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From the Field
Northwest families attempt to reunite across the United States and Mexico border
On Monday, Kimberly Sotelo Ochoa, Dolores Lara Villegas and his U.S. citizen daughter from Washington and 31 other undocumented mothers, fathers, children, and students attempted to cross the border into the United States at the Otay-Mesa Point of Entry in San Diego, Calif. A crowd of over 300 supporters waited for their arrival. All 34 […]
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From the Field
Anti-Muslim speaker Diana West heads to Chapel Hill
On Tuesday, the ICON Lecture Series will continue its parade of bigotry in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, when it features Diana West, an author and political commentator known for her aggressive and false critiques of Muslims and immigrants. West’s appearance comes at a time when community members are still grappling with reports of an attack on […]
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Immigration
West: Migrant children are part of Democrats’ plan to boost voter base
The nation was surprised to learn that since October, more than 52,000 Central American children have been detained after fleeing violence in their home countries. What has not been surprising has been the organized nativist movement’s efforts to politicize the issue and staunchly oppose humane responses to it. And even less surprising has been Frank […]
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Culture
Week in Review: NumbersUSA upholds Allen West’s rant, Geller’s bus ads, anti-immigrant candidates lose at the polls
FAIR’s pledge to candidates: Sign on with us if you want to fail Thursday, June 5, 2014 | Imagine 2050 On April 28, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) launched yet another of its issue-oriented pledge-drives, querying mid-term candidates: “Will you promise to protect American workers?” By urging candidates to sign its pledge, FAIR […]
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Nativism Watch
NumbersUSA upholds Allen West’s criticism of plan to allow DREAMers to enlist
Last week, the anti-immigrant organization NumbersUSA upheld the rantings of former Florida Congressman Allen West, who expressed his indignation about a policy granting young undocumented citizens, or “DREAMers, citizenship for military service. On its website, NumbersUSA highlighted a May 29 blog post by West where he said it is a privilege to serve and military […]
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News & Politics
The Hijab in the United States: a Symbol of Choice or Oppression?
Recently, a protest took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capitol, when thirty to forty women participated in a Right-to-Drive campaign. These women did so, of course, in the traditional Islamic garb that many “Westerners” openly recognize as counter-intuitive to all exercises of freedom. Which begs an important question: why can’t the West seem to come […]
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Immigration
Youth for Western Civilization: a National Conference of Old Hatred
by Michael Dranove The growth of Youth for Western Civilization (YWC) may have been stunted when in 2007 their then vice president, Marcus Epstein, plead guilty to a class 6 felony hate crime, as such leadership would make any rational person immediately wary of joining the group. But the budding far-right group didn’t die-on-the-vine after […]
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News & Politics
Diversity a Long Running Query for Youth for Western Civilization
Catharine Debelle On April 7, Washington State University (WSU) held a public panel on the importance and value of diversity on university campuses. One of the panelists was from Youth for Western Civilization, a campus group that works closely with white nationalists. The event came out of debate on reducing the number of required diversity […]
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Immigration
Got Water? Immigrants Blamed for Water Shortages in the Southwest
By Martha Pskowski The anti-immigrant movement, under groups like The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), blame immigrants and population levels in the American Southwest for lack of water and potential water shortages. We know droughts are becoming more frequent and are lasting longer. There are real causes for water shortages in the Southwest and equitable […]
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News & Politics
White Nationalist Targets a United America
As citizens in the millions celebrated the inauguration of President Barack Obama—others not so vested in the concept of a united America are busy sowing the seeds of hate. The Boston Herald is reporting that barely a day after the 44th President of the United States was sworn in a young man in Brockton, Massachusetts […]
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Nativism Watch
There Goes the Neighborhood: December 2, 2016
There Goes the Neighborhood is a weekly series from Imagine 2050 staff highlighting upcoming nativist events. This week, nativist speakers are set to appear in Florida, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. On Sunday, December 4, anti-Muslim activist Tom Trento will speak in Coral Springs, Florida. Trento will give a presentation titled, “The Threat of Terrorism: A Workshop for […]
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Nativists at the White House
Clare Lopez
Reportedly on Trump’s list for national security transition team and VP at Frank Gaffney’s anti-Muslim think tank Center for Security Policy
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Islamophobia
Dutch xenophobe Geert Wilders an interesting choice to speak up for Israel
