I have once again protested in my local grocery store about hateporn in the checkout line. I asked to speak to the manager, which caused all the other checkout folks to pay attention to what was going on. Then I pointed out that this kind of propaganda risks inciting anti-Muslim hate, and that it is not consistent with our local community standards, or basic American values.
Her response was that they have free speech rights to publish whatever. My response was yes, that is true. Nazis, white supremacists and the KKK also have the right to publish whatever under freedom of speech.
“But you don’t sell their publications in your checkout line do you?”
She told me I could write to the publication to protest, and then walked off in disgust.
It was a gentle exchange overall. But the seeds of awareness are planted in the minds of all the grocery clerks last nite.
Please pass it on. We can each make a small difference by speaking out against hate and intolerance wherever we see it.