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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

Holocaust Museum Shooting

LEONARD ZESKIND
Zeskind is author of "Blood and Politics: The History of the White Nationalist Movement from the Margins to the Mainstream."

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DAVID NEIWERT
https://dneiwert.blogspot.com

WASHINGTON

LEONARD ZESKIND
Zeskind is author of "Blood and Politics: The History of the White Nationalist Movement from the Margins to the Mainstream."

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DAVID NEIWERT
https://dneiwert.blogspot.com
Neiwert is author of the just-released book "The Eliminationists: How
Hate Talk Radicalized the American Right" as well as three other books
on right-wing extremism and its effects on mainstream society.
His reportage for MSNBC.com on domestic terrorism won the National
Press Club Award for Distinguished Online Journalism in 2000. Neiwert
is also the managing editor of Crooks and Liars:
https://crooksandliars.com .

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CHIP BERLET
Berlet is senior analyst of Political Research Associates and just
wrote the piece "Violence, Apocalyptic Aggression and Conspiracy
Theories: Holocaust Museum Shooting, Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories,
and the Tools of Fear," which states: "The alleged shooter at the U.S.
Holocaust Memorial Museum ... has an online book excerpt revealing his
deep roots in historic White Supremacy and antisemitic conspiracy
theories, including references to the hoax document 'The Protocols of
the Elders of Zion.' His website includes links to White Supremacist
and Holocaust denial sites.
"People who believe conspiracist allegations sometimes act on those
irrational beliefs, and this has concrete consequences in the real
world. The shooting today is a prime example of why it is a mistake to
ignore bigoted conspiracy theories. Law enforcement needs to enforce
laws against criminal behavior. Vicious bigoted speech, however, is
often protected by the First Amendment. We do not need new laws or to
encourage government agencies to further erode civil liberties. We need
to stand up as moral people and speak out against the spread of bigoted
conspiracy theories. That's not a police problem, that's our problem as
people responsible for defending a free society."
Berlet is also author of the recently-released report "Toxic to
Democracy Conspiracy Theories, Demonization and Scapegoating."
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A nationwide consortium, the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) represents an unprecedented effort to bring other voices to the mass-media table often dominated by a few major think tanks. IPA works to broaden public discourse in mainstream media, while building communication with alternative media outlets and grassroots activists.