May 19, 2005
Via Facsimile and U.S. Mail
R. Alexander Acosta
Assistant Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Main
950 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530
Dear Assistant Attorney General Acosta:
I am writing on behalf of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to respectfully request that the Department of Justice begin an investigation into complaints the Commission has recently received. The Commissioners unanimously voted to advance this request on behalf of the Commission. The complaints concern allegations that minority residents near Las Vegas, Nevada, are receiving fliers (see attached fliers) associated with the National Alliance, a white-extremist organization that espouses racism and hate. In one incident, a flyer was allegedly left at the front door of a residence and a dead rat found nearby. In another incident, a dead cat was allegedly left in a driveway two days after the delivery of the flyer.
In a letter dated May 10, 2005, the Chairman of the Commission's Nevada State Advisory Committee urged the Las Vegas office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among other things, to conduct a thorough investigation of these incidents (see attached letter). At this time, the Nevada State Advisory Committee has yet to receive a response to its request.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Please feel free to call
me, or Seth Jaffe, at (202) 376-7700 if you have any questions about this matter.
Sincerely,
Kenneth L. Marcus
Staff Director
cc: David M. Sanchez, Chairman, Nevada State Advisory Committee
Enclosures