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Letter: White nationalists deserve to be shamed

(Steve Helber | AP file photo) White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 12, 2017.

I work at a local restaurant that provides counter service. I typically operate the cash register during my shifts.

During one of my recent shifts, two men approached the counter to order. One was dressed normally and seemed incredibly normal. The other was sporting a tank top and, more importantly, a multicolored swastika necklace.

My first reaction was a mixture of shock and then hope — hope that it was the Hindu symbol. After all, it was multicolored and, to put it one way, the Nazis didn’t appreciate rainbows very much.

But I knew better. This guy looked like someone had given Alex Jones and Glenn Beck access to the human genome and they had built their ideal person. The point is, I was too uncomfortable to say anything and barely able to take their order.

It’s truly sad how we’ve regressed as a society and culture in the United States in the past three years and, while I haven’t been around long, I’ve never seen this kind of necklace being worn so prominently.

The Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Defamation League have both reported an increase in groups and activities of white nationalists over the past couple of years. For those wondering, Identity Evropa, Patriot Front and The Right Stuff are current white nationalist hate groups operating in Utah, according to the SPLC.

I understand that my customer is technically allowed to wear the necklace, but that doesn’t mean anyone should. Free speech is not free of consequence.

Maybe I’m only benefiting him and his group by giving them attention by writing about them. But I’ll be damned if I don’t at least try to publicly shame him.

Sam Fenwick, Salt Lake City

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