In recent weeks, the country has witnessed numerous acts of violence and hatred upon significant leaders and groups of people based on race and political ideology. While the recent mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, the murders of two African Americans in Kentucky and the bomb threats of democratic leaders with package bombs are clear examples of the presence of hatred in the United States, the general public as expressed outrage and a demand for change.
The immediate aftermath in Pittsburgh, amongst the grief, were protests of the nations gun laws and hate speech were held outside the synagogue of which the shooting took place. Many media outlets have also questioned whether President Donald Trump’s harsh criticism of democratic leaders and media led to the attempted murders.
On DU’s campus, the members of Latino, Black, Asian, South Asian, Queer and Jewish student alliances held a rally to address the recent racism and acts of hatred in the community. Student Affinity groups from DU’s community gave speeches and voiced their opinions to address the hatred and importance of unity during a series of difficult events at DU.
At the national level, a significant majority of individuals believe rhetoric from influential leaders, specifically those associated with the Trump administration, has inspired the recent rise in hate crimes. Statistics on hate crimes can support such claims as the rate of such crimes across the country has increased in the nation’s largest cities, according to a study done by California State University. Nationally, was an 12.5 percent increase of hate crimes in 2017, resulting in the “fourth consecutive annual rise in a row and the highest total in over a decade.” The study also described racially charged attacks specifically against black Americans as the most common hate crime last year—evident through the murders in Kentucky.
The hate crime in Pittsburgh did not come as a surprise to Professor Jonathan Scarcion, a faculty member of the Center of Judaic Studies at DU. “Anti-semitism has not necessarily grown,” said Scarion, “it is members of a local minority who are all consistently more active. I would be surprised of anti-semitic sentiment has grown across the board.” Scarcion believes that while recent rhetoric from the current administration has not helped, these attacks are a result of long existing sentiments on a small minority.
Frustrations among the Trump administration were evident through the protests comprising of over 2,000 demonstrators in the aftermath of the mass shooting. Although President Trump denounced the hateful acts of the alleged gunman, Robert Bowers, over 70,000 protestors signed a petition stating that he “was not welcome unless he fully denounces white nationalism”. These protests specifically targeted hate speech in federal government, a sign read “Trump, apologize for stoking hatred or go home.”
Individuals have questioned gun regulation in this country, questioning how an individual so vocally anti-semitic hate speech could acquire a militaristic style weapon. Bowers had a history of making hateful and deadly threats to the Jewish community, calling them “the children of Satan.” Proponents of gun control argue that such statements should have prevented him from purchasing a gun.
The primary reaction to these events has been anger from the public, as they demand the Trump administration to denounce hate speech and address issues of gun regulation. While there is yet to be any political action as a result of these events, an ongoing discussion about hate crimes has gained momentum.