If Tom Trento is truly concerned about standing with Israel, he should reconsider his allies. On Aug. 11, Trento, founder and president of the United West, featured Dutch politician Geert Wilders on his web show to discuss the importance of standing with Israel against Hamas. In reality, both men used the conflict to push the […]
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Islamophobia
Nativists endorse Gaffney’s anti-Muslim infiltration conspiracy theories
A primary talking point of the Islamophobia movement continues to be that the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the Obama Administration. And no one seems to be more of an avid believer of this than anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist Frank Gaffney. In his latest endeavor to expose this stealth infiltration, Gaffney has wrangled up a who’s who […]
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Nativism Watch
Florida march for ‘persecuted Christians’ sponsored by Islamophobes, to feature Austrian anti-Muslim activist
An event titled “Prayer March for Persecuted Christians” is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Orlando, Florida. Although the event’s intent seems unobjectionable, its sponsor’s ties to anti-Muslim organizations and causes suggests an ulterior motive. The march is being co-sponsored by the Rev. Bruce Lieske and Alan Kornman of the Florida-based United West, a […]
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Islamophobia
Pamela Geller takes outreach efforts to Hispanic church
The anti-Muslim agitator said she is “very concerned about the Hispanic community” Last week, Pamela Geller appeared in California where she attempted to recruit the Latino community to join her anti-Muslim cause. Geller, one of the leading figureheads in the organized anti-Muslim movement, was invited to address a mostly Hispanic congregation at a San Diego-based […]
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Islamophobia
New Group to Take on “Anti-American” Policies of the Left
A new far-Right political activist group aimed at the Left was introduced last week at an event sponsored by several South Florida Republican clubs where Islamophobes Pamela Geller, Tom Trento, and Wild Bill for America were the featured speakers.Wild Bill gave a presentation on the formation of a nationwide operation known as Tea Teams. The […]
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Culture
Islamophobes & Nativists Use 9/11 to Push Bigoted Agenda
As the nation solemnly remembered the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, prominent nativists used the twelfth anniversary of those horrific events as a platform to further their bigoted agenda and provoke hatred towards minority communities. Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, founders of the Islamophobic American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), held a press conference near […]
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Culture
Anti-Sharia Bill and Yerushalmi Find Defeat in Florida
David Yerushalmi has emerged as the Kris Kobach of the Islamophobia movement, promoting anti-Sharia laws in state legislatures under the banner of “American Laws for American Courts.” His prominence as a legal activist and architect of discriminatory policy is a reality that social justice advocates will need to be proactive in countering. Florida should be […]
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Islamophobia
Islamophobic Radio Host Tom Trento Engages in Dangerous Fear-Mongering
Tom Trento, founder and director of The United West, is urging his listeners to be on the look out for two young men who appear to be Arab who, he says, were involved in the Boston Marathon bombing. In the announcement for his April 18 broadcast, Trento doesn’t even attempt to hide his bigotry. Referring to […]
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Nativism Watch
Trento to Speak as “Expert” on Muslim Students & Extremism at ACT! Meeting
Tom Trento, founder and president of The United West, will be the featured speaker at the Corona, Calif., ACT! for America chapter meeting on April 13 at 6:00 p.m. Trento co-authored “Shariah: The Threat to America” with John Guandolo and Frank Gaffney. The group says “Trento knows first hand how Muslim Student Associations on campuses […]
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Culture
Tom Trento, ‘Wetbacks,’ & Increasing Collusions between Nativists & Islamophobes
During a recent installment of the Internet tv/radio program TrentoVision, host Tom Trento used the term “wet backs” to describe (ostensibly Hispanic) immigrants. Trento employed the racial epithet to describe immigrants that “cut-in-line” and “game the system,” equating the United States’ immigration system to the checkout aisle at a grocery store. Trento is the Founder […]
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Nativism Watch
Texas again supports nativism in court
The State of Texas continues to lead efforts to advance nativist policies. On Monday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced his office filed an amicus curiae brief with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in defense of President Trump’s second attempt at a travel ban targeting Muslims. In a press release, Paxton’s office stated the […]
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Nativism Watch
There Goes the Neighborhood: March 31, 2017
There Goes the Neighborhood is a weekly series from Imagine 2050 staff highlighting upcoming nativist events. This week, an anti-Muslim speaker in California. On Thursday, April 6, anti-Muslim writer Nonie Darwish will speak in Los Angeles, California. She will be discussing her new book, Wholly Different: Why I Chose Biblical Values Over Islamic Values at and event […]
