Increase in White Supremacy, NOT in our town (Opinion Editorial)

At YWCA Alaska we are on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

That is why we must call out the issue of white supremacy in Alaska as highlighted in a recent story in Alaska Public Media. There has been a recent marked increase in activity by white supremacist groups, particularly in Anchorage. This is the direct result of a nation who has not been diligent enough in calling out blatant and explicit racism in its highest offices at all levels. It is also due to our nation accommodating passive and cloaked racism in all its many forms. Lee Atwater said it best in explaining the “Southern Strategy”. When you can’t say the n-word, you say “forced busing” and “states rights”. It’s the same today with racially charged references to “woke”, “Critical Race Theory”, and “DEI” by those who never bothered to understand these terms in the first place. They knew it meant minority folks might come closer to achieving equality, and that was enough for them to register their opposition.

YWCA Alaska calls out all racist behavior, both explicit and hidden. We call out the hate groups referenced by Alaska Public Media. We also call out those who seek to cloak their racism. We call out those who vote against public school funding and call it “school choice” while full well knowing which students will have those choices and which ones won’t. We call out the Governor who calls it “fiscal responsibility” when he cuts services that overwhelmingly hurt women, minorities, and those struggling against poverty while hiding tax credits to oil companies. We call out those who howl in opposition to badly needed new housing in the name of “neighborhood character”, because we know that the character they seek to defend most stridently of all is that of old, rich, and white hegemony and dominance of wealth.

We march forward toward justice unafraid and ask all of our Alaskan neighbors to march forward with us.

Until Justice Just Is,

Jessie Lavoie, CEO

YWCA Alaska