Reporter's Notebook: The White Supremacist Next Door
ABC News' Byron Pitts describes what it's like to interview a white supremacist.
— -- Craig Cobb is a man with an idea: Why not buy up land in a small North Dakota town, have people who share his views move in and make it into an all-white town where minorities and people with opposing views are not welcome?
This is not a new idea and thus far not a successful one either. Cobb bought several lots in the very small town of Leith, North Dakota, which has a population of about 24 people. The townspeople pushed back, changed a few town ordinances and blocked Cobb’s effort.
Undaunted, he is trying again in the even smaller town of Antler, North Dakota. Townspeople there are mustering up a campaign to block Cobb from inhabiting their town.
Curious as to what motivates someone like Cobb, we went to North Dakota to interview him. His efforts in Leith drew the attention of white supremacist organizations, civil rights groups and the national media.
When I arrived, Cobb declared with vile and derogatory language that he does not talk to black reporters. But he kept talking anyway.
I’ve interviewed a number of racists and separatists in the course of my career. Many are charismatic and take the time to explain their racist views. Cobb is cut from a different cloth. Sounding angry and talking loudly, he gave us insight into his world where people of different races and religions are held in contempt.
Cobb pled guilty in the spring of 2014 to one count of terrorizing his neighbors in Leith, where he “patrolled” the community with an assault weapon and verbally assaulted his neighbors, much of which was caught on camera and is now part of a new documentary called “Welcome to Leith.”
He associates with known hate groups like The National Socialist Movement and considers among his associates White Supremacist Frazier Glenn Miller, who was convicted of killing three people at a Jewish Community Center in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, last year. According to Cobb, he spoke by phone with Miller a few days before his killing spree.
Cobb still lives in North Dakota. It’s unclear if he’ll seek to create an all-white separatist town somewhere else in North Dakota. His story is on ABC News’ Nightline HERE.
