The world’s eyes are on New Zealand in the wake of the horrific shooting spree that unfolded in two mosques in Christchurch and claimed the lives of 49 people and wounded numerous others. As the nation and its friends across the world mourn the senseless brutality, the conversation once again turns to the question of why things like this happen. One need not look far to find the answer.
The anti-immigrant, Islamophobic white nationalist responsible for the murders was a fan of Donald Trump and saw him as a “symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.” The simple, tragic fact is that the American president and his enablers within the Republican Party have helped make hate more mainstream and acceptable for people not just in the United States, but around the world.
Now, reporter Matt Fuller has penned a Twitter thread in which he compares the disturbing manifesto of the New Zealand shooter to comments made by American Congressmen. Not surprisingly, Representative Steve King (R-IA) — the man who recently questioned why “white nationalism” is a bad thing — shares some opinions with the racist shooter, as does Louie Gohmert (R-TX). Gohmert has already stirred controversy with his terrible response to the massacre.
The chilling similarities throw into sharp relief just how toxic the ideologies forwarded by these prominent American politicians really are. Their reckless comments about immigrants can’t be said to be directly responsible for the deaths in New Zealand, but they absolutely contribute to a global atmosphere that normalizes radical beliefs and emboldens these killers to carry out their sick fantasies. It’s imperative that their behavior be condemned at every turn and they be voted out of office at the first opportunity.
I don't want to turn this horrible shooting into a finger-pointing game, but I was struck by similarities between what the New Zealand shooter wrote and some of the things current Members of Congress say about immigration.
So, a thread:
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) March 15, 2019
Here's the shooter talking about the "invasion" of immigration. pic.twitter.com/GaKReEhYaI
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) March 15, 2019
And here's Louioe Gohmert talking about how immigration is an "invasion" at levels unseen since D-Day. pic.twitter.com/sTT5TW66mG
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) March 15, 2019
Here's the shooter on how immigration costs nations their identity. pic.twitter.com/KqY9j5jkdq
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) March 15, 2019
And here's Steve King on how, when we import people, we are importing their culture. pic.twitter.com/1sQs3DIudB
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) March 15, 2019
Here's the New Zealand shooter on birthrates. pic.twitter.com/3o7mIP8OXy
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) March 15, 2019
There are so many similarities between how some people talk about immigration and the ideas that influenced this New Zealand shooter. Again, I don't mean to make some gross political point.
I'm just saying there could be more awareness in how some people talk about immigration.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) March 15, 2019
