Muslims and other Middle Eastern people have been falsely branded as terrorists by many, but on Thursday, Sen. Sherrod Brown reminded millions of Americans that most acts of terrorism in the country were carried out by white men and not by Arabs or Muslims.
Brown said that “generally white males” are to blame for many terrorist attacks since September 11, 2001. He cited several incidents of mass shootings in public places in broad daylight and called them “terrorist attacks,” but the only difference is that they were carried out by “different kinds of terrorists.”
“I think most of us recognize, we’re concerned but we also know that we trust the FBI and our security forces to do this right. I mean, since the beginning of the Bush administration when we were attacked, September 11th, we’ve not had any major terrorist attacks in this country,” Brown said, adding that the country has been relatively safe from foreign terrorists.
Dem. OH Sen: Most of US terror attacks since 9/11 carried out by people who look “like me” https://t.co/iQcuIVoW40 pic.twitter.com/vZ5Mfm3Yai
— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) November 20, 2015
Brown also pointed out that the real terror does not come from the outside and that much of the people’s views and stereotypes are distorted. During a radio interview on WAKR, Sen. Brown said that while people are putting all the blame on Muslims, white men who were involved in smaller acts of terrorism committed were neglected.
“We’ve had individual crazy people, normally, they look more like me than they look like Middle Easterners — they are generally white males — who have shot up people in movie theaters and schools. Those are terrorist attacks, they’re just different kinds of terrorists.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown Claims White Men Committed Most Terrorist Attacks Since 9/11
The Ohio Democrat also assured people there is nothing to fear because the government and local communities are putting every effort in keeping the country safe for everyone. The government has done a great job warding off terrorist attacks from foreigners. However, he added the real cause for concern is the terrorism that happens inside the country done by white men , and that is where the government fails to protect its people.
“Not keeping us safe from crazy gunmen coming into schools and movie theaters sometimes, but certainly keeping us safe from foreigners attacking this country,” the senator argued.
In response to the ISIS terror attacks in Paris , Donald Trump suggested shutting down mosques to prevent extremist Muslims from committing atrocities in the country. Conservatives are also against offering asylum to Syrian refugees.
Donald Trump Believes Arabs and Black Males Cause Terrorism and Crime
Domestic terrorism is a problem in the country, but it is often neglected and replaced with paranoia that comes with welcoming Muslims in the U.S.
However, white men were responsible for the firebombing of abortion clinics and Planned Parenthood, as well as mass shootings in movie theaters and schools. Who can forget the killing of nine church members in South Carolina? The perpetrator was a white young man named Dylann Roof. In a recent interview, the senator made a good point of reminding people about the stereotypes people subscribe to.
Brown is a member of the Democratic Party, and before he was elected senator, and he served as the representative of Ohio’s 13th Congressional District from 1993 until 2007. He was the Ohio Secretary of State from 1983 to 1991. He was also a state representative in Ohio from 1974 until 1982, and at the time, he was the youngest person elected to the office.
He is also a supporter of LGBT rights. In fact, he voted against forbidding same-sex couples from adopting kids in Washington D.C. He also supported Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and voted for the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
In 2011, Brown was listed among the most liberal member of Congress, along with eight other people, in the National Journal annual rankings.
[Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images]