The “gun guy” handed off his assault rifle to the man accompanying him and sported a large, plain black flag this past Sunday, Sept. 10. The flag has extremist meaning. AVV staff photo.
Two weeks have passed since I picked up the phone and called Interim Salida City Administrator Christy Doon, asking about a legal opinion from the Salida City Attorney regarding the alarm being caused by the man armed with an assault rifle who has taken up a position at F Street and First St. in downtown Salida.
Was the city going to weigh in on the Colorado Statute that permits ordinary citizens alarmed by those wielding guns to express that alarm?” I asked. Or was it going to hide behind what many see as a misplaced recitation of the Second Amendment — Oh — and the First Amendment too.
Doon agreed that the situation was worthy of a Salida city attorney’s opinion on whether or not it is going to require that a legitimate Colorado statute be enforced. We got the answer yesterday and it appears nearly as concerning as the man’s presence on F St.
In the meantime, the self-professed white supremacist and gunman (who has let it be known he is eager to join the hate group known as the Proud Boys) continues to show up on a prominent downtown Salida corner every Sunday, even after the city removed the summer plaza barriers last week. This past Sunday, Sept. 10 he was accompanied by a partner, carrying an AR-15, while he sports a large, all-black flag.
For the uninitiated, that black flag is a signal. The Salida Police Department says he isn’t threatening anyone — but the black flag’s meaning says otherwise, just as his shouting of the name of this publication through a bullhorn a few weeks ago was a signal. It’s an escalation of the messaging that Taylor has been sending to this community.
For what, we could ask, is he willing to “fight to the death and seek the complete and total desolation of the enemy”? Who exactly is the enemy? Could it be us?
We know his presence has alarmed Salida residents, businesses, and visitors, and frightened children who had set up a lemonade stand on F Street. He video-records all those who attempted to talk with him. Those who disagree get a profane tirade.
This self-professed white supremacist is not alone, even if it seems so in Salida. As January 6, 2021, moves further into our rearview mirror, and sedition prosecutions have proceeded of those involved, the country isn’t at this time seeing the big far-right protests surrounding the 2020 election.
Instead, the political violence the GOP and right-wing militant groups is manifesting in other ways — such as the one on the streets of downtown Salida. While it is masquerading as amendment rights, this is actually the normalization of violence, chaos and guns. Is this a protest? Does it require a permit?
Journalist Andy Campbell, author of We Are Proud Boys, credits the “violent misogyny” of the early 2000s media landscape with allowing the extremist group to thrive:
First, Danny Taylor was alone on U.S. 50. When someone challenged him with a peaceful counter-protest, he threatened the man. He frightened nearby businesses. He has indeed been known to yell and swear and scream at anyone who confronts him. Then Taylor moved to F Street. He videotapes people, including children.
Then he added friends. Then he added a bullhorn. Now he’s added a black flag. When and where is this going to stop? The question could be asked: Will it be when he shoots and kills someone?
For those who may wonder why I made that call to Doon, these earlier Ark Valley Voice news stories can provide the missing information. This includes not just the alarm voiced by citizens, but the threats of false reporting made by law enforcement against at least two Salida citizens, as well as the response from law enforcement reiterating that they can’t do anything because of the Constitution:
August 24: https://arkvalleyvoice.com/flag-gun-extreme-views-parade-on-salida-downtown-streets/
Sept. 4: https://arkvalleyvoice.com/my-rights-do-not-end-where-your-feelings-begin/
Downtown Salida business owners have expressed not just alarm and fear — but frustration for the economic impact of a man with an assault rifle standing in front of their shops scaring the bee-geezers out of their employees — let alone the tourists who wonder what alternative Wild West show they have dropped into.
This is not a simple Second and First Amendment case; as it’s being presented by the Salida Police Department. This is our local example of spreading rural extremism. The various extreme right factions in this country are coalescing. This is being ignored and in many cases condoned by local law enforcement.
This isn’t just boys being boys, folks. This is the rising tide of violent white supremacy fanned by culture war memes, joining forces with anti-government, militant groups, and Christian nationalism segments. It is the early stages of authoritarianism in all the colors of anti-government, hate, bigotry, and racism.
It is time for the city and its elected leaders to put on their big boys’ pants and big girls’ pants and deal with this.
Editor’s note: “Our Voice is our Ark Valley Voice editorial opinion section. We’ve had several comments on this editorial opinion (and in fact on others written in the past few weeks about this issue and others related to guns, civil behavior, and the Constitution) where the commenter is not brave enough to use his or her own name. If you can’t use your own name to criticize us, then we don’t publish your comments. As always the rules of civility, decency, and libel apply.
