Tell Your Representatives to Officially Condemn Trump’s Radicalizing Rhetoric!
If the Republican-controlled Congress won’t condemn Trump’s rhetoric that has radicalized and given support to white supremacist terrorists, then we must urge our State representatives to take action!
A president radicalizing far-right terrorists
The United States faced a week of radical white supremacist terrorism in late October, 2018:
October 22 - October 26, 2018: Bombs were mailed to prominent Democrats, opponents of Trump, and media organizations. The suspected perpetrator was a fanatical supporter of Trumpism and appeared to become radicalized during Trump’s 2016 campaign. Notably, Trump implied the assassination attempts against his prominent critics were a hoax, and he blamed the media for inciting one of his supporters to mail bombs to CNN.
October 24, 2018: An armed man attempted to enter a black church in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. When he was unable to gain entry, he walked to a nearby Kroger store and murdered two black patrons. The suspect reportedly told another armed white citizen that attempted to stop the murders, “Whites don’t kill whites.”
October 27, 2018: A neo-Nazi terrorist inspired to act in part by Trump’s claims of an imminent threat from immigrant “caravans” funded by George Soros murdered 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue.
These violent attacks did not occur in a vacuum. The perpetrators of these attacks and other recent far-right terrorism understand that Trump and his Republican enablers are providing them moral cover and room to operate. What other perception could these radical white supremacists have when Trump hires top advisers with links to violent anti-Semitic militas; or when Trump creates moral equivalency between neo-Nazis and anti-racist protesters; or when Trump encourages his supporters to commit violence against his critics?
FEEDING THE FIRE
Many were shocked that Trump did not tone down his inflammatory rhetoric after a week of white supremacist attacks. But Trump continuing to feed the fires of hate and violence were entirely expected.
It has become increasingly clear over the past two years that Trump and his Republican enablers are comfortable with tolerating political violence against their opponents. A few recent examples:
Trump expressly praised Montana Representative Greg Gianforte for physically assaulting a journalist that asked a question the Congressman didn’t like.
The Manhattan Republican Club invited the leader of the pro-authoritarian street gang Proud Boys to speak at their establishment, and (predictably) the Proud Boys engaged in street violence against political opponents.
Trump warned of violence if Republicans did not retain Congress after the mid-term elections (this is on top of Trump’s routine use of veiled threats of violence against his political opponents).
Neither Trump or the Republican-controlled Congress has any intention of taking action that will make the sort of far-right terrorism Americans have recently confronted less likely. They have too much to gain by encouraging such violence.
That is why we must turn to other centers of power in American society to condemn Trump and the Republican Party’s embrace of violent political extremists.
The Importance of official condemnation of trump’s radicalizing rhetoric
After a week of radical far-right terror, we have a President that continues to give speeches promoting conspiracy theories that incite violence, who blames CNN for having bombs sent to its offices, and who lauds physical assaults against reporters - and we have a collaborating Republican Congress that refuses to call out Trump’s radicalizing rhetoric. Violent white supremacists and far-right extremists are emboldened when their hateful actions are not officially condemned in the strongest possible terms.
That is why we must turn to our State representatives to pass resolutions and issue statements of official condemnation against Trump’s radicalizing rhetoric. The people’s representatives at the State-level must fill the void created by having a federal government temporarily captured by Trump and his enablers.
Use the link below to find the direct contact info for every State legislative chamber in the United States. And scroll down to find a sample letter to use as a template when you contact your representative.
Remember, by taking action you are fighting to create a country where white supremacists are not welcome!
Template for correspondence to your representative
Dear (State Legislator),
I am writing as your constituent to address the role President Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric has had in radicalizing violent white supremacist and far-right terrorism. Specifically, I am deeply concerned the suspect behind the recent string of mail bomb attacks aimed at prominent Democrats and media figures was radicalized by President Trump’s repeated demonization of the targets of the attacks. I am all the more troubled that even after the bombing suspect’s motives became clear, President Trump continued to make incendiary statements about the targets of the attacks (e.g., encouraging chants to lock up George Soros and blaming the media for the attacks).
Further, the suspected perpetrator of the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pennsylvania appears to have been motivated in part by the conspiracy theory promoted by President Trump that George Soros is funding “caravans” of migrants to destroy the United States. Even after the alleged perpetrator’s motives became known, President Trump continued to promote this destructive “caravan” conspiracy theory.
I believe it is important that our public officials and elected leaders condemn the sort of radicalizing rhetoric routinely employed by President Trump, which only serves to create an atmosphere permissive of violence. This is why I am requesting that your office issue a formal statement condemning President Trump’s continued use of radicalizing rhetoric. I am also requesting that action be taken in the State (House/Assembly/Senate) to pass a formal resolution condemning President Trump’s radicalizing rhetoric due to the impact such rhetoric is proven to have in fomenting white supremacist violence.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)