In the city of Enid, Oklahoma, discussions among city leaders typically revolve around topics such as attracting a new movie theater, managing the downtown arena's costs, and plans for a solar farm on the town's outskirts. However, a significant issue currently gripping this community of over 50,000 residents is the potential removal of a city councilor with connections to white supremacist groups.
Judd Blevins, a 42-year-old Iraq War veteran who participated in the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, is facing a recall election. Voters in one of the city's wards will decide whether to retain Blevins or elect his opponent, Cheryl Patterson, a grandmother and longtime youth leader at a local church. Despite both candidates being Republicans, the race is nonpartisan and open to all registered voters in the ward.
Experts monitoring hate-group activity at the Southern Poverty Law Center note that while the number of white nationalist groups in the U.S. has stabilized, the movement has gained legitimacy within the political mainstream. The recall effort in Enid was initiated by two longtime residents, Connie Vickers and Nancy Presnall, who gathered enough signatures to qualify Blevins' recall for the ballot.
During a community forum, Blevins admitted his involvement in the Unite the Right rally and his ties to Identity Evropa, a now-defunct white supremacist group. Despite claiming to oppose racial hate and discrimination, Blevins defended his past actions by citing issues such as border security and immigration reform.
The election of Blevins to the city council has raised concerns among residents, with many worried about the city's reputation as leaders aim to attract businesses and young professionals. While Enid is predominantly white, the community has a history of embracing diversity, including a growing Hispanic population and Marshallese citizens.
The recall effort has energized left-leaning residents, leading to the formation of the Enid Social Justice Committee. Beyond the recall, the committee aims to address other community issues like homelessness and student-lunch debt at local schools.
