To the editor: This Saturday, both Tanana Chiefs Conference and Fairbanks Native Association released statements condemning Fairbanks Mayor David Pruhs' comments about Alaska Native people.
Mayor Pruhs is not young or naive, and along with previous remarks he's made against marginalized groups ("militant lesbians" comes to mind), it's obvious that there needs to be a change, either in the form of an apology and an announcement of actionable plans to help our unhoused family, or resign and let someone else undertake that essential work.
This has all occurred on social media, and Mayor Pruhs comments are both a cause and a symptom. Bigotry coming from the mayor's office emboldens hate speech by others, in a time when our leaders across the state and nation stoke the flames.
It is also that these social media groups, specifically the Facebook groups Fairbanks, Alaska (of which an admin is on the University of Alaska Board of Regents) and Breaking News - Fairbanks (of which an admin is a sitting state legislator), will allow post after post demeaning, dehumanizing and laughing at Alaska Natives, meanwhile blocking and banning posts that address the racism and harm.
These far-right echo chambers are silencing Native voices, while also insulating themselves from any negative viewpoints, which leads to real-life harm to Alaska Native people and families.
What happens on social media matters and has consequences for our most marginalized. But it can also be how we make our community heard and hold those with power to account, starting with Mayor Pruhs.
