Dawn Montgomery: What we should think and do in the Trump era

NNPA NEWSWIRE – I refuse to ut­ter his name. Since the announcement of his presidential re-election, I’ve tried to stay calm, to remain, as they say, “very demure.” But after what unfolded this past Saturday, when a group of masked White nationalists stormed the Short North Arts District area in Columbus, Ohio, waving swas­tika flags and shouting racial slurs—a ratchet display of pure hate—I just can’t. I am annoyed, but we knew this was coming. Classic American terror­ism, live and in color. And make no mistake—when “that man” ascends to his concocted throne, these events will only intensify. Social media documented every an­gle of the chaos, showing what Colum­bus Mayor Andrew Ginther called a “cowardly display.” The mayor said he would not allow “our neighbors” to be “intimidated, threatened or harmed.” Governor Mike DeWine echoed this sentiment, posting on X, “We will not tolerate hate in Ohio.” Yet, despite these words of con­demnation, the police did nothing. They were called to intervene but stood by as the violence unfolded. Ohio’s anti-KKK law explicitly bans masked groups from committing misdemeanors, with violations carrying felony-level penalties. Still, not one masked White nationalist was arrested—not even those who pepper-sprayed patrons during an altercation...