FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington - August 5, 2019 — Following a recent spate of violence inspired by white nationalism, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“We are deeply saddened by the terrible events of the past weekend. We must recognize and combat growing white nationalist terrorism in the United States and elsewhere,” said Mike Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. “White nationalist ideology, which is the apparent motive behind the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, threatens the social fabric of this democracy, and of other places around the world where it has found a home.”
“President Trump was correct to renounce racism and white supremacy this morning. At the same time, we call on him to refrain from further inflammatory rhetoric about Latinos, immigrants, and members of nonwhite ethnic groups that fans the flames of this hate.”
Background:
On August 3, a shooter killed 22 people and injured dozens of others at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart located near the US–Mexican border. He appears to have targeted this venue specifically because it is popular among the city’s Latino and immigrant community, as well as cross-border shoppers from Mexico. Similar acts of hatred take place in this country with alarming, and increasing, frequency.
The United States is rated Free in Freedom in the World 2019 and Free in Freedom on the Net 2018.
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