An Infestation of White Supremacist Terror

An Infestation of White Supremacist Terror, 2019

White supremacy is one of the most dangerous domestic issues our country faces. Executive Order 13224, signed by President George W. Bush after 9/11, gives the government legal tools to deal with international terrorism. But it doesn't convey to domestic hate groups. In fact, the Immigration and Nationality Act expressly prohibits the Department of State from "sanctioning groups with a significant domestic presence."

Right-wing extremism isn't new. Yet, there's no federal law that criminalizes domestic terrorist groups. In fact, we are more likely to treat domestic terrorism (like the 2019 massacre in El Paso) as hate crimes. While we have laws that prohibit funding of foreign terrorist groups and allow authorities to freeze their funds, we have no laws that do the same for domestic terror groups. There are also no laws that prohibit these groups from using social media and other technology to incite violence. Yes, the First Amendment protects citizens' right to free speech. And the Supreme Court clarified this right in the 1969 case Brandenburg v. Ohio which prohibited the government from suppressing speech that merely advocates violence. It can only take action when that speech incites or produces violence. So, we must wait until people are hurt before the government can do anything about it. This needs to change.

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The posters in this series reflect the conflicts the American political system has been experiencing during the turbulent period between 2010-2020. They are meant to encourage an exploration and a dialogue about the cultural minefield we now find ourselves in.