Why We Can’t Ignore Hal Turner

Although some people say that ignoring the Hal Turner and the white supremacists is the best way to oppose them, we know from experience that ignoring a problem never makes it go away. These groups are not just the “fringe,” but rather they are actively organizing and attempting to gain new recruits in Michigan and beyond.

If hate groups do not encounter opposition to their activities in a community, they’ll take that to mean no one is willing to stand against them. Not directly opposing the white supremacists isolates the people they target — people of color, immigrants, religious or ethnic minorities, lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people, the disabled, womyn, etc. – making these communities feel like no one will support them. Because we recognize the struggles of these targeted groups of people and do not wish to ignore them, Michigan Against White Supremacy supports a visible and vocal counter-demonstration to the white supremacist rally on August 4.

Other opponents of counter demonstrating say the white supremacists should be allowed to speak because of the constitutional right to free speech. We say that giving racists and other bigots “free speech” silences the voices of entire groups of people through intimidation. We say that it is not just free speech because racist propaganda leads to racist violence.