The time has arrived. This country that has long prided itself on being "melting-pot" of different nationalities, religions, races, and cultures is now being forced recon with the realities of that ideology. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, today's 7-year-olds will grow up in a minority-majority nation. However, this transition is not without cost. For those in this country, who have based their entire esteem and identity solely on the premise of their perceived superiority, witnessing a transition of this magnitude is daunting. We've seen the backlash of this distress play out in several arenas from politics to policing, to propaganda campaigns waged against minority and religious groups.
The latest evidence of this bold resurgence of white supremacy has played out at American University where, over the last few weeks we reported the discovery of bananas hung by nooses with the letters "AKA" (Dumpson is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.) and "Harambe," clearly alluding to the infamous gorilla notoriously shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo last May. The incidents, in backlash to the university's election of its first black female student body president, have recently been further exaggerated in a new racist online campaign waged directly against Taylor Dumpson.
In a series of recent posts made by Andrew Anglin, founder of a popular white supremacist website the Daily Stormer, the Neo-Nazi urges his followers to harass Dumpson, sarcastically prodding readers to “send her some words of support.” Referencing Dumpson, he goes on to tell his followers to “let her know you fully support her struggle against bananas.” Anglin has posted photos and video of Dumpson, along with links to her Facebook account to encourage the racist trolling.
American University spokesperson, Teresa Flannery said law enforcement has been dispatched to protect Taylor Dumpson and her family. According to the Eagle, AU's campus newspaper, Flannery sent an email to the university stating, "Our community has been threatened on campus; it continues online. American University will not allow any member of our community to be intimidated and we will not be discouraged. I hope you will stand with Taylor and me and continue to stand up for our values."
As for Anglin, whose profile is registered with the Southern Poverty Law Center, there is no word yet on any arrest or repercussions. The FBI is currently assisting the university in its investigation over the racist incidents.
