Thread by @HMAesq

"Horde."
"Invasion."
"Storming the border."
"Mid Eastern terrorists."
"Army."

This is white nationalist framing. No surprise it's coming from the President - we're used to it. But learn to recognize it, call it out, and most importantly: replace it. #MigrantCaravan

A few months ago I got to meet Kelvin Pierce. He's the son of William Pierce, founder of the white supremacist group the National Alliance, and author of The Turner Diaries. (It's a racist novel called a "bible of the racist right" cited as inspiration by Timothy McVeigh).

His story of growing up in a household of one of the white nationalist movement's founders was jarring: enduring years of abuse, neglect, hatred...all of which he had to find the tools to overcome.

I asked him, how do you know white nationalism when you see it?

He said, the campaign trail and Charlottesville reminded him of his childhood.

Asked him further, what about immigration policy? I was going to tell him about my theories of xenophobia injected by groups like FAIR. But he already knew what I was talking about.

He said, "They're talking about a fear of what might happen. My dad talked about it all the time: what would happen if we let in all these immigrants. What they're afraid of never happened. It's not happening. But they're afraid it might. That's the narrative they're creating."

Let me repeat: a former white nationalist who grew up in the household of one of the leaders of the movement said that what he sees coming out of DC *reminded him of his childhood.*

White nationalism is predicated on an irrational fear of non-white people. The narrative is one of survival, which justifies cruelty. Them or us. Fear and anger cloud vision, which in turn clouds the simple, unvarnished truths:

The problem is the condition that forcibly displaces people, not that those people seek asylum, and certainly not a migrant caravan of people simply trying to make a point.

Empower our own systems to determine who gets a chance to stay. We spend billions detaining and deporting. Maybe a fraction of that can be used to train more asylum officers.

Repurpose our border to create prosperity, not further inequality. Borders are tools - when used correctly, it will empower people that cross it, in whatever direction. A border isn't just "open" and "closed."

Starve the gangs. Invest in anti-gang measures to give purpose in life. Cut their supply lines, legalize marijuana to cut them off from the black market. No overnight solutions, but shouldn't we start instead of letting them grow like cancer?

Bake a bigger pie instead of fighting over slices. America is the perfect kitchen: we have all the ingredients and tools if we'd just use them as directed.