White Supremacist Threats Persist in New Jersey: A Plea for Unity and Action

10 July 2023 - The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, in collaboration with the United States Department of Homeland Security, has released a report in 2023 that labels white supremacist violent extremists as among the most "persistent," "hostile," and "lethal" threats facing the state and the country. The report provides an in-depth examination of the impacts of white supremacy, outlining the critical need for unity among New Jersey residents against hate, while emphasizing the importance of working diligently to dismantle white supremacy.

White supremacy, according to the report, spans a spectrum of bias-based attitudes and actions, including systemic discrimination, all rooted in the belief of white superiority. The most volatile of these beliefs manifest as white supremacist violent extremism, which threatens or engages in violence and crime spurred by white supremacist ideologies. These ideologies do not merely target the Black community, but all communities of color, various faith groups, and individuals based on their gender and sexuality.

Over 200 community members and experts participated in a series of listening sessions that informed the report. These sessions bore witness to the pervasive reach and traumatic impact of white supremacy. The report identifies five key themes:

1. The expression of white supremacy by community members inflicts widespread trauma, especially on young individuals. The experience of these targets is often dismissed or minimized by white community members, creating an environment of systemic disregard.
2. Extremists utilize a strategy to normalize and mainstream white supremacist ideologies. These groups effectively leverage social media to promote fear and false narratives, while also enlisting community members to resist the implementation of anti-bias education.
3. Some white supremacist violent extremists deliberately infiltrate positions of authority in government and law enforcement to misuse their power to harass, assault, incarcerate, and disenfranchise people of color.
4. White supremacist violent extremists and adjacent groups actively recruit young white individuals, particularly online, by exploiting their insecurities and leveraging their trauma.
5. It is crucial for white community members to collaborate closely with communities of color and other targets of white supremacists to counter white supremacy.

Based on expert testimonies, the report suggests a set of best practices for dismantling white supremacy:

1. Listening to and learning from those targeted by white supremacy.
2. Refraining from normalizing or mainstreaming hate, both in-person and online.
3. Proactively discussing race and racism with youth.
4. Educating youth on how to avoid recruitment into extremist ideologies.
5. Recognizing the risk for and signs of radicalization, and intervening early.
6. Equipping youth and adults with resources and support systems for coping with and combating white supremacy.

These practices are seen as essential for community members to protect themselves, their children, and their communities from the damaging effects of white supremacy. The report's findings serve as a compelling call to action, urging New Jersey residents to actively stand against hate, dismantle white supremacist ideologies, and hold themselves, their peers, and their institutions accountable in doing so.

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