Hi Jan,
I find it comical that your motto is Truth has a Voice. You would not know truth it if bit you in the behind. You defame a person on this page without any credibility. Daniel Taylor is not a white supremacist or he is the worst one in the world. The man gets along with everyone of any color. We are all of the same race, the human race, and to call someone names just shows your ignorance. I took a pledge over 40 years ago to fight for this country against all foes, both foreign and domestic and never thought I would see the day when my own countrymen were trying to tear us apart from the inside. We don’t have to agree on everything but actually learn the truth and stop the name calling for the sake of looking superior. My city is Salida, CO. You need to fix this site so we can enter it with our name
Brian,
Thank you for your comment. Apparently you aren’t a regular reader or commenter of Ark Valley Voice. If you were, you would know that this is a news organization, and unlike most news organizations, we actually do allow reader comments. But we only accept comments to news stories where people include their names, and don’t libel others, so every post is reviewed first. People who aren’t brave enough to use their names are not approved. Taylor’s own social media posts reveal his self-identified white supremacy and the goals of such groups are not focused on building up this country’s but on tearing us apart; we called him no names. Thank you for your military service. Members of my immediate family are veterans, apparently of the same generation as you say you are. Our family’s military service to this nation goes back past the founding of this nation, so we understand and have sacrificed in support of this democracy.
I hope you’ll take some time to reflect on how wrong you are about Taylor’s racists beliefs, and then take more time to think about all the other things you might be wrong about, but who am I kidding? It is a lot more fun to just be angry, right? Who needs to be correct when you can be angry?
Sir, with all due respect, you are the person who is being ignorant and divisive. The person tearing this country apart is named Trump who destroyed an entire party and others with falsehoods and incitement to destroy their fellow man for his entertainment and pleasure. Daniel Taylor expressed the desire to be a member of white supremacist groups and so Daniel deserves to be thought of in that manner. He should have done his research before he claimed the desire to be involved in terrorist organizations labeled as such for good reason. The thing that needs to be fixed is the domestic terrorism law that must exist for those spreading the lies and hate and terrorizing their fellow countrymen out of the love of violence and ignorance. This publication is not name calling to be superior. This publication is trying to save our country and you from the ignorance that will kill it. This publication uses facts and research and not ignorance and hate spread by a criminally negligent group of politicians and others who rely on ignorance and violence to make profit off of inciting it . Please educate yourself as to the groups that Danny expressed the desire to join and look at his behavior. He is no reason to forget your oath simply because their is no law preventing domestic terrorism. If Danny were an honorable man he would not get his jollies terrorizing children nor would he refuse to listen to reason. It is a shame that our country is being gutted by ignorance and hatred intentionally spawned by some very evil people who should have been met by those like Danny with the knowledge and sense to fight it off. Love of country is not the same as love of violence and hatred displayed by those Danny wishes to join.
I need to correct your interpretation of the black flag being flown by these bullies. The black flag means to give no quarter and kill everyone. It does not mean they will fight to the death. When a city was put under siege in medieval times the residents were given a choice. They could surrender or be put under the black flag. If after a specified period of time the city had not surrendered then every man, women and child was slaughtered and the city was destroyed. These bullies are trying to relive something that is long gone, The Roman Legions laying siege to a city. This is their pathetic vision of a future they yearn for.
These bullies would never fight to the death. They would use the Monty Python military maneuver “run away, run away”.
HELP!!!
! We as a community need to step up and address this. How will we all feel if and when he does kill someone? All of us who feel how incredibly wrong this is need to do something!!! I plan on contacting the Salida Police and members of the city council but what else can we do? We cannot let this continue. It’s ridiculous, frightening and sad.
Thank you, Jan, for continuing to cover this. Apparently, our Colorado statutes carry no weight in this matter?
Thank you for continuing to report on this very serious problem that our city has chosen to ignore. They are doing what they always do and that is cover tail and hide and pretend everything is all good as they have been doing for many decades. After all, the local government and police won’t be threatened as the members of this community are if they do nothing. They will be left alone unless they to the right thing. I think they chose this route out of cowardice and maybe a little hope they can run off a few more long time residents in the process. They will do nothing in my opinion unless tourism is largely impacted. The only way to do that is to keep reporting on the problem and educate the public – and maybe move scheduled events elsewhere – not just on Sunday, but all days. Attendees should definitely know the problem and the lack of protection of them while they are here.