June 13, 2022
A Statement from Brenda Victoria Castillo, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)
Over the weekend, 31 members of the White supremacist group, Patriot Front, were arrested for a attempt to riot at a Pride event in Idaho. Authorities found riot gear, a smoke grenade in a U-Haul, and shirts that read “Reclaim America.” NHMC condemns violent extremism. Yet, we’ve written that statement before. Our communities can no longer live in a reality where White domestic terrorists threaten our very existence at grocery stores, schools, clubs, movie theatres, Pride events, and every aspect of our lives. Congress must pass legislation that monitors and prevents violent extremism, and we must remain vigilant in educating our communities about its threat.
Police Chief, Lee White, described the Patriot Front’s plot as an operations plan similar to a law enforcement agency or military group. Those arrested came from 11 different states, proving, once again, that extremists travel great distances to violently attack marginalized people. Their primary goal is to establish a White ethnostate and ignite a civil war. Unsurprisingly, Patriot Front uses the internet and social media to spread its propaganda, accounting for 80% of White supremacist content distributed in 2020.
Organizing and actively pursuing a riot on Saturday is merely one of many plotted by the Patriot Front over the last few years. Since 2017, they have led and participated in anti-semitic, anti-abortion, anti-Black, anti-immigrant, and anti-queer “flash demonstrations” which aim to exert their deeply held belief that White people are being replaced in a nation which belongs to them. Their slogans include “resurrection through insurrection” and “Americans are white, the rest must go.”
These groups can no longer be allowed to metastasize. The LGBTQIA+ community was targeted on Saturday while celebrating Pride. Yet, these actions are not isolated incidents; White supremacy is a threat to Queer people every day. June may be Pride month, but embracing our diverse and resilient Queer communities must be prioritized in perpetuity. NHMC urges Congress to pass legislation to protect our communities from violent extremism and encourage the active engagement of Latinx communities in Queer advocacy.
If you need help or support during this difficult time, contact The Trevor Project.
Yours in the Movement,
Brenda Victoria Castillo
President & CEO
National Hispanic Media Coalition
