By Bob Plain in
Rhode Island’s Future
Erik Loomis is on the front lines in the fight against fascism.
While many of us fear what will happen during Donald Trump’s presidency, the
University of Rhode Island history professor is already living it. He’s taking direct hits in the alt right’s assault on the free speech of the progressive left.
Since Donald Trump won the election, Loomis has twice been
targeted by Trump-supporting organizations with efforts to stifle speech and
possibly chill criticism of the president-elect.
Breitbart
This week, Breitbart accused Loomis of mourning the death of
Fidel Castro and praising the US-defying Cuban dictator.
The article said “Professors at universities across the United States are mourning the death of tyrant Fidel Castro” but it cited only a one Loomis blog post and a Facebook post of a professor from Drew University in New Jersey (that link doesn’t appear to work).
The author inaccurately portrays Loomis’ post as
praise for the Cuban dictator. The 1,900-word analysis of Castro’s Cuba titled “Castro: It’s Complicated!” is a well-balanced
look at the US-defying dictator’s embrace of fascist rule and social justice
ideals.
“Fidel
Castro was a tremendously complex person who attempted to rebuild a society
around ideas of justice while also refusing to allow democratic institutions to
form.
He sought to resist U.S. imperialism while openly hoping his island would
be devastated by a nuclear attack. He brought outstanding medical care and
education to his own people and the poor around the world while limiting the
ability of educated people to use their skills at home.
He was on the front
lines of fighting the oppression of people of color by U.S. allies around the
world while also supporting some pretty awful people around the world himself.”
Breitbart is known for tailoring information to fit into divisive
narratives favored by factions of Trump’s white working class base. The site
often casts liberals as being un-American and often promotes racist and
xenophobic viewpoints.
Senior Trump adviser Steve Bannon is the former owner of
Breitbart who transformed the site into the darling of the alt right, White
Nationalists and other racists and xenophobes across the country.
Loomis called Breitbart the “official publication of the
incoming president of the United States.” He wrote about how his post made its way through the “fascist networks” to Fox
News’ Tucker Carlson.
Professor Watchlist
Only one week earlier, Loomis was singled out by another
organization run by a prominent Trump supporter. Professor Watchlist included Loomis in its directory, just launched on
November 21.
Loomis was one of 197 professors included on the initial list,
though the site encourages the public to submit additional names. The stated mission “is to expose and document
college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance
leftist propaganda in the classroom.”
It was started by Turning Point USA, a 501c3 led by Trump supporter
Charlie Kirk, who last week said he was at Trump Tower. New York Magazine has more on Kirk and Turning Point USA.
Kirk, a 22-year-old who didn’t himself attend college, spoke at the Republican
National Convention this summer.
Loomis was included because “In 2012 Loomis stated, ‘Fuck the
NRA’ without a hint of subtlety. Loomis, upset in 2012 over the Sandy Hook
shootings, also said the NRA is a terrorist organization. He tweeted he wants
NRA CEO ‘Wayne LaPierre’s head on a stick.'”
Professor Watchlist has been criticized for existing to silence
free speech of a specific point of view.
A headline in yesterday’s New York
Times proclaims “Professor Watchlist Is Seen as Threat to Academic Freedom”.
One college professor cited in the article feared “the site could be used to
harass professors or sabotage them from gaining jobs or promotions,” according
to The Times report.
Trade deals
While Trump supporters don’t seem to appreciate Loomis’
political views, his work speaks directly to an issue Trump said is important
to his administration. Loomis’ most
recent book is called “Out of Sight” and takes a close look at trade deals.
Trump has said and Loomis believes the TPP is not in the best
interest of the American people. Loomis told RI Future in November, 2015 that trade deals
with other nations should be used to benefit American working class people
rather than multinational corporations.
“Erik Loomis is a Rhode Island treasure,” wrote Phil Eil of
Loomis last year, describing him as “Rhody’s own fire-spitting, NRA-fighting, grave-visiting, environmental/labor history guru.”
Loomis writes for the Lawyers,
Guns and Money blog, where he offers political analysis of both the right and the left.
In a tweet last night, Loomis teased Breitbart and added, “I
will not be intimidated.”
Bob Plain is the
editor/publisher of Rhode Island's Future. Previously, he's worked as a
reporter for several different news organizations both in Rhode Island and
across the country.
