COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Coeur d'Alene's Human Rights Education Institute is the target of another hate crime. The staff found a swastika Thursday morning taped on the front door.
The sticker is just the latest in a series of incidents against the institute and staff that work there. A few months ago, the executive director found a noose on her front yard. Over the weekend, someone set off the building's alarm.
Over the past year, there have been leaflets left in several neighborhoods in North Idaho by a group claiming to be a resurgent Aryan Nations. In previous interviews, the person behind that group has stated he intends to bring the white supremacist organization back to the area.
As for who's behind this recent incident, Coeur d'Alene police have taken fingerprints and are looking at surveillance video. It is being investigated as felony malicious harassment.
Institute director Rachel Dolezal says police action on hate crimes is not enough. What's important is education. Dolezal also says one positive from hate crimes is the institute gets more volunteers wanting to help end this kind of activity.
