By Kamala Harris making history as the first woman and woman of color to be elected Vice President, most are inspired, but some may feel threatened.
With this victory for not only Biden and Harris, but women and people of color, this could — and very well should — open up many doors of opportunity, as Harris alluded to on the eve of Nov. 7.
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last,” Harris said in her victory speech. “Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
However, it is also possible that we may see some dangerous times coming up due to those who are not in favor of equality for all.
For many Americans, when they hear the word “terrorism,” they automatically think of foreign terrorists and the attack on September 11, 2001. Yet, what few tend to recognize is the high percentage rate of domestic terrorism and that most acts are committed out of hatred toward racial or ethnic groups.
“Right-wing extremists perpetrated two–thirds of the attacks and plots in the United States in 2019 and over 90 percent between January 1 and May 8, 2020,” according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The CSIS report also found that these kinds of attacks could likely increase toward the end of the year, given election tensity and results.
The day in which news broke out about Biden gaining enough electoral votes to be confirmed the President–Elect, a TikTok circulated of a Nigerian-American woman talking about being excited for Biden but also afraid.
“I don’t know if the Proud Boys are now activated,” the woman said in the video. “If they come on the streets saying, [making machine gun noises] ‘Y’all should’ve voted for Trump; this is what happens when you don’t vote for Trump.’”
While the video is comical, it reveals the true feeling of anxiety and fear that many people of color are experiencing right now due to the hateful rhetoric spread by white supremacists who Trump has yet to clearly condemn during his presidency.
In fact, this scenario she describes is not far-fetched. Recently the Department of Justice reported, “A criminal complaint was unsealed earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Brian Maiorana, a resident of Staten Island, with threatening to kill and ordering others to kill protestors, politicians and law enforcement in retaliation for the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.”
According to the DOJ, in October, Maiorana made threats on social media about killing protestors. On Nov. 8, the day after The Associated Press announced Biden as the next President-Elect, he posted, “The Turner Diaries must come to life. We blow up the FBI building for real. . .the electoral process is finished.”
It is important to note that the “Turner Diaries” is a novel that romanticizes the idea of overthrowing the U.S. government and the killing of non-whites and has been a source of inspiration for numerous acts of domestic terrorism, with the Oklahoma City Bombing being one of them.
Not only is America still facing rapidly rising cases of COVID-19, but the country is also dealing with anxiety caused by misinformation about the election process and unsupported claims of voter fraud brought up by President Trump.
However, in the midst of these uncertain times, stopping to reflect on what a crucial time in history this is, can provide strength to persevere.
Biden won the most votes in U.S. history. Despite the possible threat of white-supremacy and hatred, the majority of Americans have made the decision to move forward in unity, diversity and democracy.
Now is the time to stand together, be alert and look out for one another — regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
