I'm writing this from a place of anger and frustration...That being said, I'm going to get into this...
The attacks on Jussie Smollett have deeply affected me because I am Jussie Smollett. I don't have his notoriety but when walking down the street we are potential targets of hate motivated violence. I cannot alter my skin colour or sexuality to guarantee my safety, a fact that I had to grow to understand and accept. I posted an open letter to his attackers denouncing their actions and also identified MAGA supporters in connection with their actions. I see comments from people all over the internet trying to defend and distance themselves from the suspects and still proudly touting their support of President Trump. I am trying to understand their logic in even needing to speak up. Do I have to "like" your well intentioned but empathy lacking comments? Am I supposed to be grateful when I see people chime in on for a marginalized person's story offering sympathy but sneakily state they believe in a politician turning the crank on the nation's carousel of history? I witness digital friend detoxes on the daily based on political views, and I'm not going to join that bandwagon. I need MAGA supporters to: 1) STOP trying to ease your "MAGA guilt" on my posts. You probably don't see your actions as such, but I'll tell you how I see it. Whenever something bad happens and MAGA is attached to it, you feel the need to say things like, "I'm a Trump supporter but I would never do this" or "These people make the rest of us look bad". You are seeking some sort of asylum that you do not get lumped in with a less than favorable group. It's similar to someone saying people like you are criminals, drug dealers, and rapists. But that would not happen in post-racial America right? 2) STOP assuming that you are exempt from rebuttal When other people decide to reply to your comments and you find yourself in a social media argument, do not be offended. It is not an attack of your personhood, merely someone doing exactly what you did: stating their OPINION! Do not stand on your soapbox as a vocal supporter of a man who ran a dirty campaign based on asserting dominance over others and follow his lead by turning a deaf ear to what others have to say. 3) SPEAK UP against MAGA supporting posts By commenting on my stuff, it seems to me you are trying to change my perspective on your political party. Why not for a change, try to change the views of those within your community? Don't convince me of your holiness, but go to those pages where you see comments supporting violence and denounce those actions. You obviously have different opinions on what MAGA stands for, so go change THEIR minds. You have access to a space where your voice is going to carry further than mine...Congratulations, you just discovered the definition of privilege! TAKEAWAY: The fact that two men under the cover of MAGA hats and ski masks are still at large terrifies me. My show is scheduled to go to Chicago next week. I don't know if they will attack again, or if they have other "friends" planning to do the same thing. Sure, "the crime seems pre-meditated and suspicious" (Hello! WHAT CRIME ISN'T SUSPICIOUS) but that does not erase the fact many Trump supporters are overlooking...this modern day lynching happened to another human being. Telling me to wait for all the facts, or read "trustworthy" sources, is equivalent to waving a shiny object in front of me so I don't see another black body hospitalized by members of your political party. Actions speak louder than words.
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