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Nativism Watch
New group “Americans for America” is booking anti-Muslim law enforcement trainings
A newly-founded Colorado-based conservative organization is helping to book Islamophobic police training programs conducted by former FBI agent turned anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist John Guandolo. Guandolo is part of a relatively new Colorado-based conservative education and advocacy organization, Americans for America (A4A). According to its website, A4A “contracts for training courses to benefit law enforcement and […]
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News & Politics
Rep. King again praises Wilders in apparent white nationalist rant
Over the weekend, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) caused controversy on social media when he tweeted white nationalist rhetoric in support of far-right Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders. “Wilders understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies,” King tweeted. Wilders understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. […]
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Nativism Watch
There Goes the Neighborhood: January 6, 2017
There Goes the Neighborhood is a weekly series from Imagine 2050 staff highlighting upcoming nativist events. This week, anti-Muslim events are scheduled in Ohio and California. On Sunday, January 8, a chapter of the anti-Muslim grassroots group ACT for America will host a meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event will feature a screening of a recent documentary, […]
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Cabinet Nominee
Ryan Zinke
Trump’s Secretary of the Interior nominee has supported anti-immigrant legislation and associated with white nationalists
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Nativism Watch
Like Trump, Kris Kobach has a transparency problem
When Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach met with President-elect Donald Trump recently, media outlets quickly publicized a photo in which Kobach is seen holding a document titled “Department of Homeland Security Kobach Strategic Plan for First 365 Days.” Kris Kobach may have let everyone see his draconian Muslim registry plans. But he has other documents of public interest […]
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Advisor
Katharine Gorka
Member of the Trump administration’s DHS landing team and anti-Muslim spokesperson
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Nativists at the White House
Pete Hoekstra
Reportedly assisting Trump on national security issues while working as a fellow at the anti-Muslim Investigative Project on Terrorism
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Nativists at the White House
John Bolton
Trump’s likely pick for deputy secretary of state, Bolton has ties to the anti-Muslim movement and is vocally anti-refugee
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News & Politics
Jeff Sessions has long history of bigoted statements, anti-immigrant extremism
Today President-elect Donald Trump announced his nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) for attorney general. Sessions’ track record of overtly bigoted statements and close ties to organized racist movements should raise serious questions about his fitness to serve in that position. With this nomination, Trump is rewarding an early supporter and close advisor who has […]
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Immigration
10 policies to expect from Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda
As we hold space for our grief, anger, and fear and come to terms with the danger a Trump presidency poses to so many communities, progressive movements also have to prepare to organize harder and smarter. Trump has already made several explicit commitments to target immigrant communities, from building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to […]
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Islamophobia
Conquering Hate with Love
When Chapel Hill-based non-profit Extraordinary Ventures hosted anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant speaker Diana West, many in the local community were saddened by that decision. West was invited by a virulent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant organizations called ICON (Issues Confronting Our Nation). In the past, ICON has invited bigoted speakers such as Roy Beck, Mark Krikorian, and John Guandolo. A […]
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Nativism Watch
Oklahoma legislator invites anti-Muslim conspiracy theorists to testify
Oklahoma state Rep. John Bennett, who has previously called Islam a “cancer in our nation,” has invited anti-Muslim conspiracy theorists John Guandolo and Chris Gaubatz to testify before the Oklahoma State Judiciary Committee on October 25. Guandolo and Gaubatz will testify during a session labeled: “Study radical Islam, Shariah Law, the Muslim Brotherhood and the radicalization process.” Bennett recently proposed a […]
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Nativism Watch
There Goes the Neighborhood: October 14, 2016
There Goes the Neighborhood is a weekly series from Imagine 2050 staff highlighting upcoming nativist events. This week, nativist leaders are speaking in states across the country including California, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Carolina. On Saturday, October 15, anti-immigrant group Oregonians for Immigration Reform (OFIR) will hold it’s annual “Pizza and Politics” event in Salem, Oregon. The […]
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Nativism Watch
There Goes the Neighborhood: October 7, 2016
