re: Maybe I look like a white supremacist?

Maybe...

A long time employee and friend of this who worked there recently died, was fired, demoted, etc and the mood of the plant was mourning or anger.

Maybe the plant had just announced layoffs or reduced hours and employees were scared and angry.

Maybe, they just had a plant-wide meeting and their benefit costs were greatly increased, benefits greatly reduced or there was a no wage increase for X amount of time announced and employees were not happy.

After 20+ years in executive HR management, there is 1 thing I know: when an entire mood and/or culture is negative, it’s a response to something personal and internal - never external and/or involving individuals they don’t know.