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* Spotted in Hinsdale by a canvasser earlier this week…
* From the ADL…
The phrase “It’s Okay To Be White” is a slogan popularized in late 2017 as a trolling campaign by members of the controversial discussion forum 4chan. The original idea behind the campaign was to choose an ostensibly innocuous and inoffensive slogan, put that slogan on fliers bereft of any other words or imagery, then place the fliers in public locations. Originators assumed that “liberals” would react negatively to such fliers and condemn them or take them down, thus “proving” that liberals did not even think it was “okay” to be white.
Whether the original trollers were white supremacist or not, actual white supremacists quickly began to promote the campaign—often adding Internet links to white supremacist websites to the fliers or combining the phrase with white supremacist language or imagery. This was not a surprise, as white supremacists had themselves used the phrase in the past—including on fliers—long before the 4chan campaign originated.
* And…
In other words, it is the far-right attempting to create a larger, normalized presence; an in-real-life viral meme that will try to coax moderates toward the false narrative that “reverse racism” is real and progressives are hypocrites when it comes to the discussion of race, systemic racism and prejudice.
Rice is commonly used in these racist baggies to weigh them down.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 1:55 pm
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The normalizing of racist, ir in this case a passive/reverse racist thought, the empowerment and emboldenment of folks like your “in law uncle” see these as wholly acceptable and spout off this garbage as “his I feel and it’s ok”
Sickening.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 2:03 pm
= Rice is commonly used in these racist baggies to weigh them down. =
Not touching that with a ten-foot pole.
Comment by H-W Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 2:08 pm
The nation took notice when ISIS began recruiting Americans for lone-actor attacks in the U.S. The reality then, before the emergence of ISIS, and still today, is that far-right groups are as deadly and definitely most constant and persistent as other extremist-inspired violence in the United States. These groups (loosely formed in many cases) groom individuals and over time identify those most open to engaging in violence. Others who are groomed and recruited but reluctant to engage in overt violence often play supporting roles. These “campaigns” are far more dangerous than they appear. Folks call them “stupid,” “dumb,” or something in that vein, and others say “ignore them.” These efforts are ugly and disgusting. They should be recognized for what they are - recruitment to extremism, a branch of which includes extremist violence .https://www.adl.org/education/resources/reports/dark-constant-rage-25-years-of-right-wing-terrorism-in-united-states
Comment by Luke Steele Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 2:54 pm
between this and getting a City Wire paper (Special school to gender clinic pipeline edition) in the mail, I’m mad as hell as these ultra right folks. my address on a “newspaper.” somehow I want to sue.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 2:55 pm
They can likely trace the culprit by tracking the origin of the baggie. Where was it manufactured? When was it manufactured? Where were they shipped for sale?
Suspect #1 should be the canvasser who “spotted” it, especially if they are white.
Comment by Early voter Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:05 pm
Country is going off the rails with extremists on the left and right seeming not concerned where their respective actions ultimately lead. It would truly be refreshing if both parties denounced their respective crazies and urged their supporters to moderate their behavior. There is no future absent the Majorities in the Dem and Republican parties work toward healing the country. Biden can say he is a uniter but his recent actions evidence that he and his advisors believe the path to victory is based on demonizing his political opponents. The same can be said of many Republicans. Unless this changes after the midterms-how does Biden hope to govern?
Comment by Sue Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:09 pm
Sue, quite frankly, I have a really difficult time with your disingenuous dribble. You are not adding anything helpful with the “bothsideism” claims because they are patently false. There is only one extremist organization and it is the GOP. End stop. You want Biden to govern, vote Democratic. You want more chaos and paranoia, vote Republican.
Comment by AnonymousFool Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:17 pm
Sue said: “Country is going off the rails with extremists on the left and right”
There are clearly violent people across the political and ideological spectrum in the United States. This statement above, however, is an example of ignorance. The ADL and many other reputable organizations that track extremist violence in the United States agree that far-right groups have been and are responsible for the vast majority of political violence in the U.S. But those are the facts, and I know that these days no one cares about those pesky annoyances!
Comment by Luke Steele Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:23 pm
That is some logic, Early voter.
Comment by Downstate Dave Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:29 pm
AnonymousFool you just supported part of Sue’s argument with your comment.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:34 pm
Cubs, which part, be specific.
Comment by AnonymousFool Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:38 pm
Sue is suggesting both parties denounce extremism in favor of more moderate views to facilitate collaboration. The notion that only the Republican party has extremists is well, extreme.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:49 pm
-Rice is commonly used in these racist baggies to weigh them down.-
They probably thought using small rocks like the landscaping companies often do was a bit too on the nose.
Also I hate Illinois Nazis.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:51 pm
Cubs, name 1 democratic party official anywhere advocating violence. You can not.
Comment by AnonymousFool Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:52 pm
If this is bad just wait until you see the mailers the America first legal fund is sending about white men not getting jobs. Its just pure dog whistling.