There Goes the Neighborhood is a weekly series from Imagine 2050 staff highlighting upcoming nativist events. This week, anti-Muslim events are scheduled in California, Ohio, and Montana. Tonight, October 7, Former U.S. Rep. Allen West (R-FL) will speak in San Francisco, California, at a fundraising event for the San Francisco Republican Party. West served one term in […]
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Nativism Watch
Virginia sheriff again invites anti-Muslim trainer to host seminar
Former FBI agent and anti-Muslim conspiracist John Guandolo is returning to Culpeper, Virginia, to hold a civilian-focused training at the invitation of Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins. During a 2011 training, Guandolo claimed Muslims in America “don’t have a First Amendment right to do anything.” Guandolo’s event, titled “Understanding the Threat,” is scheduled to take place Saturday, […]
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Islamophobia
Anti-Muslim group has something to hide at 2016 conference
ACT for America says it won’t tell which elected leaders are speaking at this year’s gathering in Washington, D.C. The notorious anti-Muslim organization ACT for America will once again descend on our nation’s capitol on September 6 - 7 to hold its annual conference and legislative briefing. And like past years, the conference will serve […]
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Islamophobia
Chicago coalition condemns Islamophobia amid rise in bigotry, hate violence
Chicago, IL - A broad coalition of organizations, including Center for New Community (CNC), American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), the Chicago Chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), the Chicago Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), and South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI), strongly condemn the rise of rhetoric, hate […]
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Islamophobia
Liberal Islamophobia Reader: A DNC Companion
Liberal Islamophobia often comes in a nicer package, which means we need to be even more attentive to identify and stop it. Three days in and the 2016 Democratic National Convention has taken a less apocalyptic tone than last week’s Republican National Convention. There have been no outright calls to get rid of people. No overt […]
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Nativism Watch
Nativism at RNC 2016: Everything you need to know
The much-anticipated, chaotic, sometimes laughable, but mostly terrifying 2016 Republican National Convention has come to end. And, oh, what a ride. There were certainly the highly publicized moments: Melania Trump’s partially plagiarized speech and Ted Cruz being, well, Ted Cruz. And who could forget Laura Ingraham’s apparent Nazi salute? There was also everyone’s favorite political […]
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News & Politics
Kobach, Wilders to lead nativist presence at RNC
“Hello, Cleveland!” That exclamation was comically immortalized in the classic 1984 film This is Spinal Tap and will almost surely be quoted by many during this week’s Republican National Convention. Among those in attendance will be a number of nativist and white nationalist extremists who have been emboldened by Donald Trump’s campaign. It should be noted, however, […]
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Nativism Watch
Former Trump staffer worked at anti-Muslim legal group
The staffer who previously held a high-level position at an anti-Muslim legal organization is now being sued by Trump for leaking confidential information. News recently broke that Donald Trump is suing his former adviser Sam Nunberg for $10 million, alleging he violated a confidentiality agreement and leaked confidential information to reporters. Nunberg was twice-fired from the Trump campaign, most […]
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Nativism Watch
There Goes the Neighborhood: June 3, 2016
There Goes the Neighborhood is a weekly series from Imagine 2050 staff highlighting upcoming nativist events. This week, anti-Muslim activists will speak in Wisconsin and Ohio, a bigoted conspiracy theorist will be honored in Washington, D.C., and an anti-immigrant spokesperson is scheduled to speak in California. Today, June 3, anti-Muslim pastor Usama Dakdok will speak in Madison, Wisconsin. Dakdok […]
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From the Field
Breitbart reporter targets immigration activists in San Francisco
Last week, efforts by immigrant rights organizers in San Francisco caught the attention of far-right blogger Lee Stranahan, who writes for the notoriously anti-immigrant website Breitbart. At a San Francisco City Hall meeting, undocumented community leaders showed up to support a due process ordinance that would protect immigrants from unjust deportation when interacting with local […]
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Nativism Watch
There Goes the Neighborhood: April 29, 2016
There Goes the Neighborhood is a weekly series from Imagine 2050 staff highlighting upcoming nativist events. This week, expect another conspiracy-laden anti-refugee presentation in Minnesota and an anti-Muslim speaker in Virginia. ACT! for America will also co-host one of Congress’ most stridently nativist members in Pennsylvania. Tonight, April 29, border vigilante turned anti-refugee demagogue Ron Branstner will […]
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From the Field
Earth Day: Anne Hendrixson breaks down population alarmism
In honor of Earth Day this year, Imagine2050 spoke with Anne Hendrixson, the director of PopDev (the Population and Development Program) at Hampshire College, about the relationship between population and the environment. PopDev was established in 1986, in the heyday of population control, and was intended to advance feminist scholarship and advocacy that was grounded […]
