In a letter published in The New York Times on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Schuck Schumer implored Fox News executives to immediately put an end to the network’s “reckless amplification” of the “so-called great replacement theory.” If you’ve been lucky enough to remain unaware of the hideously racist “great replacement” theory, it is, in a nutshell, the paranoid, discriminatory, and fundamentally racist and xenophobic fear that white people are being “replaced” by immigrants of color in order to achieve some sort of political agenda. Again: It is a racist, anti-immigrant conspiracy theory. Period.
This concept, sadly and disturbingly, is not a new one, though it’s especially pertinent today given that the suspect in the Buffalo, New York mass shooting, an 18-year-old white man, allegedly wrote about the theory in his 180-page racist scribe. For context, the shooter reportedly traveled three hours to the predominately Black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, and appeared to target Black elders shopping at a Tops grocery store. Those shot and killed include Katherine Massey, Ruth Whitfield, Pearly Young, Roberta Drury, Celestine Chaney, Heyward Patterson, and security guard Aaron Salter. Three additional folks were injured in the mass shooting.
Schumer addressed Fox executives, including Rupert Murdoch, directly in the letter in which he breaks down both the dangers of this hateful rhetoric and the reality that Fox continues to amplify it.
RELATED: Private middle school tells students to write letters convincing gay friends to be straight
In his letter, Schumer cites research suggesting that Fox News viewers are three times more likely to believe in the heinous theory than people who watch other networks. He (accurately) stressed that while people have believed in this theory for a long time, it’s existed largely on the “fringes” here in the United States. But thanks to Fox News amplifying it, it’s now gotten into the “mainstream” narrative.
Christina Reynolds, VP of Communications at EMILY's List, talks about spending $150 million to center abortion rights in this November’s elections on Daily Kos’ The Brief podcast
"I urge you to take into consideration the very real impacts of the dangerous rhetoric being broadcast on your network on a nightly basis," Schumer wrote in part, adding that he implores the network to “immediately cease” all “dissemination” of this far-right, white nationalist conspiracy theory.
“This should come as no surprise,” he wrote in part. “Given the central role these themes have played in your network’s programming in recent years.”
Schumer also (fairly) called out Fox News while speaking on the Senate floor on Monday evening, saying in part that replacement theory is “dangerous” and “deeply anti-American,” and that it poisons the minds of people who spend hours “wandering the darkest wasteland of the internet.”
“And let’s be clear,” he continued. “It’s a message that’s also found a special home in several right-wing outlets and on one cable news channel, in particular, Fox News.”
Schumer added that Fox (and others like it) have prioritized a “craven quest” for ratings and viewers and have mastered churning “political resentment” and “cultural grievance” that “eerily mirrors” the messages in replacement theory.
Contribute now to support abortion funds providing financial assistance to people seeking abortion care.