SALON

Thursday, Apr 18, 2013 6:42 PM UTC

Extremists blame everyone but white men for Boston bombings

From "illegals" to Muslim terrorists, you can always count on the far right to demonize its favorite bogeymen

By

Topics: Southern Poverty Law Center, Boston Bombings, Boston Marathon, Muslim Terrorists, Oklahoma City

Extremists blame everyone but white men for Boston bombings (Credit: Reuters/Dan Lampariello)
This article was originally published by The Southern Poverty Law Center.

The Southern Poverty Law Center Who was responsible for the deadly Boston terrorist attack?

The Muslims did it. No, it was an illegal immigrant. Think again – it was a gay guy. Wait, you missed the key signs: Our own government once again pulled off an act of covert terror to promote its nefarious aims.

Fingers have been pointed in all of these directions by conspiracy theory peddlers and professional hatemongers since the bombings Monday.

“It’s a pretty safe bet right now that this attack was carried out by an Islamist,” declared a post on the Tea Party Nation website Tuesday. The obvious cause for the violence? “We have a government that is not committed to protecting America.” Linking Islam with Ronald Reagan’s “evil empire” of Communism, the post warned that the Boston bombings are just another event presaging future violence in “an ideological war” that can only be won if we have tougher, more anti-Islam U.S. political leaders. That, of course, would be the Tea Party cabal.

Pamela Geller, the raging Islamophobic activist, immediately declared “case closed” in a Monday blog headlined “Jihadi Arrested in Horrific Boston Marathon Bombing.” Boston police released the Saudi Arabian college student whom she incorrectly referred to as “arrested” and said, after questioning him, that he was no longer a suspect.

But maybe the man foolishly released by police is not a Jihadi but rather planted the bombings because he’s gay. That’s the implication advanced by several right-wing web sites such as Free Republic and Gateway Pundit.  They took the initiative to post information from the Facebook page of the Saudi youth. They claimed he was “guarded by federal agents” and was surely either gay or bisexual because he expressed interest in “men and women,” had vacationed in Key West and “liked” the Ellen Degeneres Show.

Erik Rush, a periodic Fox News guest, set a more urgent tone, tweeting, “Everybody do the National Security Ankle Grab! Let’s bring more Saudis in without screening them! C’mon! #bostonmarathon.” When asked online if he was blaming Muslims for the bombings, Rush replied: “Yes, they’re evil. Kill them all.” Later, he claimed he was just joking and deleted the post. But Right Wing Watch captured it for posterity.

Anti-immigrant activists seized on the terrorism to fuel fears about pending immigration reform legislation. Right-wing talk show host Laura Ingraham tried Tuesday to goad Rep. Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, into blaming undocumented immigrants for the Boston attacks. When he didn’t bite, she advised closing our borders as the logical solution.

Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican and leading opponent of immigration reform, portrayed the terror acts as a clear indication that reform could threaten Americans. Before anyone had been arrested Tuesday, he told National Review Online, “If we can’t background-check people that are coming from Saudi Arabia, how do we think we are going to background-check the 11 to 20 million people that are here from who knows where?” He said the Boston violence should slow action on immigration reform.

Several leaders in the antigovernment militia movement told Buzzfeed their activists wouldn’t have done it. “(It) had nothing to do with militias – that’s a bunch of bullshit,” Dave Trochmann, co-founder of the Militia of Montana said. “It was probably a raghead.”

John Livengood of the Kansas State Militia said that “someone pissed off at the government” wouldn’t attack civilians but would rather choose a government target. He cast suspicion, however, on a “skinhead type of militia where it’s all about race – that’s those guys in Montana and Idaho – and they don’t like society integrating the way that it has been. They could have done it very easily.”

The most déjà vu explanation of all came from Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist and radio host. He suggested the bombings looked like a “false flag” operation by the government. Militia activists also widely voiced this “false flag” refrain after the Sept. 11 attacks and the Oklahoma City bombings. To folks like Jones, it makes perfect sense. In a webcast Monday, he said: “You saw them stage Fast and Furious. … They staged Aurora, they staged Sandy Hook. The evidence is just overwhelming. And that’s why I’m so desperate and freaked out. This is not fun you know, getting up here telling you this.”  But, alas, the burden falls on Jones. “Somebody’s got to tell you the truth.”

And, of course, Westboro Baptist Church, arguably the most hated hate group in America, had the answer: God sent the bombs in retaliation for Massachusetts’ decision to allow same-sex marriage. “Thank God, for his righteous judgment,” says Westboro’s Sam Phelps-Roper in seven-minute video posted Tuesday on the group’s GodHatesFags website.

Marilyn Elias

More Marilyn Elias.

