Robert Bowers: Difference between revisions

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===Political and religious beliefs===

Bowers' political and religious beliefs played a large role in the massacre. He was staunchly and fanatically conservative and was a fierce white nationalist, and was also involved in the [[Christian Identity]] movement. He was a believer in [[Anti-Semitism|antisemitic]] conspiracy theories and had a profile on Gab, a social media network favored by the far-right. His posts on Gab have included many hateful things about Jews, such as "Jews are the children of Satan." He ~~has~~ re-shared many Neo-[[Nazi]] posts and made frequent use of the racial slur "kike", and there is even one recorded use of him saying "Heil [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]!" Other posts made reference to the [[Fourteen Words]], ~~attacked~~ African Americans with racial slurs and images related to [[lynching]], and attacked women who have relationships with black men. He also used his online accounts to post conspiracy theories regarding investor and philanthropist George Soros.

Bowers' political and religious beliefs played a large role in the massacre. He was staunchly and fanatically conservative and was a fierce white nationalist, and was also involved in the [[Christian Identity]] movement. He was a believer in [[Anti-Semitism|antisemitic]] conspiracy theories and had a profile on Gab, a social media network favored by the far-right.

His posts on Gab have included many hateful things about Jews, such as "Jews are the children of Satan." He re-shared many Neo-[[Nazi Party|Nazi]] posts and made frequent use of the racial slur "kike", and there is even one recorded use of him saying "Heil [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]!" Other posts made reference to the [[Fourteen Words]], the [[Great Replacement]] theory, and [[Holocaust denial]]. He was also known to attack African-Americans with racial slurs and images related to [[lynching]], and also attacked women who have relationships with black men. He also used his online accounts to post conspiracy theories regarding investor and philanthropist George Soros.

Somewhat ironically, Bowers was known to ridicule supporters of [[Donald Trump]] as well as followers of [[QAnon]]. He believed that Trump was a "globalist puppet" of the Jews, and believed that QAnon adherents were "deluded" and "being tricked."

In the weeks before the shooting, Bowers made antisemitic posts directed at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) who sponsored National Refugee Shabbat of October 19–20, in which Dor Hadash and Tree of Life participated. He claimed Jews were aiding members of Central American caravans moving towards the United States border and referred to members of those caravans as "invaders". Shortly before the attack, in an apparent reference to immigrants to the United States, he posted on Gab that "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in."

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 ===Political and religious beliefs===
-Bowers' political and religious beliefs played a large role in the massacre. He was staunchly and fanatically conservative and was a fierce white nationalist, and was also involved in the [[Christian Identity]] movement. He was a believer in [[Anti-Semitism|antisemitic]] conspiracy theories and had a profile on Gab, a social media network favored by the far-right. His posts on Gab have included many hateful things about Jews, such as "Jews are the children of Satan." He has re-shared many Neo-[[Nazi]] posts and made frequent use of the racial slur "kike", and there is even one recorded use of him saying "Heil [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]!" Other posts made reference to the [[Fourteen Words]], attacked African Americans with racial slurs and images related to [[lynching]], and attacked women who have relationships with black men. He also used his online accounts to post conspiracy theories regarding investor and philanthropist George Soros.
+Bowers' political and religious beliefs played a large role in the massacre. He was staunchly and fanatically conservative and was a fierce white nationalist, and was also involved in the [[Christian Identity]] movement. He was a believer in [[Anti-Semitism|antisemitic]] conspiracy theories and had a profile on Gab, a social media network favored by the far-right.
+His posts on Gab have included many hateful things about Jews, such as "Jews are the children of Satan." He re-shared many Neo-[[Nazi Party|Nazi]] posts and made frequent use of the racial slur "kike", and there is even one recorded use of him saying "Heil [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]!" Other posts made reference to the [[Fourteen Words]], the [[Great Replacement]] theory, and [[Holocaust denial]]. He was also known to attack African-Americans with racial slurs and images related to [[lynching]], and also attacked women who have relationships with black men. He also used his online accounts to post conspiracy theories regarding investor and philanthropist George Soros.
+Somewhat ironically, Bowers was known to ridicule supporters of [[Donald Trump]] as well as followers of [[QAnon]]. He believed that Trump was a "globalist puppet" of the Jews, and believed that QAnon adherents were "deluded" and "being tricked."
 In the weeks before the shooting, Bowers made antisemitic posts directed at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) who sponsored National Refugee Shabbat of October 19–20, in which Dor Hadash and Tree of Life participated. He claimed Jews were aiding members of Central American caravans moving towards the United States border and referred to members of those caravans as "invaders". Shortly before the attack, in an apparent reference to immigrants to the United States, he posted on Gab that "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in."