Comment by Elon's musk Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:55 pm
“There is only one extremist organization and it is the GOP. End stop”
Hate knows no boundaries or political party affiliation, and to try and prove otherwise is silly.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 3:56 pm
===Originators assumed that “liberals” would react negatively to such fliers and condemn them or take them down, thus “proving” that liberals did not even think it was “okay” to be white.===
This reminds me of the kind of stuff the CIA/military or foreign governments/military would do during wartime for disinformation/misinformation or psych ops campaigns. What’s next, infiltrating the town’s food and water supplies with psychedelic drugs for mind control at polling places? /s
Comment by Baloneymous Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 4:11 pm
=== or political party affiliation===
The Trump cultists have made hate woven into their thoughts, and how they do politics.
It goes right back to Virginia, “good folks on both sides”
Start there.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 4:13 pm
Anonymousfool- with sentiments such as your you perpetuate the problem. 74 million people voted Republican. If you want us all to leave we can say the same. Like it or not- we are stuck in a bad marriage. Divorce isn’t an option nor is another civil war. Frankly your views are absolutely repulsive
Comment by Sue Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 4:20 pm
===Country is going off the rails with extremists on the left and right===
Who are these extremists on the Left, Sue? I’ll wait.
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 4:25 pm
=name 1 one party official anywhere advocating violence. You can not.=
Maxine Waters, Eric Holder, Ilham Omar. That’s three from a 2 second google search.
Comment by Matthew Dean Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 4:28 pm
Nick/ how about the folks who burned down dozens of cities 2 summers ago and attacked police stations and federal courthouses. - or is that normal behavior?
Comment by Sue Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 4:28 pm
==That’s three from a 2 second google search.==
Things that are telling: You don’t post the results/incidents with any detail. Also telling: Your Google search somehow only found Black past/present officeholders.
Comment by Nuke The Whales Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 4:32 pm
If you’re even trying to “whatabout” in the context of this Troll, then you are saying you accept this troll as ok in the public space.
You’re looking, or asking others to look, for “the other side”
This racism here is sick. That’s the lesson
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 4:35 pm
Whatabout is all they have because they know the only side where people consistently take part in political violence, whether it’s going to a grocery store in a black neighborhood and going on a shooting spree, burning synagogs or mosques, breaking into a congresswoman’s house with a hammer, etc., it’s all from one side of the ideological spectrum.
Comment by Elon's musk Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 4:41 pm
The white grievance agenda is as stupid as it is tired and misguided, but the Twitter portion of the left would be better served condemning acts and individuals rather than anyone who looks like an oppressor.
Being right is less than half the battle these days. Effective advocacy > fierce advocacy .
Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 4:48 pm
Anyone who claims that extremism is only impacting only one political party is simply in denial. Defund the police- no bail for violent felons. Perhaps some of you missed yesterday that a felon who beat his wife was released with no bail and a few days later killed her and 2 children. Denying that your party has extremist members who are harming Dem electoral chances is no different then people who deny Jan 6 occurred
Comment by Sue Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 5:19 pm
===missed yesterday that a felon who beat his wife was released with no bail and a few days later killed her and 2 children===
That law changes come Jan. 1. And the law was changed with tons of input from experienced domestic violence advocates.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 5:20 pm
Rich- law was in NY as was where the offense occurred
Comment by Sue Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 5:23 pm
These are scout probes, to see if people will confront the hate head on or just not react. I promise you, the people doing the probing will take no reaction as tacit approval or at least proof there’s no opposition. And that will bring more of them out to keep pushing the boundary.
There’s a popular story in the net about a bartender who ejects customers that even hint at being neofaschists because of the same principle, you can look it up.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 5:38 pm
is this new Sue? or old Sue? cause, maybe different in approach. or changed. just wondering.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 5:51 pm
Sue:
1) NY’s law is different than IL’s
2) there are plenty of instances of people out on cash bail who commit crimes
Comment by SaulGoodman Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 5:53 pm
- Amalia - Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 2:55 pm: While your address is all over public records, maybe a slick attorney can go for mental anguish and public nuisance littering in public?
(Filing a lawsuit is easy, winning…well….)
Comment by thisjustinagain Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 6:49 pm
Also saw an Art Jones for Congress sign while I was driving through Hinsdale today.
Didn’t even know he was running again, but bleh
Comment by Chris Thursday, Nov 3, 22 @ 7:06 pm
- Defund the police- no bail for violent felons. -
If you can’t tell the difference between a criminal justice policy stance and white supremacy, well, that kind of says a lot about you.
Didn’t you vow to leave this site?
Comment by Excitable Boy Friday, Nov 4, 22 @ 7:55 am
===Didn’t you vow to leave this site?===
Her comments here seem to scream “I want attention for whatabouting”
Leave, stay, - Sue - is - Sue -, partisan to pivot
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 4, 22 @ 8:13 am
===Defund the police===
No one is defunding the police. Biden’s platform called for more money for police. Republicans have voted against Dem bills to provide more funding for police. Keep up.
Comment by Nick Name Friday, Nov 4, 22 @ 8:36 am