Supporters of Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade staged a cross-burning hate crime during the election runoff last year to help the Nigerian native win and then planned to collect political favors for their KKK plot, an indictment reveals.
The three perpetrators of the hate crime hoax were indicted by a federal grand jury for staging a burning cross in front of a campaign sign defaced with a racial slur, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced this week.
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Afterwards, they spread disinformation about the fake threat to the media in the hopes of casting Mobolade’s white opponent, former Secretary of State Wayne Williams, as a racist.
From CBS News Colorado:
The goal, according to the indictment, was to spread disinformation that there was a vile group of racists who were strongly opposed to the Black mayor candidate and they were trying to intimidate him.
Law enforcement says the instigator of the fraud was Derrick Bernard Jr., a black man who communicated with Mobolade that a plot was in place to help him win:
“I know it’s crunch time sir but look . . . I spoke with some of my friends in other places and theirs [sic] a plot amidst . . . I’m mobilizing my squadron in defense and for the final push. Black ops style big brother. The klan cannot be allowed to run this city again.”
At around 7:30 p.m. the evening before they staged the hate crime, Bernard texted Mobolade “I guarantee the finish.”
After the election, Bernard wrote in a text to the mayor, “we got you through it all brother.”
Hinting at payback, Bernard added: “Another time though, we’ll handle business.”
The indictment says Bernard also spoke with Mobolade on the phone for five minutes about three days after the election.
The Denver Post has the statement from Williams:
“This event illustrates how far some will go to spread election disinformation,” Williams said. “Too often, such actions are used as a pretext for violence. Hopefully, this indictment will deter others and help set us on a course toward returning to civil discourse.”
The Post goes on to report:
On the day Mobolade won the election, Bernard texted Blackcloud and encouraged her to apply for jobs with the city of Colorado Springs, saying, “I want favors quicker than later,” the indictment alleges.
In his statement to the media, the mayor says he interacted with Bernard as a local media personality.
There appears to be zero curiosity among the local media as to how Bernard would claim political favors without revealing to Mobolade what he had done for the campaign to help him win.
With all the teasing beforehand in text messages as to what he was up to, surely Bernard bragged about his deed to the mayor afterwards? And the mayor never bothered to ask him what the Hell he was talking about?
We are skeptical.
Also charged in the fake crime are Ashely Blackcloud, who along with Bernard is in custody. The third suspect Deanna West is still a fugitive.
Bernard was already in jail, having been convicted on Nov. 7 for first degree murder and is serving a life sentence.
All three were associated with a nonprofit called Family Flavors the Slide WBN that claims to be a broadcasting network and multimedia company. It appears to be a podcast with social media pages.
Here’ s Mobolade’s full statement:
“That incident during my campaign led to a very traumatic time for my family, my campaign team, and our community. My knowledge and interaction with Bernard was as a local media personality, and I was not aware at the time that he was suspected of this crime. I appreciate local and federal law enforcement’s work in pursuing justice and sending a message that we will not tolerate such reprehensible behavior.”
The crime occurred on April 23, 2023. The indictment was announced Nov. 12.