50 signatures reached
To: Bernie Sanders, Jaime Raskin, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Raphael Warnock, Maxine Waters, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, ilahar Omar, Stacey Abrams
Confederate and Nazi flags must be BANNED
In a world filled with division and increasing hate crimes, two controversial symbols are still allowed to be manufactured, profited from, and distributed around the world. I’d like to see the displaying of confederate and nazi flags BANNED in the United States, and consequently, the people who choose to continue to display these symbols publicly, be charged with hate crimes.
To our Black citizens, the confederate flag on display is an intimidating tactic and signals danger, hostility, and threat; to our Jewish citizens, the nazi flag is a constant reminder of the continuing contempt for Jews, and the atrocities of the past.
Both symbols create fear and call for hyper vigilance, as they are used as intimidation, reminding especially the Black and Jewish communities of the horrific treatment they have endured and STILL endure including: enslavement, terror, persecution, oppression, antisemitism, racism, and even death by violence.
It is time that the United States BAN these egregious symbols and stops enabling others to purposefully target these two groups, forcing them to relive and feel the cruel intent of them that they and their ancestors have endured for centuries.
For those who say that their freedom of speech is impacted by this action, or that it’s part of their family’s ancestry, I say that displaying these flags/symbols is NOT about history OR heritage and that free speech DOES NOT apply to this kind of threatening and dangerous symbology.
No one should have to see these flags ever again, except in a history book or a museum. It is there in these types of archives that the reminders of the past belong, however painful, so future generations may learn from our mistakes.
To our Black citizens, the confederate flag on display is an intimidating tactic and signals danger, hostility, and threat; to our Jewish citizens, the nazi flag is a constant reminder of the continuing contempt for Jews, and the atrocities of the past.
Both symbols create fear and call for hyper vigilance, as they are used as intimidation, reminding especially the Black and Jewish communities of the horrific treatment they have endured and STILL endure including: enslavement, terror, persecution, oppression, antisemitism, racism, and even death by violence.
It is time that the United States BAN these egregious symbols and stops enabling others to purposefully target these two groups, forcing them to relive and feel the cruel intent of them that they and their ancestors have endured for centuries.
For those who say that their freedom of speech is impacted by this action, or that it’s part of their family’s ancestry, I say that displaying these flags/symbols is NOT about history OR heritage and that free speech DOES NOT apply to this kind of threatening and dangerous symbology.
No one should have to see these flags ever again, except in a history book or a museum. It is there in these types of archives that the reminders of the past belong, however painful, so future generations may learn from our mistakes.
Why is this important?
Why would ANYONE support the right to display such hateful, racist, and threatening messaging? This has to be stopped. According to a 2017 article in Vox, “West German parliament voted unanimously in 1960 to “make it illegal to incite hatred, to provoke violence, or to insult, ridicule or defame ‘parts of the population’ in a manner apt to breach the peace.” Over time it was broadened to include racist writing. Gradually, this evolved into a concept called “defensive democracy.” The idea is that democracies might need a boost from some illiberal policies — such as limits on free speech and the display of imagery, in this case, connected to the Holocaust and the Second World War — in order to keep everyone free. In 2009 the law was strengthened again, when the German Constitutional Court officially ruled that a march to celebrate Nazi Rudolf Hess was illegal under Article 130 of the Penal Code, which bans anything that "approves of, glorifies or justifies the violent and despotic rule of the National Socialists."
It is time for American citizens to stand against those who want to carry forward and continue the bigotry, hatred, and violence of the past. The display of these flags and symbols in the US should be against the law. The manufacturing, profit from, and distribution by US companies (and display of same) should be put a halt once and for all.
It is time for American citizens to stand against those who want to carry forward and continue the bigotry, hatred, and violence of the past. The display of these flags and symbols in the US should be against the law. The manufacturing, profit from, and distribution by US companies (and display of same) should be put a halt once and for all.
How it will be delivered
Facebook
Email
Instagram