In a letter to the Editor of the Denver Post published on October 19, Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region Director Scott L. Levin wrote concerning a troubling “Fourth Reich” Facebook chat group created by students in the Boulder area:

 

It is disturbing that students in Boulder area schools participated in a Nazi-themed Facebook chat group called the “Fourth Reich,” where they took on titles from Hitler’s SS, and posted about killing Jews, African Americans and Mexicans.  We are heartened by the swift response of both the Boulder Police Department and the Boulder Valley School District.

 

While police found no credible threat sufficient to make an arrest, this incident should not be dismissed, as one student reportedly attempted to do by saying they were “only joking around.”  Words matter.  Hateful rhetoric is becoming all too acceptable and unfortunately has been modeled in our current election cycle.  Language and attitudes once thought to be no longer acceptable are again prevalent in the media, workplace and even schools.  We must all redouble our efforts to show respect for one another and to demonstrate there is no room in Colorado for such hate.

 

Scott L. Levin, Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League

Denver