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Islamophobia
Anti-Muslim “analyst” to speak at law enforcement conference
At the end of this month, Ryan Mauro, a “national security analyst” at the shadowy anti-Muslim group the Clarion Project, will speak at a law enforcement conference and weapons expo in Verona, New York. Mauro is slated to be one of the keynote speakers at the New York Tactical Officers Association (NYTOA) conference, an annual […]
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Nativism Watch
White nationalist interviews Rep. Babin, ACT! for America’s anti-refugee darling
Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), a close ally to anti-Muslim groups like ACT! for America and the Center for Security Policy, gave an interview to a known white nationalist during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last month. Babin was interviewed by Robert Vandervoort, an individual with longstanding ties to white nationalist outfits. Vandervoort currently serves as executive […]
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Nativism Watch
Trying to shake criticism, ACT! for America targets civil rights and religious groups
The largest and arguably most influential anti-Muslim grassroots organization in the United States appears to be preparing a report-card-style list of what it’s calling “Anti-American Hate Groups.” Because that’s exactly what we need in these trying times: an anti-Muslim activist group telling us who’s “anti-American.” ACT! for America, which claims to have more than 300,000 […]
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Nativism Watch
Trump’s hate group problem is bigger than you think
Lately media outlets have had a field day publicizing the support Donald Trump has received from white supremacists and white nationalists. He has both courted and gained support from anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim leaders. Just yesterday, Trump issued a statement about a new report released by the Center for Immigration Studies, an anti-immigrant think tank with roots […]
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Nativism Watch
Montana ACT! for America chapter strengthens anti-immigrant, anti-refugee ties
This week the Flathead County, Montana chapter of ACT! for America is hosting a meeting on refugee resettlement featuring two anti-immigrant hardliners. The meeting purports to provide attendees with “the facts about Refugee Resettlement” and discuss “What it is and what is isn’t!” ACT! for America is the largest anti-Muslim grassroots group operating in the United States. Lately, the group […]
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Nativism Watch
Trump should reject foreign policy advice from anti-Muslim figure
It appears that Donald Trump and his foreign policy team have consulted with Daniel Pipes, a thought leader within the organized anti-Muslim movement. This information was included in a recent Bloomberg View article titled “The Trump Doctrine Revealed” by national security columnist Josh Rogin. This is not the first time the real estate mogul and politician has […]
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Nativism Watch
Arizona anti-Muslim activist arrested in Oregon standoff
The standoff between anti-government militiamen and federal law enforcement in Oregon escalated yesterday when a traffic stop resulted in a shootout between the two parties and the arrest of seven of those occupying the national wildlife refuge, as well as one reported fatality. The FBI also arrested an eighth self-proclaimed militiamen, Jon Ritzheimer, an Arizona-based anti-Muslim activist with […]
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Immigration
After Paris, ACT! for America ramps up attacks on refugees
The anti-Muslim group is using tragedy to amplify existing anti-refugee work The notorious anti-Muslim grassroots organization ACT! for America is using the tragic attacks in Paris to urge its members to continue their attacks on refugee rights. In an email to supporters this week, ACT! relayed conflicting reports “that at least one of the terrorists responsible […]
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Uncategorized
ICYMI: Kobach went to a white nationalist event, and didn’t seem to care
A few weeks ago we made a disturbing discovery-a picture surfaced on Twitter of Kansas Secretary of State, Kris Kobach, speaking at an annual D.C. event called the “Writers’ Workshop.” This might not seem like such a big deal, until you learn that the event was hosted by a known white nationalist publisher, The Social Contract Press […]
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Islamophobia
Sessions to receive award from Frank Gaffney’s anti-Muslim think tank
On October 21, Frank Gaffney’s Center for Security Policy, a “think tank” known for promoting anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, will be honoring Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) with its annual “Keeper of the Flame” award. The award ceremony will take place at the National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C. Gaffney is a prominent figurehead within the organized Islamophobia movement and regularly […]
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Islamophobia
We cannot leave anti-Muslim hate unchecked
This Friday and Saturday, a group of loosely connected protesters plan to host anti-Muslim demonstrations in front of approximately 20 mosques, community centers and government offices under the banner of a “Global Rally for Humanity.” A Facebook page explains the reasoning behind the planned protests, arguing that “[h]umanity is attacked daily by radical Islam,” and […]