Strengthen Glendale's public education on racial history
The Issue
Many people in Glendale still don’t know about the city’s history with racism and white supremacist activity during the 1980s. Events connected to the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi groups, and racist organizers took place in and around Glendale, yet this history is rarely talked about in schools or public spaces today.
Throughout the late 1980s, Glendale saw multiple incidents connected to organized racism and extremist activity. White supremacist figures like William Daniel Johnson and Tom Metzger were active in the area, and rallies, marches, and violent confrontations involving racist groups took place in the city. In one incident, anti-racist protesters clashed with white supremacist organizers at the Glendale Central Library. In another, a neo-Nazi vandalized a local synagogue with antisemitic graffiti. These events were not isolated moments, but rather they reflected deeper racial tensions and exclusion that affected Glendale for decades.
Even though Glendale has publicly acknowledged parts of its past, there is still very little permanent public education about these events or the communities impacted by them. Most students and residents never learn about this history in detail, which makes it easier for these stories to be forgotten over time.
This petition calls for Glendale to create stronger and more permanent public education about the city’s racial history. This would include educational programs in schools, historical markers, library exhibits, community discussions, and public resources that honestly explain Glendale’s past and the impact it had on marginalized communities.
Learning about history honestly is important, even when it’s uncomfortable. A community cannot fully move forward without acknowledging the experiences of the people who were affected by discrimination, intimidation, and hate.
By educating future generations about Glendale’s past, the city has the opportunity to promote awareness, accountability, and a stronger sense of community moving forward.
Sign this petition to support permanent public education about Glendale’s racial history and help make sure these stories are not forgotten.
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The Issue
Many people in Glendale still don’t know about the city’s history with racism and white supremacist activity during the 1980s. Events connected to the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi groups, and racist organizers took place in and around Glendale, yet this history is rarely talked about in schools or public spaces today.
Throughout the late 1980s, Glendale saw multiple incidents connected to organized racism and extremist activity. White supremacist figures like William Daniel Johnson and Tom Metzger were active in the area, and rallies, marches, and violent confrontations involving racist groups took place in the city. In one incident, anti-racist protesters clashed with white supremacist organizers at the Glendale Central Library. In another, a neo-Nazi vandalized a local synagogue with antisemitic graffiti. These events were not isolated moments, but rather they reflected deeper racial tensions and exclusion that affected Glendale for decades.
Even though Glendale has publicly acknowledged parts of its past, there is still very little permanent public education about these events or the communities impacted by them. Most students and residents never learn about this history in detail, which makes it easier for these stories to be forgotten over time.
This petition calls for Glendale to create stronger and more permanent public education about the city’s racial history. This would include educational programs in schools, historical markers, library exhibits, community discussions, and public resources that honestly explain Glendale’s past and the impact it had on marginalized communities.
Learning about history honestly is important, even when it’s uncomfortable. A community cannot fully move forward without acknowledging the experiences of the people who were affected by discrimination, intimidation, and hate.
By educating future generations about Glendale’s past, the city has the opportunity to promote awareness, accountability, and a stronger sense of community moving forward.
Sign this petition to support permanent public education about Glendale’s racial history and help make sure these stories are not forgotten.
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Petition created on May 27, 2026