The recent deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on May 18, 2026 was not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern of white supremacist violence that has plagued the region for decades. The two alleged shooters, an 18-year-old from Chula Vista and a 17-year-old from San Diegoleft behind a 75-page manifesto expressing hatred for various marginalized groups, mirroring a dark chapter in San Diego’s history.
Their radicalization online and the nature of their hate-fueled rhetoric have deep roots in the city’s past, particularly tied to figures like Tom Metzgera notorious neo-Nazi leader who founded the White Aryan Resistance (WAR) in 1983. Metzger’s influence, though diminished, left a lasting impact on the region’s extremist landscape.
The Legacy of Tom Metzger and White Aryan Resistance
Tom Metzger began his extremist journey in the 1970s as a member of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klanled by David Duke. By the 1980she had broken away to form WAR, which became a focal point for white supremacist activities in San Diego. Operating out of FallbrookMetzger’s influence extended beyond California, promoting violent ideologies until his death in 2026.
Ricardo Favela, an educator and former activist against Metzger, noted that the ideologies Metzger promoted have become more mainstream. “Although Metzger is no longer here and his movement is no longer active, the politics have not gone anywhere. They’ve remained and have become more normalized,” Favela said. He highlighted how the rhetoric that was once confined to small extremist groups has now seeped into mainstream political discourse.
The San Ysidro McDonald’s Massacre: A Forgotten Act of Racial Violence
San Diego’s history of racially motivated violence is not limited to recent events. On July 18, 1984James Huberty carried out a massacre at a McDonald’s in San Ysidrokilling 21 people and injuring 19 others. Huberty, dressed in military fatigues, targeted predominantly Mexican patrons and employees, unleashing a barrage of bullets over 77 minutes before being shot by a SWAT sniper.
At the time, Huberty’s actions were attributed to mental illness, but later accounts revealed his deep-seated hatred for Mexicans and children. Roberto D. Hernándeza professor of Chicana and Chicano studies at San Diego State Universityemphasized the importance of understanding such acts within their historical context. “It’s always simpler to look at individual characteristics and personality traits than to look at the connective tissue of history. This is a long historical racial colonial dynamic that is constantly playing out,” Hernández said.
The Rise of Lone Wolf Attacks and Online Radicalization
Metzger’s promotion of “lone wolf” attacks in the 1990s was a response to legal troubles following the 1988 murder of Mulugeta Serawan Ethiopian immigrant killed by three skinheads affiliated with WAR. This strategy aimed to protect the white supremacist movement by encouraging individuals to act alone or in small cells.
The recent Islamic Center attackers’ online radicalization and the manifesto they left behind highlight the enduring impact of Metzger’s tactics. Alex Curtisa Metzger associate and early white supremacist internet figure, used his newsletter, the Nationalist Observerto network with extremists and facilitate radicalization. Curtis was arrested in 2000 during “Operation Lone Wolf,” a joint investigation by the San Diego Police and the FBI.
The failure to prevent the Islamic Center attack, despite warnings about the Chula Vista shooter’s extremist views, underscores the ongoing challenge of addressing white supremacist violence. Hernández criticized the lack of proactive measures, stating, “Even though there’s this long history of violence in the region that’s informed by white supremacy, the state is really just reacting to it. It never really proactively takes steps in stopping it.”
For many community leaders, the attack is a stark reminder of the deep-seated racial tensions that have plagued San Diego for decades. Khalid Alexanderfounder of the organization Pillars of the Communityemphasized the need for collective action. “This is a continuation of the American history. Those who attacked the mosque are the same kind of people who bombed churches in Alabama,” Alexander said.
As San Diego continues to grapple with its past, the recent attack serves as a stark reminder of the enduring legacy of white supremacy and the urgent need for proactive measures to combat hate and violence.
