From Moms Rising (https://www.momsrising.org/):
This weekend, we watched in horror as white supremacists and Nazis marched through the streets of Charlottesville, VA, inciting violence that caused the death of at least one peaceful anti-racism demonstrator. There’s no question that the election of Donald Trump has emboldened white supremacists, neo-Nazis, racism, anti-Semitism, bigotry, sexism, Islamophobia, and hate — and now it is up to us to follow in the footsteps of brave anti-racist Americans throughout history, to stand in solidarity with those in Charlottesville and across our nation opposing hate, and to defend and strengthen our democratic values.
There’s a lot of work to be done, but we can start by correctly diagnosing the problem. To that end, we urge all media to stop using the terms “alt-right” and “white nationalists” to describe white supremacists. [1] These terms are euphemisms that mask dangerous, hateful, and extremist ideology. [2] Moreover, the euphemisms “alt-right” and “white nationalist” have allowed Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller to assume high positions in the White House without causing the same level of public alarm that likely would have happened if they were correctly labeled white supremacists by the media from the start.
Take a moment right now to sign our open letter to the top TV and newspaper outlets at http://action.momsrising.org/sign/expose_white_supremacy urging them NOT to downplay the impact of deeply harmful white supremacist groups, actions, or thought-leaders by using the words “alt-right” or “white nationalism” to describe white supremacists and Nazis. Instead, we urge the media to call it like it is and use the term “white supremacy.”
When we use the term “white nationalist,” we suggest that perhaps those who marched with torches over the weekend in Charlottesville are something less than “white supremacists.” In fact, even the Merriam-Webster dictionary just tweeted out a clarification that the use of the word “nationalism” should no longer connote patriotism anymore due to its recent use. [3]
Precision is critical.
And precision is especially critical when it comes to media reporting on white supremacy because there are not “many sides” to condemn, as President Trump, speaking about Charlottesville, said on Saturday. Moms and dads know that there is no moral equivalency between the white supremacists and the people who came out in Charlottesville to stand up for racial justice and decency. There is only one side to condemn and that’s the one advocating for white supremacy, racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny, bigotry, and hate.
Those who marched with the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville — whether they call themselves Nazis, white nationalists, Klansmen, or the alt-right — ARE white supremacists.
Our news headlines must speak this truth — not hide it.
To be clear, the diversity of our nation is what makes our country strong, innovative and prosperous; not the opposite — and we won’t watch silently from the sidelines as the core of our nation’s strength, and our communities, is attacked by those promoting racism and hate.
We know that racism and hate are more complex than just Nazis on a march in Charlottesville. They are deep, and systemic — but after this weekend, the fight is simple. Every generation of Americans has had to make a choice: Either we sit by and allow hate to spread; or we oppose it with all our being. Whether hate appears in the form of a brown-shirted Nazi, a white-robed Klansman, or white supremacists in khakis, we must stand together and stop it.
MomsRising’s more than 1 million members mirror the rich diversity of our nation and we stand against hate, racism, anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and misogyny. We stand in solidarity with the courageous and diverse communities in Charlottesville and across our nation who stand against bigotry.
Throughout our nation’s history, there have always been good people who have stood up against hate and racial violence. It’s time for us to be those people. We must defend and advance our nation’s core value of reaching for liberty, equity and equality for everyone. This is nothing short of a fight for the soul of our nation – and we cannot lose.
We will keep marching against hate and fighting for equity, equality and justice for everyone. Make no mistake: This is a fight for our children’s and our nation’s future.
We will not back down.
Together, we are a powerful force.
P.S. Wondering how to talk to kids about this? There’s an excellent article from the Los Angeles Times on the matter that we highly recommend, titled: “How to talk to your kids about the violence in Charlottesville”: http://action.momsrising.org/go/30155?t=8&akid=9454%2E2540879%2EyaoVZG
[1] “White Nationalists March on University of Virginia,” The New York Times.
[2] “White Nationalist vs. White Supremacist: What is the Difference?,” MSNBC.
[3] Merriam-Webster Tweet
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