Friend,

Tens of thousands of Americans asked the moderators of last night’s debate to address white supremacy, white nationalism, and the threats to our communities — and they sparked the beginning of a conversation that we need to continue.

Here’s what some of the candidates said last night. You can click on each graphic to share widely.

Many of these statements were truly powerful, addressing systemic racism and the President’s role in spreading hateful ideology.  

It’s an important start — but it’s not enough. The white nationalist movement — which believes this country is only for white Christian people — has grown from the fringes of our society into government agencies, right-wing media, and the halls of power. It’s a threat to communities across the country. 

We need candidates and future moderators to do more than just name the issue — we need comprehensive plans for how they will confront and defeat white nationalism.

Because even while Democrats were beginning to address this national crisis on stage, Republicans were engaging in dangerous, right-wing propaganda.

During last night’s debate, ABC let a right-wing PAC run an ad targeting Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.¹ The ad relies on sickening white supremacist rhetoric and imagery, showing an image of Ocasio-Cortez’s face literally burning through to skeletons. It’s disgusting. It’s incitement. And it’s a distraction from the true source of racist violence in this country: the white nationalism embraced and enabled by this president and his political party.

It’s why we need every candidate to fully connect the dots:

• We need plans that combat the cultivation of right-wing extremism online and hold tech companies accountable for profiting off of bigotry.
  
  
• We need plans that ensure that government agencies don’t become places where white nationalists find a foothold and build power.
  
  
• We need plans that reform our gun laws and keep weapons of war out of hateful hands.
  
  
• And we need plans that fully tackle income inequality and expand civil rights so we can build a shared future where all of us can thrive.

Our next president must be capable of leading a diverse coalition to defeat white nationalism and truly achieve a vibrant multiracial democracy. Let’s keep fighting to make that future a reality.

In solidarity,

The Bend the Arc team

Sources:

1. CBS News, "Ad showing Ocasio-Cortez's face in flames and pile of skulls airs during debate"