It’s Time to Confront the American Fringes
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Sunday, September 06, 2020
America is an occupied territory. The invaders aren’t foreign but rather an enemy from within: Americans fighting to push extreme ideologies into the mainstream. This resulting chaos is reflected in divisive rhetoric and burning cities, in militarized citizenry and dictatorial echo chambers. These are the American Fringes. The roots go back decades, but the past few months are instructive.
Amid a pandemic that has ravaged lives and decimated the economy while also fueling conspiracy theories, Black Lives Matter protests broke out following a series of police killings — and garnered large bipartisan support for a racial reckoning in America. But the fringes have come to dominate both the street theater and discussions around the issues, with meaningful consequences. Over the next two days, we will explore how the fringes are threatening to become the America of tomorrow … if we don’t confront them today.
    — Nick Fouriezos, Senior Reporter