We Must Protect Immigrant Communities as Hate Speech Rises
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mattie Goldman, [email protected]
WASHINGTON — Maya Wiley, President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement on the rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric:
“Voters will determine the outcome of this election and every person in this country deserves to feel safe in their communities, at the ballot box, and live free from threats of violence. What we have seen this week is the toxic merging of ginned up xenophobia and disinformation, accelerated by social media platforms that have been more afraid of extremists than doing what is right. It’s past time for social media platforms to restore their policies and their personnel to monitor bias, hate and lies.
“The rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric this election cycle and what we are currently witnessing in Springfield, Ohio is not simply hate speech. It’s a white supremacist tactic to divide us and keep us living in fear of one another rather than unified to support each other. Every time public officials spew hate speech, it emboldens their followers. We must be clear: anti-immigrant hate is part of a broader attack on democracy, fueled by an insidious agenda to uphold racist systems and sow doubt in the upcoming election results. The recent events in Springfield, where immigrants and immigrant communities are being openly targeted and vilified, serve as a chilling example – among many – of how lies and hate speech quickly evolve into real-world harm.
“Election cycles often see an increase in hate incidents and hate speech, and once again we are witnessing a coordinated effort to scapegoat immigrants and communities of color for political gain. This tactic is used to distract the majority of voters from the pressing issues we really care about–economic inequality, regressive immigration policies, and the erosion of civil rights. We are calling on political leaders to unequivocally condemn anti-immigrant rhetoric and the white supremacist ideology that underpins it. Social media companies must use the tools and protocols already at their disposal to deplatform users that spread disinformation, fuel violence, and cause division.
“We cannot allow hate to be normalized in our political discourse. We must fight back against the bigoted few who turn vulnerable communities into convenient targets, and we stand in solidarity with those who are under attack. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights remains committed to building an America as good as its ideals — a multiracial democracy where every individual, regardless of background, race, or immigration status, is treated with dignity and respect. In this critical moment, we call on everyone in this country to reject hate in all of its forms and to work together toward a future built on equality and justice for all.”
In May 2024, The Leadership Conference Education Fund released Cause for Concern 2024: The State of Hate (Updated May 2024), which notes the rise in white supremacist hate incidents tied to the last four general election cycles and documents the failure of social media companies to adequately address disinformation.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.
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