WAUWATOSA, WI— Wauwatosa's mayor is criticizing anonymous letters containing racist language that were mailed to a number of residents Aug. 26.

The letter was sent to four people and stated the following:

"Dear White Wauwatosa Resident,

We hope that this letter finds you in good health. We just wanted to touch base. Thank you for proudly displaying the blue house lights. Your support of our common cause is greatly needed and appreciated.

Ring | Featured Advertiser Couple Gives Their Neighbors Something to Smile About Sometimes a little entertainment can go a long way. That’s why Angela and her husband of Henderson, Nevada like to play dress up and give their neighbors something to laugh about. Watch Now We Whites must stand together. We must keep Wauwatosa free from blacks and their lack of morals.

We must keep blacks from destroying our property, raping our wives and daughters, and recruiting our children into street gangs.

Subscribe We MUST keep Wauwatosa great. Together we can keep Wauwatosa white! Together we can keep Wauwatosa safe! Stay vigilant, Whites for Wauwatosa."

According to a police report, a week before the letters, four residents put up a yard sign that read, "For Sale, Unless Politicians Keep Tosa Safe (Paid for by Tosa Taxpayers fed up with Mayor and City Council)."

One of the residents told police the yard signs "aren't meant to be racist or hateful, they just wanted to promote a safe neighborhood."

A police report said one letter to a neighbor was supportive of the yard signs and the blue light on the person's front porch but quickly began describing how Wauwatosa should be "whites only" and how Blacks should be kept out. The letter continued with more racial tones, according to the report.

Police have no suspects in the incident.

Mayor Dennis McBride took to social media and held a press conference on Thursday to denounce the letters.

"Anyone who believes that 'Wauwatosa should be for whites only' should leave Wauwatosa now. Your statement is racist, immoral, unconstitutional, and un-American," McBride said on Facebook.

McBride pulled a weed from the ground during the press conference as an example of getting rid of racism before it spreads.

Tracey Dent, a community activist, also spoke during Thursday's press conference and echoed McBride's statement. He also condemned the "piece of garbage" letters sent out.

"What makes Wauwatosa and Milwaukee County great is the diversity that is right here," Dent said.

Dent added, "We control the narrative. That means racism has no place here."

Wauwatosa Police Department posted a message on Facebook on Thursday.

"We're proud to serve Wauwatosa and want it to be an inclusive and accepting community. The department is aware of a letter sent to four Wauwatosa residents and have followed up with them. Although the message in the letter is controversial in nature and has upset many members of our community there are no specific threats to life or property. Wauwatosa is and continues to be a welcoming community for ALL citizens!"

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties, and advocacy organization, also condemned the letters. It issued a statement that said:

"We condemn this racist letter that associates disorder in communities with Black residents. We must make it clear that this disturbing racist and white supremacist ideology is not welcome in Wisconsin or anywhere.

"Washington, D.C.-based CAIR and the American Muslim community are standing in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and white supremacy."

https://patch.com/wisconsin/wauwatosa/racist-language-letters-mailed-wauwatosa-residents?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_term=crime+%26+safety&utm_campaign=autopost&utm_content=wauwatosa&fbclid=IwAR2sLEvkw-brF9YtBWHmn91wGLGFuGHRgM7Hx5_D-XttF_oRRIAXn3GKLwQ