A known white supremacist living in New Hampshire sent the racist email that led to the resignation of the South Portland school system’s diversity director last week.
The email was sent to former diversity director Mohammad Albehadli on Dec. 29 by Ryan Murdough, introducing himself as the founder of the New England White Network, according to the Portland Press Herald.
Albehadli worked for the South Portland school system for about a year before receiving the racist email, according to the Press Herald. Albehadli plans to leave Maine over concerns of his family’s safety.
Superintendent Timothy Matheney, who last week described the message as “the most vile email” he’s seen in his 35-year career, shared two quotes from it on Tuesday with the Press Herald.
“White people in Maine don’t appreciate what you (Albehadli) are trying to do in (South) Portland,” read one quote from Murdough’s email.
Murdough ran unsuccessfully for the New Hampshire Legislature in 2010 as a Republican, according to the Anti-Defamation League. In 2022, white supremacy propaganda incidents rose 50 percent in Maine and 96 percent across New England, the Anti-Defamation League has found.
The South Portland School Department turned the email over to the police, according to the Press Herald.
