Congressman Brown Delivers Remarks on the Murder of Lieutenant Richard Collins III

Statement

"This tragedy exposes a dangerous rising tide. This incident was not some random act of violence. It was a heinous, despicable and unprovoked crime of hate.

"Richard Collin's murderer - who was from a middle-class family, hung out at the Student Union and Library - was a member of a racist neo-nazi group called "Alt Reich Nation." He was not some outsider. He was a homegrown terrorist who was radicalized on university campus. What is most troubling is this is not the first incident of hate at the University of Maryland.

"This academic year alone there've been anti-immigrant chalkings, racist flyers, threats and less than a month ago there was a noose found inside a campus fraternity house. But this isn't just a troubling trend at UMD. There's been an unprecedented spike in racist and hate activity on campuses since November. Posters at the University of Texas implored students to "report any and all illegal aliens. America is a white nation." Another flier, with swastikas, at UCLA, read in part "the hordes of our enemies from the blacks to the Jews are deserving of fates of violence.

"So today, I'm calling on the Administration - that has repeatedly failed to denounce the hate crimes directed at Jews, members of the LGBT community, or immigrants -- to denounce the hate-fueled killing of a black soldier, Second Lieutenant Richard Collins.

"The reaction to Collin's murder is often formulaic. We extend our condolences and sympathies. Call the killing a senseless tragedy. And proclaim that we won't tolerate these incidents.

"That's not good enough. If this escalation of hate is going to end in Maryland and across the country, it'll be because all of us take a stand. Not only against the hard right and hate festering on campus, but to leaders that have been too content to remain silent and look the other way.

"Hate speech is not protected. Encouraging open academic debate cannot lead to inaction that creates a breeding ground for prejudice, discrimination and violent hatred.

"In the absence of real change, we take to the streets. We protest. We hold vigils. But Richard Collins deserves better. Our children deserve better.

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