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High school wrestling coach posts photo mocking George Floyd's death -- but insists 'I'm not a racist
Minneapolis has been rocked by angry protests and civil unrest following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who, in a May 25 video, can be heard pleading, “I can’t breathe,” while pinned on the ground by arresting officers. And the repercussions of Floyd’s death are being felt far from Minneapolis in the Pacific Northwest, where the Bethel School District is investing a video by first-year wresting coach Dave Hollenbeck that shows him pinned on the ground with a knee on his neck.
In social media posts, Hollenbeck has argued that the protestors speaking out about Floyd’s death are “race baiters.” Hollenbeck, on Facebook, posted, “This is for all the race baiters and people that don’t What (sic) they’re talking about when they’re saying that this could kill you.”
A caption used with the video reads, “Not dead yet I’m doing this for Are [sic] police officers the media is a race-baiting machine and I’m tired of it I’m going to speak out every time if you don’t like that I’m sorry but I love All people.. Wake up America.”
One of the parents in the Bethel School District who is speaking about against Hollenbeck is sports coach Jay Davenport, who asserted, “There is no reasonable rationale for him to post anything like that. It’s about humanity, it’s about integrity; that post lacks both.”
https://www.alternet.org/2020/05/high-school-wrestling-coach-posts-photo-mocking-george-floyds-death-but-insists-im-not-a-racist/
30 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
However, he does appear to have a Thor's Hammer on his neck:
From the ADL:
The Thor's Hammer or Hammer of Thor is an ancient Norse symbol. In Norse mythology, Thor is the god of thunder and his hammer (called Mjölnir) has the power of lightning. During the era of Viking ascendancy, miniature Thor's Hammers were often used as religious amulets. Today, the Hammer is a major symbol for those who follow neo-Norse religions such as Asatru.
Although its traditional origins are non-racist, and although most Asatruers today are not racist, the Thor's Hammer symbol has been appropriated by neo-Nazis and other white supremacists, especially those who practice racist or white supremacist versions of neo-Norse beliefs under the guise of Odinism or Wotanism. White supremacists will often even create racist versions of the Thor's Hammer, incorporating swastikas or other hate symbols into the decoration.
Despite the widespread use of the Thor's Hammer symbol by white supremacists, the fact that it is an important symbol for non-racist Norse pagans means that one should never assume that the Thor's Hammer appearing by itself necessarily denotes racism or white supremacy. Instead, one should carefully judge the symbol in the context in which it appears.
Although its traditional origins are non-racist, and although most Asatruers today are not racist, the Thor's Hammer symbol has been appropriated by neo-Nazis and other white supremacists, especially those who practice racist or white supremacist versions of neo-Norse beliefs under the guise of Odinism or Wotanism. White supremacists will often even create racist versions of the Thor's Hammer, incorporating swastikas or other hate symbols into the decoration.
Despite the widespread use of the Thor's Hammer symbol by white supremacists, the fact that it is an important symbol for non-racist Norse pagans means that one should never assume that the Thor's Hammer appearing by itself necessarily denotes racism or white supremacy. Instead, one should carefully judge the symbol in the context in which it appears.
Also a false equivalency regarding that wrestling move and the comments are a terrible example to kids. School teachers should avoid public comments on issues such as politics and religion to avoid creation of prejudice and division among student ranks.
He doesn't appear to even understand the basis of those protests.......
