After Texas Mall Shooting, Searching for Motive and Grieving for Children
More recently, neo-Nazi groups in the United States and members of other far-right organizations like the Proud Boys have claimed the phrase, and often wear the abbreviation on clothing or patches. The Proud Boys in particular often combine RWDS labels with shirts reading, “Pinochet Did Nothing Wrong.”
The online profile being investigated also includes several pictures showing a black tactical vest with an RWDS patch. The patch has the shape of a shield with a notch in its upper right corner — an echo, experts say, of similar patches worn by Nazi SS units. In addition, the profile includes a screenshot from Google Maps showing the time at which the mall where the shooting took place was likely to be busiest.
Though the writer of the posts suggests several times that they are of Hispanic origin — at one point indicating they are originally from Mexico — there is also a clear embrace of white supremacy. As recently as last month, the account contained a post saying that “white people and Hispanics have a lot in common.”
The identities of the shooting victims have not yet been released, another factor that leaves the motive murky. Even so, one fact weighed heavily on the suburban community outside Dallas where the murders occurred: There were children among the victims.
Although the police would not indicate how many children died, officials including President Biden acknowledged that there were more than one.
Source: The New York Times
