(via AmericaBlogNews)
From the Anti-Defamation League.
White supremacists and neo-Nazi hate groups plan to take advantage of the anti-tax “Tea Parties” set to occur in more than 1,000 cities and localities over the July 4 holiday weekend to disseminate racist fliers and other materials and attempt to recruit others to their cause, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
ADL’s Center on Extremism, which monitors extremist groups and provides information to law enforcement and the public, has released information on its Web site describing the attempt by white supremacists to co-opt the anti-tax message of the events as a means to spread racism and anti-Semitism.
On Stormfront, the most popular white supremacist Internet forum, members have discussed becoming local organizers of the “Tea Parties” and finding ways to involve themselves in the events. Many racists have voiced their intent to attend these rallies for the purpose of cultivating an “organized grassroots White mass movement,” with some suggesting that they would do so without openly identifying themselves as racists.
5 comments:
As a libertarian you know, I renounce this.
Are you a registered libertarian? Do you attend tea parties? When your fellow libertarians invoke racially-charged comments, or crazy conspiracy theories, do you challenge them or correct them?
True libertarians don't believe in registration. (Makes it easier for them to come take all your guns.)
Haven't attended any tea parties, because the whole concept seems a little precious.
The libertarians I know aren't bigots, so most opportunities for challenging/correcting are provided by Republicans and some Democrats.
Well therein lies our discord, my friend. Here's the deal: _registered_ libertarians and republicans organize tea parties which, while publically are anti-spending parties, are in effect magnets for everyone who hates Obama, including the small but loyal contingent of those who hate him because he's black, and are friendly to the idea of a race war. White supremacist recruiters, open white supremacists, and closeted white supremacists thus get to meet up and bond, and the organizers (as well as a few significant libertarian activists and advocates out there) are basically okay with all this, because it pumps up their numbers and even the most conscientious among them, for varying reasons, don't put racism and hate crimes on their list of things to correct in society.
Far be it from me to tell you how to exist politically, but it seems like an anonymous renunciation isn't going to be terribly effective. What I'd like to see is LP members, and even GOP, publicly renounce any affiliation with groups _or_ individuals that advocate racial violence and any kind of racist political theories.
If what you say about the racial component of "tea parties" is true, I find it disgusting and unacceptable. If organizers take no measure to exclude (within legal parameters) those elements or, failing that, strongly and vocally distance themselves from the hatemongers, they deserve condemnation.
I just went to the Libertarian Party web site to see if there was any info on the tea parties or discussion of the racist presence at them. The only mention of racism I found on the site was a lengthy blog post by Andrew Davis on October 13, 2008, in which he wrote, "...McCain has resorted to stoking the fires of racism and paranoia among his supporters in hopes of winning on emotion, rather than policy." Section 3.5 of the Libertarian Platform says, "We condemn bigotry as irrational and repugnant." Not race-related, but indicative of tolerance, the home page has a link to a June 26, 2009, press release from the party condemning the Defense of Marriage Act and offering support to LGBT Democrats in their struggle to be free of governmental interference in marriage.
All of this is consistent with the attitude of acceptance and tolerance I see in fellow libertarians. If the party is turning a blind eye to the "irrational and repugnant" at these rallies, they deserve to be rebuked. I'll send them a letter to that effect (under my full name).
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