A year ago on August 12, 2017, Heather Heyer was killed by a white supremacist. [Thread below]
President Trump equivocated – unable to see the difference between white supremacists walking through #Charlottesville and people like Heather who opposed them. In his view, some “very fine people” were among the torch-bearing racists. splcenter.org/fighting-hate/…
Last weekend, we once again saw the face of hate – this time in Portland, Oregon, where multiple people were injured in street fighting provoked by far-right extremists. splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018…
No one should be surprised. This is Donald Trump’s America. These are the forces he has unleashed. splcenter.org/20170427/100-d…
Rather than try to pull the country together after Charlottesville — rather than examine the impact of his own rhetoric and actions — Trump has doubled down on the toxic xenophobia and fearmongering that have fueled his political life.
Like labeling our free press as the “enemy of the people.”
It’s all part of the ugly, destructive ethno-nationalism Trump is advancing both at home and abroad. White supremacists and anti-democratic extremists everywhere are cheering their friend in the White House. His words nourish and energize them. splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016…
We all have a responsibility – not simply to speak out but to act.
As Heather’s mom said, quoting her daughter: “Find what’s wrong; don’t ignore it; don’t look the other way. Make it a point to look at it and say to yourself: “What can I do to make a difference?”
This weekend, as we remember Charlottesville, commit to making Heather’s life count. Take action. splcenter.org/news/2017/08/1…
Rest in power, Heather. The march continues.
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Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court is a devastating blow.
But the truth is, Kavanaugh's just the tip of the iceberg.
For nearly two years, Trump has been stacking the federal judiciary with highly partisan judges like Kavanaugh who threaten the rights of marginalized and vulnerable people in our country. splcenter.org/news/2018/09/2…
Mississippi is 1 of only 4 states that imposes a lifetime voting ban on people with past felony convictions. We filed a lawsuit against the state earlier this year & testified at a legislative hearing in Jackson this morning. splcenter.org/news/2018/03/2…
There’s a chance Mississippi legislators could pass legislation to restore voting rights to people with past felony convictions in 2019.
“Mississippi’s disenfranchisement statute is an extension of slavery and suppression of human rights.” — SPLC’s Jody Owens
The 2018 midterm elections are 34 days away — but millions of people in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi & Alabama won’t be able to vote. That’s why we’re working to eliminate disenfranchisement and discriminatory voting practices in the Deep South. splcenter.org/our-issues/vot…
In Florida, we’re helping secure the Voting Restoration Amendment (Amendment 4), which would restore the voting rights of 1.4 million Floridians who’ve been convicted of a felony at some point in their lives. @YesTo2ndChancessplcenter.org/news/2018/01/2…
In Alabama, we’re helping people who’ve been incarcerated register to vote. Some Alabamians who have former convictions already have the right to vote — but no one told them that. We're working with @CampaignLegal to make sure they're informed. alabamavotingrights.com
Take Yuusuf. A teacher before fleeing Somalia, Yuusuf's passion for education put him in the crosshairs of al-Shabab. He fled, but never reached safety. He was held in US detention for 800 days. When it looked like there was #NoEndInSight, he gave up.
Take Mateo. He fled Central America after his wife’s ex-husband tried to kill him multiple times. After arriving in the US he suffered from almost constant pain, vertigo + memory loss. He knew he needed treatment, but all he got was ibuprofen. Mateo saw #NoEndInSight. He gave up.
Four members of the racist and antisemitic “Rise Above Movement” were taken into custody today and face federal charges of traveling to Charlottesville with the intent of rioting at the “Unite the Right” rally in 2017. splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018…
“In our view, they were essentially serial rioters." U.S. Attorney Thomas Cullen
The Rise Above Movement (RAM) is an SPLC designated white nationalist hate group. It is comprised of hardcore white supremacists inspired by Iidentitarian aesthetics and the European circuit of racist, neo-Nazi MMA promotions, clothing brands and football hooliganism.
We’re at the @ctr4chr to join this important conversation. SPLC attorney Jonathan Barry-Blocker will speak about our work to reenfranchise people returning from incarceration in Alabama through the Alabama Voting Rights Project.
“There’s a lot of work that can be done [in the criminal justice system] to fix it and it’s not just work a lawyer can do.” - SPLC’s Jonathan Barry-Blocker