In the wake of the planned Neo-Nazi riot in Charlottesville this past weekend, I’m seeing a disturbing trend among my fellow liberals. Many are advocating that white nationalist groups still be allowed to hold such events as long as they’re “peaceful” and “law-abiding,” and that the people belonging to these groups be free of personal accountability for the violence they incite.
Let’s set aside, for a moment, the fact that Neo-Nazis (re-branded as the “Alt-Right”) at these events are well-funded, armed, armored, protected by armed militia, and, in most cases, the local police.
Let’s also set aside that this past weekend they murdered one counter-protester, injured several others, used mace on their opponents, and beat a young black man with clubs, shouting, “fire the first shot! Let’s start this race war!”
Let’s also set aside that they routinely dox women and brown-skinned folks that speak up against them on social media, committing real-world harm by publishing their addresses and other private information.
Let’s also set aside the fact that they marched with torches to deliberately invoke the image of lynch mobs so common in our country through the 1960s. Let’s also set aside that their entire platform is not protected speech under the 1st Amendment, nor that that amendment only protects them from retaliation by the federal government and not their fellow citizens and businesses.
At its core, many of my fellow liberals are arguing that the liberal ideals of tolerance, diversity, and harmony, including Neo-Nazi’s right to assemble, advocate harm toward our fellow citizens, and commit domestic terrorism, are somehow more important than the safety and rights of anyone who isn’t a white, straight, Christian male to live their lives, as Americans, free of harm and persecution. That’s messed up.
Joe Kopera
Montague