Ken Parker/FacebookA student from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville has been suspended after posting online threats to a Black Lives Matter student group.
Junior-year Political Science student Ken Parker is a self-described Nazi. He is a member of the National Socialist Movement, and has previously been a Grand Dragon of the Loyal White Knights of the KKK.
Upon graduation, he apparently intends to become a civil rights lawyer for white victims of black crime, according to The Tab.
He has denied the assertion he is attending UNF as a way to spread his racist ideology.
Ken Parker/FacebookParker uploaded a topless picture of himself, revealing a large swastika tattoo on his chest. He is also holding a rifle in the photograph.
Parker – who is thought to be in his 30s – also sent a message to the group, declaring himself to be ‘white and proud’:
Let SDS [Students for a Democratic Society] and the other clowns come at me, I will shut them down.
He added:
I am WHITE and PROUD, and these queer balls have yet to confront me on campus.
When asked whether this message was intended as a threat, Parker said:
That is not a threat. It is a f*cking PROMISE!!!!
possibly the unlikeliest trappings of a Jacksonville nazi? Suspended UNF student Ken Parker’s door, and owl collection @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/JzTiTb4oaq
— anne schindler (@schindy) November 15, 2017
Parker told Action News Jax how he had not intended any threat, and was just exercising his First and Second Amendment rights.
However, UNF have taken the disturbing message seriously with President John Delaney, offering the following statement:
The student calls himself a white supremacist, is a former member of the KKK, but is now a member of another white supremacist group.
He posted a photo of himself with a gun in the context of confronting members of a student group, the Students for a Democratic Society, which is linked to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The photo was taken off campus. The thread of his posts also included a threatening message. These actions led to his immediate suspension.
In addition, he has been barred from campus, pending a conduct hearing next week. He can only come on campus when escorted by a police officer.
Parker’s was officially suspended as of November 14. He has now reportedly appealed the suspension, and plans to sue should he lose the appeal.
This man is currently enrolled at UNF as a Junior Political Science major. The university has suspended him. We need to get wider national support to get him expelled and trespassed permanently. His name is Ken Parker, and he claims to be the KKK. But really he’s white trash pic.twitter.com/30Mdh5iSXj
— Nik Schulz (@NikSchulz1994) November 16, 2017
This incident comes after other recent disturbing examples of racial tension at UNF.
Signs reading ‘It’s Okay To Be White’ have been spotted around campus, as well as at other college campuses across the US.
A group of UNF students recently created a racist Snapchat video, mocking protestors at a Black Lives Matter rally.
This is one sign we found on @UofNorthFlorida campus. Hear from UNF President at 5 #actionnewsjax pic.twitter.com/6dmRQSWKy7
— Michael Yoshida (@MichaelANjax) November 14, 2017
White supremacists are reportedly planning to rally in support of Parker at the UNF campus on November 20. Parker’s fiancée is believed to be organising the rally alongside white supremacist groups.
UNF students know of this impending rally, and are planning a peaceful counter-protest for the same day.
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.