BOZEMAN – A Bozeman resident discovered a menacing message attributed to a hate group on his car Sunday morning.
The message written on the windows of Joseph Allen Murphy’s car said “We’re watching you…KKK”. Murphy said he’s unsure as to who would do this, or why he would be the one targeted.
“As far as how I take it as a reflection of Bozeman, I don’t take it as a reflection of Bozeman,” Murphy said.
The Bozeman Police Department and the FBI are currently actively investigating this case. The crime is a felony and a person can face up to five years in prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both.
Bozeman Police Chief Steve Crawford said such incidents are “not often but we are not immune from it either. Just like any number of states and communities across the country, we periodically see crimes like this reported and it’s a crime we take very seriously.”
Both Murphy and his wife feel threatened by this hate speech on their property and have hopes that the investigation will unveil all of the details.
“The truth, that’s very important. Understanding the nature of this action, whether it’s an actual representation of a hate group, some act of intimidation or if it’s a prank. The scale is important for us to know as any community so that we can respond to it appropriately,” Murphy said.
He continued, “I think that it’s important for all of us to remember that we are neighbors and that we’re all human and that we have to watch out for each other. When these sort of things happen you can’t shy away. You involve those around you and let people know as the community that something like this exists so we can address it as a community.”
The Bozeman Police Department encourages anyone with any information pertaining to the case to give them a call at 582-2000.
-Emma Hamilton reporting for MTN News
