The Story
There's been a lot of talk about white supremacy this week.
I've noticed. Where do we begin?
Let's first clear up what exactly it is. And reiterate that it does, in fact, exist in America. A white supremacist is a person who believes white people are superior to other races.
I know it. I hate it. And why are we talking about it?
Because of the mass shooting this past weekend. Authorities say the suspect in the El Paso, Texas shooting wrote a racist manifesto that was posted online minutes before the attack, which left 22 people dead. Some of the language he used echoed President Trump's past rhetoric on immigrants.
How exactly?
The manifesto mentioned a "Hispanic invasion" – reminding many of language Trump has used about immigration, like referring to migrants as an "invasion." That's not all: in 2017, Trump faced criticism for not immediately condemning white supremacists after an organized rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that turned deadly. Trump has condemned white supremacy in the past, and again after last weekend's shootings. He was in El Paso yesterday to meet with victims. But many are saying 'that's not enough.' Former VP Joe Biden accused the president of fanning "the flames of white supremacy." Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) accused Trump of encouraging hate.
Are things worse than normal?
Some organizations say yes. The FBI said last year that hate crimes – what white supremacist attacks are often reportedly classified as – have increased three years in a row. Last month, the FBI director said that dozens of recent domestic terrorism-related arrests were tied to white supremacy.
How did we get to this point?
Well, it's not like white supremacy popped out of nowhere – racism has a long history in America. But the recent iteration of white supremacy may have grown out of things like extreme political division, the influx of migrants, social media, and the alt-right movement. And as we said, many are also blaming the rhetoric of the president. But it's not just happening in the US – this is a dangerous problem around the world, and attacks like the Christchurch attack in New Zealand may have ripple effects elsewhere.
What's the government doing about all this?
The FBI says it's doing everything it can. There's a key issue: domestic terrorism isn't a federal crime. And agents want this label in place, so that they can have the resources to fight these types of crimes properly. But the White House has reportedly pushed back on efforts by the Dept of Homeland Security to make fighting domestic terrorism a higher priority.
theSkimm
The El Paso shooting follows a long line of attacks in recent years linked to white supremacy. The result is an environment where many Americans – including Latinos and other minorities – are living in fear. And wondering if they can trust that their government is committed to protecting all Americans, or just some.
Skimm This: Learn more about the issue of domestic terrorism in our recent podcast episode.
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