By Dustin Rowles | Politics | August 12, 2017 |
By Dustin Rowles | Politics | August 12, 2017 |
Update:
BREAKING: Vehicle plows into a group of counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally in Virginia; injuries unknown.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 12, 2017
horrifying video of counter-protestors being hit by a car in Charlottesville
— Sam Stein (@samstein) August 12, 2017
Warning: If you watch this video, it really is horrifying.
this is absolutely insane—a car just drove into protesters. starts at 7:30. https://t.co/Yp9J2TxT1x
— hannah gais (@hannahgais) August 12, 2017
Video of car hitting anti-racist protestors. Let there be no confusion: this was deliberate terrorism. My prayers with victims. Stay home. pic.twitter.com/MUOZs71Pf4
— Brennan Gilmore (@brennanmgilmore) August 12, 2017
Trump has spoken(ish):
We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
Am in Bedminster for meetings & press conference on V.A. & all that we have done, and are doing, to make it better-but Charlottesville sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
In other words:
NAZIS: we are nazis, definitely nazis beating people up, hate crimes right here
— Joss Whedon (@joss) August 12, 2017
TRUMP TWEET: some things might be bad sort of, like clouds
Also, that condemnation can be interpreted as favorable to either side. Clearly.
Nazis are interpreting Paul Ryan and Donald Trump's tweets as condemning the other side, not them.
— Hunter (@HunterDK) August 12, 2017
Ryan & Trump remain silent on that.
—-
On most days, I try to stay focused on the positive here when it comes to politics: The advancements on Bob Mueller’s Russian probe; the division among Republicans; Trump’s stalled legislative agenda; the firings; the chaos; the many, many fuck-ups of our President.
But while the President has been neutered in some ways, there’s still plenty to fear. He’s taking steps to destroy our environment; he’s rounding up immigrants by the thousands and deporting them; he’s playing a dangerous game of brinkmanship with an insane man, and he’s given both voice and power to men like Jeff Sessions, Steve Bannon, and Sebastian Gorka, and he’s re-activated white supremacy in this country. To be sure, it’s never gone away in America, but Donald Trump has given the Nazis cover. They’re brazen and emboldened, and this weekend in Charlottesville, they gathered together to “Unite the Right/White.”
It was ugly and it was hateful.
This looks as if it's from some film but this is very real and quite frankly terrifying #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/DJNgcuMwjd
— Tom Taylor (@TomasTaylor4) August 12, 2017
White supremacists were chanting “white lives matter” and “Jews will not replace us” at Charlottesville rally. https://t.co/kqQ8cOP3th pic.twitter.com/r1zkeK80S2
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) August 12, 2017
And it’s not just old white rednecks; it’s young people, too.
These guys are so young #charlottesville pic.twitter.com/ucMt8E0Vrt
— Andy Campbell (@AndyBCampbell) August 12, 2017
And it’s not exactly a peaceful gathering, either.
These violent white supremacist terrorists are in #Charlottesville assaulting people right now.THIS IS NOT ABOUT FREE SPEECH #UniteTheRight pic.twitter.com/89sQxb0VKs
— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) August 12, 2017
You heard that right. They're chanting "Fuck you faggots." 2017. #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/pMwbSXZ3wW
— Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) August 12, 2017
And this shit is terrifying. These white supremacists are carrying goddamn semi-automatic rifles.
Unidentified militia has arrived at #EmancipationPark ahead of the #Charlottesville rally with guns in tow. pic.twitter.com/zCLCBU78PF
— Craig Stanley (@_CraigStanley) August 12, 2017
And make no mistake: These people believe that Donald Trump represents their values.
David Duke today in #Charlottesville talking how how the hate rally "fulfills the promises of Donald Trump." pic.twitter.com/nvldJpykvA
— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) August 12, 2017
So this is where we’re at now in America. For white people, this is on us. This is our mess to sort out. These are our people exhibiting hate. This is our problem.
Yeah, but we’re not hateful, racist assholes. What can we do?
For starters, acknowledge the problem, and don’t try and insist that these people do not reflect America, Chris Cillizza. Donald Trump is our President; of course, these values represent part of America.
This encapsulates entire Trump movement:
— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) August 12, 2017
white, straight, Christian rights.
This is NOT America! We will defeat this hate!#Charlottesville https://t.co/zUrW6uMWeJ
Agree with the sentiment but disagree with the premise: this is America. Always has been. Not all of it - or most of it. But too much. https://t.co/HLw606q7wa
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) August 12, 2017
Don’t make jokes. Don’t normalize.
However funny your memes and jokes feel, rest assured they have yet to crack a smile on my face. These people want my extinction.
— TK (@TKhatesyou) August 12, 2017
Focus on that, not the fucking tiki torches. They want us to disappear & die, & they are brazen and unashamed of it, while you make jokes.
— TK (@TKhatesyou) August 12, 2017
If there are opportunities to counter-protest in your area, show up.
Faith groups at Emancipation park singing "this little light of mine." White supremacists chanting 'blood and soil'. pic.twitter.com/EEs7HTKFwr
— Joe Heim (@JoeHeim) August 12, 2017
In #Charlottesville , counter-protesters up bright and early to march pic.twitter.com/IvL8xnpiPL
— Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) August 12, 2017
If you have it in you, be brave:
Heroes. These students were surrounded by torch-bearing neo-Nazis, beaten, & unhelped by the police on scene. #Charlottesville #DefendCville pic.twitter.com/KN2PG4FpBo
— Collin Rees (@collinrees) August 12, 2017
Stand up to those around you who might sympathize with these people:
To those of you liking and retweeting: I see you and thank you. Now. Go tell your friends and family and coworkers. Shout from rooftops.
— TK (@TKhatesyou) August 12, 2017
And maybe you’re like, “What’s a dumb Facebook post gonna do? We can’t fight this on Twitter!” That’s not as true as you might think. Social media has given these people a platform for their hatred. We can disrupt it. Don’t give them any reason to believe they have an ally in you. You can’t “ignore the trolls” anymore, because the trolls are organizing, and they’re carrying weapons, and clearly, “ignoring the trolls” hasn’t gotten us anywhere but here.
So stand up to them even on social media. Go out and protest. Rail at your co-workers, family members, acquaintances. Call them out. Tell your employers. Withhold your children from their grandparents, if you have to. Do not fucking put up with these people.
In the meantime, the Virginia governor has declared a state of emergency after violence breaks out.
Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let's communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence. #Charlottesville
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 12, 2017
Violence erupts at a white nationalist rally in Virginia being held to protest removal of a Confederate statue. https://t.co/Cu8JjuQVWz pic.twitter.com/jRjsVg1Jj0
— AP South U.S. Region (@APSouthRegion) August 12, 2017
No word yet from the President, although his wife has at least addressed this.
Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let's communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence. #Charlottesville
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 12, 2017
Mr. President?
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) August 12, 2017
Trump got what we wanted: We’re back in the 1950s again.