speech is permitted under the First Amendment.

"As much as we do deplore hateful and racist messages, that speech is protected, but the mode of speech isn't," he said.

Borst said the FBI has leads on some of the recent racially motivated activity.

"If this group goes unchecked, people are going to get hurt," he said.

People who believe they have been a victim of a hate crime or have information on individuals or groups advocating hate crimes are asked to contact the Las Vegas FBI office at (702) 385-1281.

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