Neo-Nazi group plasters posters across Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood on election day

By Haley Frederick
Pittsburgh Current Staff Writer
haley@pittsburghcurrent.com

Late last night, posters and stickers reading “better dead than red” beneath a logo depicting an arrow shooting through a red hammer and sickle were plastered around Brookline. Citizens who came upon the stickers began making calls to 911 and the City Council office.

“From the calls that we got, it seems to be all up Brookline Boulevard, down Pioneer, Flatbush—I think there were five streets that they were plastered on every pole — and there were stickers on people’s cars as well,” Moira Kaleida, City Councilman Anthony Coghill’s chief of staff told the Current.

The stickers advertise Patriot Front, an alt-right propaganda website and white supremacist, anti-Semetic group founded by an 18-year-old Texan, Thomas Rousseau, in the aftermath of the 2017 riots in Charlottesville. The group’s tagline is “Reclaim America.” 

The timing of the incident is especially stirring. Not only is today the day voters head to the polls for the much anticipated midterm elections, today also marks eleven days since the Tree of Life synagogue shooting where eleven Jewish Pittsburghers were murdered by a white supremacist.

District 4 City Councilman Anthony Coghill took to Facebook to denounce the hateful message of the stickers posted in Brookline.

“During this time of recent tragedy, District 4 chooses to stand in love and unity with the people of Pittsburgh. It was brought to our attention this morning that posters and stickers went up in our district that promote anti-Semitism, racism, and hate,” Coghill wrote.

“The neighborhoods that make-up District 4 are full of wonderful, accepting, and diverse residents who embrace each other and their neighbors,” he continued. “Please know that we disavow these hateful posters and believe in a community filled with love.”

The Zone 6 police are aware of the incident and are instructing anyone who sees the posters or stickers to call 911. The culprit or culprits are still unknown, and police are asking that anyone with a lead call (412)-937-3051.

“The detectives are on the case and are asking that any citizens that might own a business or have cameras at their house that might have surveillance footage of this call Zone 6 police,” Kaleida said.