Date: Tue, 22 Jul 1997 22:27:07 -0600 From: Steve Doonan (by way of Bob Summersgill) Subject: Fear in Portales Portales, New Mexico is a small town on the Texas border. Out and not very-out Gay men and Lesbians are being targetted by a previously unknown hate group called "The Fist of God" with death threats and now one attack. Police and Eastern New Mexico University have been very quiet and unsupportive of the Gay and Lesbian people threatened in the letters and posters. I invite you to contact Steve Doonan at scd@mindless.com for more details. Any information on "The Fist of God" would be greatly appreciated. --Bob Summersgill Albuquerque, NM Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Rights in New Mexico ========================================================================= HOMOSEXUALS TARGETED FOR HATRED ========================================================================= Date of report: July 21, 1997 Where: Eastern New Mexico University and Portales NM Reporter: Steve Doonan, Portales NM On Monday, July 14, 1997, in the Liberal Arts Building at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico, several posters were discovered that named a few of the university faculty. The posters alleged that the men and women named were gay or lesbian, and included threats against them. Several of the persons named also received private mail which contained threats, including death threats. In the text of the poster, its creator claims to speak for a group called The Fist of God. During the week following the appearance of the first of the posters, several apparently related events occurred that seem to indicate a sharpening of focus and more aggressive action on the part of the person or group called The Fist of God. During this time, those in ENMU's administration whose job it is to manage the dissemination of information regarding ENMU have tried to downplay the incidents and have been very circumspect. In a short article in the Sunday, July 20, 1997 edition of the Portales News-Tribune, most of the several persons questioned declined comment, saying that they had been advised to refer all questions to Lt. Ron Baker of ENMU University Police, who would "neither confirm nor deny that the incident happened." Although reported on the evening news of the NBC affilliate station in Roswell, New Mexico the evening of Monday, July 21, there was mention only that hate mail had been sent by an unspecified person or group, to some unspecified person or persons for an unspecified reason, and that an investigation regarding the incidents had been initiated by the university and police officials. There was no reference in the report to gays or lesbians. The only indication in the TV news report of the possible severity of the situation was the statement that the FBI had been called to investigate. While official reports remain vague and confused, earlier on Monday the first person on a new list of alleged gays and lesbians at ENMU, prepared by The Fist of God, had apparently been attacked with rope and knife. After entering her home (the intended victim later recounted) an assailant wearing a ski mask jumped from a closet and attacked. She was able to free herself and escape, suffering bruises, rope burns around the neck and a slashed cheek. She believed the attacker was female. On the day of the attack, prior to the attack, new posters by the Fist of God had been placed in various locations in Portales: locations no longer limited to the university campus itself. The following is quoted from the posters. [Any text substituted or paraphrased by the reporter appears within brackets.] THE FIST OF GOD Take Us Seriously Or We'll Begin Executing One Queer A Week Following This List: 1) [name and tel. no. of female student deleted] 2) [name and tel. no. of male faculty member deleted] 3) [name and tel. no. of female faculty member deleted] 4) [name and tel. no. of male faculty member deleted] 5) [name and tel. no. of female faculty member deleted] 6) [name and tel. no. of male faculty member deleted] 7) [name and tel. no. of female faculty member deleted] 8) [name and tel. no. of male faculty member deleted] That's only the FIRST 2 Months CHANGE or DIE! In Florida They Kill Each Other. We're Not So Lucky. But We Can do Something. THE FIST OF GOD A Group Dedicated To Killing The Queer Threat. One mind, one Army, Under one God. Are You Sick of Queers Polluting this Great Land With There [sic] Filth? I thought so. Want to do something? Join the Fist of God. With His might We Can ride [sic] the World of There Sickness. Ask Around. We'll find you. Heard the Homo-Pigs were on my trail. HA! Do you really think you Can catch me? Ia'm [sic] like Him Many. Lots of luck Pigs. THE FIST OF GOD! We grow daily. [at this point appears a lurid appeal for others to join the organization] And What's a queer? An agent of Satan. Join us wherever His Name is Spoke. [sic] Dike [sic] Couples Polluting our World: [a list of paired women's names and tel. no's.] Save our Women Queer Couples Polluting our World: [a list of paired men's names and tel. no's.] Sick!!!! ### end of report ### -- Steve Doonan -- nmqn