Skip to content

Make hate wrong again

Over the past few days, Philadelphians have been watching as two conflicting movements take shape.

The killing of Walter Wallace Jr. brought protestors to the streets to stand up to the needless killing of yet another Black man by police.

That Wallace was mentally unstable when cops decided to shoot him dead, despite his mother’s pleas for his life, makes this story about as heart-wrenching as a man killed because a police officer decided to kneel on his neck for several minutes while he lay handcuffed, face down on the ground, struggling to breathe. Or perhaps as outrageous as a Black man shot to death on a jog by armed self-anointed vigilantes who chased after him. Or as unforgivable as the killing of a woman at her own apartment with a hail of bullets by the very people who are supposed to protect our communities.

All of the above needless deaths have inspired protests that may well signal America’s desire for change.

But over the past few days, we have also learned of the existence of support for Donald Trump, arguably the most racist, hate-mongering president in recent memory—or ever—among young Black men. Some African Americans in Philadelphia believe that Trump has been good for jobs and the economy in their communities, but most of the gains made in Black employment over the past four years are due to progress made during the Obama administration.

While there are legitimate reasons for some Black Americans to choose Trump—most stemming from Republican anti-diversity and discriminatory policies that may benefit the educated and affluent—let us vote on Tuesday by focusing instead on the long-term consequences of continuing divisive rhetoric and actions by this president.

Four years of Trump’s presidency have legitimized white nationalism and his constant attacks on minorities—be it the physically challenged, gay people, Blacks, Mexicans, or women—has proliferated hate groups at an alarming rate.

Joe Biden may have authored and voted for a bill that may not have served African Americans well (while still including very important legislation, like the Violence Against Women Act and the assault weapons ban), but he most decidedly did not:

  • Fail to denounce white supremacists when they clashed with peaceful counter-protesters, causing violence and death
  • Tell a far-right, anti-immigrant group to stand back and stand by when asked to condemn white supremacy
  • Threaten to crack down on Black Lives Matter protests with military action
  • Defend murderers who kill peaceful protestors at demonstrations against police killing of African American men
  • Support extrajudicial killing by law enforcement of a protestor who allegedly shot a right-wing counter protestor
  • Erroneously claim that more White people die at the hands of police than Black people

In the long run, Trump’s divisive and toxic rhetoric—and actions that follow suit—are way more harmful to African Americans and other minorities. Let’s remember that on November 3rd. Let’s make hate wrong again.