NEW from me: Today we published the second story in my series on growing white identity politics. This is from Minnesota, where a group of white residents, driven by open xenophobia, are pressuring their city to stop accepting Somali refugees. It may work
"In St. Cloud, some opponents of the refugee program have taken the introduction of non-pork options in the local public schools as an attack on their way of life."
There’s nothing democratic about forcing migration resettlement on a community, then calling people bigoted for not wanting more. This story is playing across western democracies.
"Diversity without inclusion" is the perfect recipe for an anti-immigrant backlash - especially when a national political party gives voice to these sentiments.
Members say concerns are economic. "But in interviews they outlined more fundamental fears, including the belief that an influx of ppl who were nonwhite and non-Christian posed a cultural threat."
"These people aren't coming from Norway," one woman said
Read @AsteadWesley’s latest dispatch on white identity politics—this one from St. Cloud, Minnesota, where a group of Trump-supporting, xenophobic “concerned citizens” are targeting Muslim immigrants who are, as one angry lady put it, “just walking around.”
an alarming story by @AsteadWesley about an anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim community group in St. Cloud, Minnesota that opposes a resettlement program for Somali refugees. The small group amplifies xenophobic conspiracy theories and has reshaped city politics nytimes.com/2019/06/20/us/…pic.twitter.com/U5rfNFuXeE
”I think of America, the great assimilator, as a rubber band, but with this — we’re at the breaking point,” Ms. Crockett said. “These aren’t people coming from Norway, let’s put it that way. These people are very visible.”
So much for Minnesota nice. 😐
You have to scroll past 1,500+ words in this @NYTimes article before they quote a person who says something positive about African immigrants in Minnesota.
You have to scroll another 400+ words before they quote an African immigrant living in Minnesota.
1/ Read this excellent story from @AsteadWesley about the influence of anti-refugee/anti-Muslim activists on local, state, and even national politics. This is not a one-off example…
“The very word ‘Islamophobia’ is a false narrative,” Mr. Palmer, 70, said. “A phobia is an irrational fear.” Raising his voice, he added, “An irrational fear! There are many reasons we are not being irrational.”
Step 1) Minnesota grows to be United States' largest jihadist pipeline
Step 2) white people lose their minds (because why not?)
Step 3) NYT profiles a bunch of bizarre racist attitudes
Step 4) Go to step 1
#Minnesota #Republicans are not racist. They are not anti-Norwegians, they are not anti-black, they are only anti-"visible" people, & refugees from #Somalia happen to be visible. #StCloud @GOP #racism nytimes.com/2019/06/20/us/…pic.twitter.com/5iNSxSEkgl
“opponents of the refugee program have taken the introduction of non-pork options in the local public schools as an attack on their way of life”
If allowing folks to not eat pork interferes with your way of life then... maybe take up a new way of life?