A
statement by the YDS Coordinating
Committee, drafted by Kayla Pace.
History
has shown us that fear-mongering and hatred towards certain minority groups is
nothing new when it comes to political elections. Various societies over
different periods of time have shown this to be true. A notable example is the
hatred directed towards the Jewish community by the Nazis in Germany.
Unfortunately, this year has proven that fear-mongering tactics are not for the
history books but something we, as Democratic Socialists, need to fight in our
current political climate.
While
many citizens across the nation are crying out for a Sanders presidency and the
institution of more socialist policies, other more conservative Americans are
crying out for Donald Trump. Young Democratic Socialists reprimands Trump’s
strong anti-Muslim sentiments. In recent comments he has stated there needs to
be surveillance of Muslim communities; this surveillance would potentially
include a database to track them and specialized identification cards. These
ideas are appalling to our ideology as socialists, and we must work tirelessly
to dismiss his anti-Muslim rhetoric and show that the “values” he is spreading
are not American. As a country, we should not support a candidate that is
actively spreading hate among certain groups of American citizens.
Trump
and his followers’ rhetoric has real implications for Muslims, immigrants, and
people of color.
His religious bigotry has caused attacks by Americans directed
at Muslim Americans, such as the young woman being pushed in front of an
oncoming subway in London. Not only are Muslim Americans being attacked, but
also many Arab Americans and people of color, because they could possibly be
perceived as Muslim by ignorant individuals in our society. Democratic
Socialists of America is an organization known for education and action. As
Young Democratic Socialists, it is now time for action against bigotry and
violence perpetrated by Mr. Trump and his followers. This call to action
includes local YDS chapters reaching out to Islamic mosques and Muslim student
organizations to ask if and how they can help in solidarity. Another way to
show solidarity is through social media; condemning Mr. Trump's comments while
stating your chapter/yourself is in solidarity with the Muslim community during
this time. Finally, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has created buttons
to wear so that everyone we encounter will know that we will not stand with
those who spout hatred and anti-Muslim rhetoric.
A far-right threat
grows in Europe.
In the context of
the "war on terror", those on the far right are feeling very
mainstream at the moment. It is a sentiment likely to feed off the British
parliament's vote
on 3 December to bomb targets in Syria. These far-right activists reproduce
official discourse on radicalisation and terrorism, and racialise Islam and its
believers. “German Pegida activists are very mainstream, because the ideas
against Islam and Islamic immigration are mainstream,” says Tommy Robinson.
“The majority of people in Europe are concerned with that immigration. ”A
far-right threat
In the context of the "war on
terror", those on the far right are feeling very mainstream at the moment.
It is a sentiment likely to feed off the British parliament's vote on 3 December to bomb
targets in Syria. These far-right activists reproduce official discourse on
radicalisation and terrorism, and racialise Islam and its believers. “German
Pegida activists are very mainstream, because the ideas against Islam and
Islamic immigration are mainstream,” says Tommy Robinson. “The majority of
people in Europe are concerned with that immigration.”
Read the article. https://www.opendemocracy.net/hsiao-hung-pai/crisis-facing-europe-far-right-going-mainstream
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