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

7 motorist-friendly camping sites

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 9

Sponsored Post

  • White River National Forest via Lower Crystal Lake, Colorado
    For those OK with the mainstream, White River Forest welcomes more than 10 million visitors a year, making it the most-visited recreation forest in the nation. But don’t hate it for being beautiful; it’s got substance, too. The forest boasts 8 wilderness areas, 2,500 miles of trail, 1,900 miles of winding service system roads, and 12 ski resorts (should your snow shredders fit the trunk space). If ice isn’t your thing: take the tire-friendly Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway — 82 miles connecting the towns of Meeker and Yampa, half of which is unpaved for you road rebels.
    fs.usda.gov/whiteriveryou


    Image credit: Getty

  • Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest via Noontootla Creek, Georgia
    Boasting 10 wildernesses, 430 miles of trail and 1,367 miles of trout-filled stream, this Georgia forest is hailed as a camper’s paradise. Try driving the Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway, which saw Civil War battles fought. If the tall peaks make your engine tremble, opt for the relatively flat Oconee National Forest, which offers smaller hills and an easy trail to the ghost town of Scull Shoals. Scaredy-cats can opt for John’s Mountain Overlook, which leads to twin waterfalls for the sensitive sightseer in you.
    fs.usda.gov/conf


    Image credit: flickr/chattoconeenf

  • Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area via Green Road, Michigan
    The only national forest in Lower Michigan, the Huron-Mainstee spans nearly 1 million acres of public land. Outside the requisite lush habitat for fish and wildlife on display, the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is among the biggest hooks for visitors: offering beach camping with shores pounded by big, cerulean surf. Splash in some rum and you just might think you were in the Caribbean.
    fs.usda.gov/hmnf


    Image credit: umich.edu

  • Canaan Mountain via Backcountry Canaan Loop Road, West Virginia
    A favorite hailed by outdoorsman and author Johnny Molloy as some of the best high-country car camping sites anywhere in the country, you don’t have to go far to get away. Travel 20 miles west of Dolly Sods (among the busiest in the East) to find the Canaan Backcountry (for more quiet and peace). Those willing to leave the car for a bit and foot it would be remiss to neglect day-hiking the White Rim Rocks, Table Rock Overlook, or the rim at Blackwater River Gorge.
    fs.usda.gov/mnf


    Image credit: Getty

  • Mt. Rogers NRA via Hurricane Creek Road, North Carolina
    Most know it as the highest country they’ll see from North Carolina to New Hampshire. What they may not know? Car campers can get the same grand experience for less hassle. Drop the 50-pound backpacks and take the highway to the high country by stopping anywhere on the twisting (hence the name) Hurricane Road for access to a 15-mile loop that boasts the best of the grassy balds. It’s the road less travelled, and the high one, at that.
    fs.usda.gov/gwj


    Image credit: wikipedia.org

  • Long Key State Park via the Overseas Highway, Florida
    Hiking can get old; sometimes you’d rather paddle. For a weekend getaway of the coastal variety and quieter version of the Florida Keys that’s no less luxe, stick your head in the sand (and ocean, if snorkeling’s your thing) at any of Long Key’s 60 sites. Canoes and kayaks are aplenty, as are the hot showers and electric power source amenities. Think of it as the getaway from the typical getaway.
    floridastateparks.org/longkey/default.cfm


    Image credit: floridastateparks.org

  • Grand Canyon National Park via Crazy Jug Point, Arizona
    You didn’t think we’d neglect one of the world’s most famous national parks, did you? Nor would we dare lead you astray with one of the busiest parts of the park. With the Colorado River still within view of this cliff-edge site, Crazy Jug is a carside camper’s refuge from the troops of tourists. Find easy access to the Bill Hall Trail less than a mile from camp, and descend to get a peek at the volcanic Mt. Trumbull. (Fear not: It’s about as active as your typical lazy Sunday in front of the tube, if not more peaceful.)
    fs.usda.gov/kaibab


    Image credit: flickr/Irish Typepad

  • As the go-to (weekend) getaway car for fiscally conscious field trips with friends, the 2013 MINI Convertible is your campground racer of choice, allowing you and up to three of your co-pilots to take in all the beauty of nature high and low. And with a fuel efficiency that won’t leave you in the latter, you won’t have to worry about being left stranded (or awkwardly asking to go halfsies on gas expenses).


    Image credit: miniusa.com

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 9

Related Videos

Comments

 39 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

Salon is proud to feature content from The Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society.

follow salon

Most Read

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

vote
Let's Stop Screwing Around and Impeach James Clapper: After lying to Congress about all the different ways the NSA's spying on us, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper lies about how he lied. Call the White House at 202 456-1111 and Tell Obama to Get Rid of Clapper
338 points339 points | 15 comments
vote
Let's Stop Screwing Around and Impeach James Clapper: After lying to Congress about all the different ways the NSA's spying on us, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper lies about how he lied. Call the White House at 202 456-1111 and Tell Obama to Get Rid of Clapper
194 points195 points | 25 comments
vote
Machiavelli doesn’t belong to the 1 percent | "The Prince" is oft-quoted on Wall Street, but its author was a hero of the working class who despised elites
86 points87 points | 33 comments
vote
Let's Stop Screwing Around and Impeach James Clapper: After lying to Congress about all the different ways the NSA's spying on us, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper lies about how he lied. Call the White House at 202 456-1111 and Tell Obama to Get Rid of Clapper
55 points56 points | 7 comments
vote
“Whistle-blower” now means “homegrown terrorist” And other definitions from the new dictionary for our post-9/11 security state
43 points44 points | 2 comments

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "The Joker": Laughing at life's deepest sorrows