Stop Comparing BLM and Neo-Nazis.

Whataboutism is a term that refers to a form of lazy intellectual deflection. The term was invented during the Soviet-era when it was used as a tactic by state propagandists. Whenever the Soviet Union was criticized, state officials would respond by pointing to negative events in [capitalist] countries. This would usually take the form as “what about…[insert X event here]…?”

Source: foreignpolicyblogs.

Similarly, reactionaries of the right today, are engaging heavily in this tactic.

After the reprehensible events at Charlottesville, you would think that it would be relatively uncontroversial to condemn white supremacy and unite to actively fight against it. Instead, the right is increasingly politicizing the event by downplaying its significance with their now infamous whataboutism: “what about Black Lives Matter? condemn the violence on both sides!”

To those people, here’s what I have to say:

You are an absolute moron.

First of all, there is no moral equivalency between a genocidal ideology and a movement fighting for justice in the policing system for black Americans. With that being said, violence done in the name of BLM and violence done in the name of neo-Nazism are two very, very different things. The former can not actually be tied back to the movement itself, but rather an individually-sourced criminal act. The other, is actually inspired by the [genocidal] ideology. If you can’t see that, well, again, you’re an absolute moron.

This doesn’t mean that the murderer who shot 11 and killed 5 police officers in Dallas last year should be excused, what it means is that you can’t point at him and say “BLM is a terrorist organization!”

After the horrific attack in Dallas, both President Obama and BLM leaders quickly (and clearly) came out in condemnation of this event. The cop killing goes directly against the BLM principles, which are outlined right on their website for anyone who’s curious.

Anti-white and violent rhetoric are simply not systemic in BLM, unlike in actual anti-white hate groups like the New Black Panther Party (NBPP). The late chairman of the NBPP was quoted as saying “There are no good crackers, and if you find one, kill him before he changes.” That, ladies and gentleman, is terroristic.

But if it’s okay to take the actions of a few, and use that to stigmatize an entire group, then is it fair to say that all Trump supporters are white supremacists, considering Trump is enthusiastically supported by ex-KKK grand wizard David Duke, and other white supremacists? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Trump’s faithful voters. Source: highlighthollywood.

Chanting “pigs in a blanket, fry ’em like blanket” certainly looks bad, but can anyone point to where this became part of the BLM platform? You can’t, because it hasn’t. And in instances where behavior has gone against group principles, BLM leaders have been there to denounce it.

Anyone who claims that BLM is a terrorist organization is dangerously lying. They are not only lying, they are projecting their racism. If you are one of those people, know one thing. When a group of people joining together to fight for the fair treatment of black people in society is stigmatized as being a “terrorist group”, you are proving the point that widespread anti-black racism still exists throughout America, and you are living proof why we need BLM in the first place.

And on a closing note, if you keep conflating BLM with a genocidal ideology, for the third time: you are an absolute moron.

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