Elected officials have a moral obligation to confront hate groups and disavow hateful and violent political rhetoric. Period.

Hate is spreading like wildfire. Here in the 4th Judicial District, we know this all too well.

We know the horrific pain and suffering that one person motivated by hate is capable of inflicting.

We know that the spread of hateful and violent rhetoric can easily erupt into real world violence with devastating consequences.

We know hate is a problem that can't be ignored or appeased.

Knowing these things is important, but it's not nearly enough.

We also have to insist on a few things.

We have to insist our elected leaders take action to confront hate.

We have to insist our District Attorney's Office take proactive steps against the spread of hate, including bringing community activists and elected leaders together to:

• Identify emerging and growing threats targeting specific communities
  
  

• Develop educational materials and campaigns to give our children the tools they need to identify and defend against hate group recruitment tactics
  
  

• Stand in solidarity with targeted communities to send a clear message that an attack on any of our neighbors is an attack on us all
  
  

We have to insist that our elected District Attorney understands prioritizing anti-hate policies and anti-hate leadership is a requirement for our votes, not an option.

And we have to recognize that an elected District Attorney that is unwilling to do these things is actually a part of the problem.