In a time when every public incident or legislative act is being scrutinized microscopically, words are a powerful thing. For the first time in history people of color are able to voice their opinions on a grand scale, and point out how Whiteness provides access, power, privilege and, often, blatant ignorance in the face of wrongdoing.
Late Sunday evening, Stephen Paddock walked to the 32th floor of Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Hotel into a crowd of some 22,000 concertgoers and began shooting. He murdered 59 people and injured 571.
Described by President Donald Trump —the same man who said athletes kneeling in protest were “son’s of bitches”— as a “very sick individual”, Paddock had 23 weapons inside his hotel room, 19 firearms and explosives in his private residence, a gambling addiction and a bank-robber father who was on the FBI’s most-wanted list after escaping jail. But despite all Paddock’s terrorist-like behavior, he’s been labeled as a sad “lone wolf.”
Luckily, there have been many outspoken celebrities who have called Sunday’s attack by it’s name: terrorism.
See who spoke out, below.
“There’s nothing I can tweet that will heal the heartache being felt today, but all my heart is with Las Vegas. This is domestic terrorism.”
“When an unarmed Black person gets killed, the 1st thing we learn are her/his vices. White guy slaughters people…Gosh, what did he enjoy?”
“So, just (really) waking up. It’s not gonna be called ‘terrorism’ is it…& a lot of ‘our hearts are with’ & no NR —man lemme stop.”
“Saying a prayer for all the victims & their loved ones, also for the residents & visitors of Las Vegas! This was a horrific act of terror!!“
“Prayers up for all the people killed and all the families affected by this evil act of terrorism.”
“The lone wolf. The local shooter. The gunman. Any and everything, but terrorist. Wonder why.”
“They already said it. But yea, if this ain’t terrorism, nothing is. RT @Poppalarge: @TalibKweli Watch. Lone wolf. Not terrorism.”
“This was terrorism. Calling it anything else is dishonest and dangerous. People need to know. Call it what it is. Domestic terrorism.”
“This man killed 50 human beings!!! 50!!! How is this not terrorism??? How??!!”
“Why do we still know so little about Las Vegas terrorist Stephen Paddock?”
J. Countess/
“#StephenPaddock was a homegrown, domestic terrorist. Plain. Simple. Just that. #ThatPart #AllThat #ThatIsAll”
On Monday when asked by TMZ about the shooting, rapper Chuck D took the conversation in another direction. “Yo man, the NRA is a terrorist organization and the administration backs the terrorist organization and never uses the word,” he said.
