There Goes the Neighborhood is a weekly series from Imagine 2050 staff highlighting upcoming nativist events.
This week, far-right events in D.C., and nativist speakers across the country.
Today marks the first day of the annual Values Voters Summit in Washington, D.C, which will take place through Sunday, September 11. Organized by the Family Research Council, the annual event offers a platform to some of the country’s most prominent anti-LGBT spokespeople. As in years past, this year’s event will also offer a platform to anti-Muslim voices. Tomorrow’s conference session will begin with a panel discussion titled, “Jihad in America: The Existential Threat,” featuring noted anti-Muslim activists William “Jerry” Boykin, Zudhi Jasser, Philip Haney, and Sebastian Gorka.
Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump is also scheduled to speak at the conference today. Other announced speakers with nativist track records include Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), former Rep. Allen West (R-FL), and radio host Laura Ingraham.
Also Today, September 9, three of the country’s most prominent white nationalist will hold a press conference in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by white nationalist think tank National Policy Institute (NPI), the press conference will feature remarks by Richard Spencer, Jared Taylor, and Peter Brimelow. All three will seek to exploit increased media coverage of the “Alt Right” movement in the wake of this year’s presidential campaign. The event was originally to be held at the National Press Club, who later revoked NPI’s contract. The even has since been relocated to the Willard Hotel.
On Sunday, September 11, anti-Muslim activist Pamela Geller will speak in Lakewood, Colorado. Former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) will also speak at the event organized by Team America PAC, which was formerly affiliated with Tancredo’s political campaign work. The Colorado appearance is Geller’s first public event since she spoke in Cleveland during the Republican National Convention in July. Both Geller and Tancredo have amassed significant histories of anti-Muslim bigotry and are certain to use the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks to further that animus.
Following his appearance at the Values Voter Summit, Sebastian Gorka will speak in Fair Lakes, Virginia on Wednesday, September 14. Gorka’s appearance is sponsored by the Freedom Leadership Conference.
Also on September 14, anti-immigrant spokesperson Stephen Steinlight will speak to members of the Palm Beach County Tea Party in Wellington, Florida. Steinlight is a Senior Policy Analyst at the anti-immigrant Center for Immigration Studies. He has previously said being “hung, drawn, and quartered is probably too good” for President Obama. Last week, Steinlight spoke in New York City.
On Thursday, September 15, the Greater Philadelphia Zionist Organization of America will honor anti-Muslim writer Andrew McCarthy at a gala in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. McCarthy is a close associate of many anti-Muslim activists and regularly perpetuates anti-Muslim conspiracies in his writing.
Also this week, local chapters of anti-Muslim grassroots group ACT for America will hold meetings in Meridian, Idaho and Kalispell, Montana. In Idaho, ACT members will hear a presentation from Kelly Nielson Tuesday, September 13. According a page advertising the event on Facebook, Nielson will discuss “how the culture of Islam is totally the antithesis of our American culture.” On Wednesday, September 14, ACT activists in Montana will hear from activist Roy White about supposed “indoctrination” in school textbooks regarding Islam.
Additional information on these events and others can be found in the map below. The events scheduled for next week are marked with a red star.
Know of any nativist events not located on this map? Please contact us or fill out this form: