August 5, 2012, a white supremacist murdered six members of the Sikh community at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
June 17, 2015, a white supremacist murdered nine African Americans at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
August 12, 2017, a white supremacist murdered Heather Heyer during a counter-protest to a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
October 27, 2018, a white supremacist murdered 11 people, making it the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the United States, at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
And on August 3, 2019, a white supremacist murdered 22 people after he traveled ten hours to our nation’s southern border in El Paso, Texas.
These are only a few incidences of what has become an alarming increase in the number of hate crimes taking place across America in recent years.
If the answer to the question ‘do racism and white supremacy exist?’ is yes, then the real question isn't who is or isn't a racist, but who is and isn't doing something about it.
It’s not enough to speak out against these racist acts. We must take action. Today, I’m releasing my plan to confront hate crimes and white supremacist violence.
Here’s how we do it:
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Improve federal and local policies and response by creating a White House Office on Hate Crimes and White Supremacist Violence to ensure that dedicated resources are addressing hate crimes and helping victims and impacted communities.
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Empower and support communities and victims of hate crimes by investing in grant programs at federal agencies that help heal and empower victims who have experienced hate crimes and acts of violence in their communities, schools, and workplaces.
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Address hate online by working with social media and online platforms on strategies that improve transparency and accountability to reduce the spread of hate and online radicalization and keep communities safe from white supremacist threats.
Add your name to join me in the fight to combat violence motivated by hate and white supremacy.
Our nation has shown greatness not because of the absence of violent bigotry and white supremacy but because of our efforts together to overcome it.
To proudly claim that we are a nation of tolerance is not enough. We are not called to tolerate injustice; we are called to combat it.
So friend, will you stand with me in taking bold action to combat hate crimes motivated by racism and white supremacy?
Together, we can do this.
Cory
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