The president of the Council of Concerned Conservatives, a group implicated in the radicalization of the Charleston church shooter, has reportedly funnelled more than $65,000 in campaign contributions to Republican candidates over the last few years — all while spewing racist vitriol such as black Americans being "the laziest, stupidest and most criminally-inclined race in the history of the world."
According to a report from The Guardian, the group's president noted that it was "not surprising" that Roof seemed to be influenced by the group's website as it reported race relations "accurately and honestly."
Apparently inspired by the group's writings following the 2012 killing of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, the Charleston shooter went on to murder nine worshippers at the historically black Emanuel AME Church during a bible study the night on June 17, 2015.
Four of the GOP's leading presidential contenders received donations: Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, former Senator Rick Santorum, and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. These presidential contenders — and many Congressional candidates who also received money from Holt's group — have already pledged to return or redirect donations from Holt, but that's only a first step.
The Republican party needs to reject racism wholesale, and let white supremacists like Ed Holt and the Council of Concerned Conservatives know that their out-dated, hateful views have no place in today's GOP.
Urge Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus to call on all GOP candidates to reject donations from groups and individuals tied to racist rhetoric, launch a full investigation of all past donations, and direct any past donations from groups tied to racist rhetoric or policy positions to civil rights and voter protection efforts organizations.
Chairman Priebus,
In the wake of revelations that the Charleston church killer appears to have been inspired and radicalized by the racist rantings of one of your party's prominent donors, we, the undersigned, strongly urge you to take concrete steps to alert white supremacists that they will find no home in the Republican Party.
Specifically, we ask that you:
* Carefully vet all future donations and reject contributions from groups and individuals tied to racist rhetoric or violence;
* Launch a full investigation of past donations to Republican candidates for the Presidency, the US Senate, and the House of Representatives; and
* Donate an amount equal to past donations from groups tied to racist rhetoric or violence to civil rights and voter protection efforts organizations.
[Your comments]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
