When Hate Crimes Hits Home
By: Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper Chairman of the Board of Directors, NNPA While we all grieve the loss of life and the […]
Black News 
By: Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher
San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper
Chairman of the Board of Directors, NNPA
While we all grieve the loss of life and the attack on our local Islamic house of worship, we must not allow our condolences to become a band-aid on the manifestation of hate expressed in this violent attack. Freedom of Religion, as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution, means everyone has that right and not just a chosen few. The fact that two young men would have such a “learned” hatred is indicative of the growing problem in America, where a few people assume that their rights override the lives and rights of others who do not either agree with them or worship as they do.Once again, we have the deadly misuse of the right to keep and bear arms. Once again, we must remind the people of this state that while the attack was on members of our Muslim community, Blacks still have the highest incidents of hate crimes in the State of California.
The tragic attacks and loss of life at the Islamic Center of San Diego is a reminder that hate is a “Clear and Present Danger” right here at home, that the “Stop The Hate” Project that this newspaper conducted during the past two years is needed now more than ever, and that those who publicly mourn and express their outrage at times like this, must step up their support for all our anti hate efforts so that we fight this problem before we experience more such attacks and threats to all our safety, just because of how we worship.
Where do you stand? Let’s have your voice and response to such efforts.
