All of us have an important role in countering terrorism and violence. All political leaders need to encourage greater civility and refrain from incendiary language. Social media need to fight prejudice, hatred and terrorism. We must watch for lies, disinformation and incendiary language.
The record shows that we desperately need Joe Biden to lead us forward to a kinder, gentler, safer and more respectful time.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the most significant threat to our country comes from white supremacists. From 1994 to May 2020, there were 893 threats, the vast majority coming from the right wing, far outpacing the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.
The right-wing attacks in the United States have grown significantly in the Trump years. According to CSIS, two-thirds of the terrorist attacks were by the right wing against races, religions and ethnic minorities. Just between January 1 and May 5, 2020, 90 percent of the attacks were by the right wing. Just turn on the news and you’ll see examples of this — along with the president’s encouragement.
It is imperative that we have Joe Biden as president to pressure Congress to pass some of the pending legislation designed to assess the threat posed by white supremacists and neo-Nazi infiltration of law enforcement and the military. (See the Brennan Center’s detailed analysis of this issue.)
Additionally, Congress must pass the proposed End Racial and Religious Profiling Act, which bans all federal,state and local enforcement agencies from profiling based on actual or perceived race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation.
Note the Black Lives Matter movement, which illustrates the tremendous pain, agony and frustration created by law enforcement’s treatment of Blacks. Here in Southampton, I have been impressed by the cooperation and professionalism of the local police with the multiple Black Lives Matter marches.
We urgently need Joe Biden to appoint a new attorney general to fight for and protect the rights of all the people, not just political friends of the president.
Trump rages about the street protest problems arising from the left. All of the statistics and facts refute this. We need Joe Biden to assure protection of calm, peaceful protests, which our Constitution guarantees. These peaceful protests must take place without right-wing violence or threats, and we need the help of our police to ensure the safety of these peaceful protesters.
Joe Biden will not be tear-gassing or shooting peaceful protesters in front of the White House, a place long used for peaceful protest.
Mackie Finnerty
Southampton
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