Statistics on the rise in hate crimes must give everyone who thought America was immune from these assaults on decency pause.
The New York Times has detailed this week how social media - both mainstream sites like Facebook and niche sites like Gab that market to extremists - have given racists, anti-Semites, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups a platform to spout their disgusting words and vile sentiments.
We saw the dangerous ramifications of that in Pittsburgh where Robert Bowers has been charged with murder and hate crimes, suspected of opening fire on people who had gathered to peacefully practice their religion.
People of all faiths now must wonder if hate has rendered their place of worship unsafe.
We can only assume the hate Sayoc expressed on social media was fueled by his diet of far-right conspiracy theories and by the words of President Donald Trump whose verbal assault on Democrats and the media are beyond the pale.
We cannot let the extremists emboldened by hateful rhetoric in this country divide us.
In these trying times Democrats and Republicans must truly listen to one another and denounce hate everywhere they see it whether on social media, in our streets, from our elected officials, or from our friends and family.
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/30/we-cannot-let-the-extremists-divide-us/
The New York Times has detailed this week how social media - both mainstream sites like Facebook and niche sites like Gab that market to extremists - have given racists, anti-Semites, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups a platform to spout their disgusting words and vile sentiments.
We saw the dangerous ramifications of that in Pittsburgh where Robert Bowers has been charged with murder and hate crimes, suspected of opening fire on people who had gathered to peacefully practice their religion.
People of all faiths now must wonder if hate has rendered their place of worship unsafe.
We can only assume the hate Sayoc expressed on social media was fueled by his diet of far-right conspiracy theories and by the words of President Donald Trump whose verbal assault on Democrats and the media are beyond the pale.
We cannot let the extremists emboldened by hateful rhetoric in this country divide us.
In these trying times Democrats and Republicans must truly listen to one another and denounce hate everywhere they see it whether on social media, in our streets, from our elected officials, or from our friends and family.
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/30/we-cannot-let-the-extremists-divide-us/
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