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| Student Targeted by ‘Troll Storm’ Hopes Settlement Will Send Message to White Supremacists | Student Targeted by ‘Troll Storm’ Hopes Settlement Will Send Message to White Supremacists |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| An African-American student leader who was targeted by a racist “troll storm” says she hopes an unusual legal settlement with one of her harassers will send a strong message to white supremacists that they will be held responsible for online abuse. | An African-American student leader who was targeted by a racist “troll storm” says she hopes an unusual legal settlement with one of her harassers will send a strong message to white supremacists that they will be held responsible for online abuse. |
| Taylor Dumpson had sued Evan James McCarty of Eugene, Ore., and two other defendants, including the publisher of the neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer, after she was viciously harassed online. As part of the settlement, filed this past week, Mr. McCarty has agreed to apologize, renounce white supremacy, undergo counseling and help civil rights groups fight hate and bigotry. | |
| “People that decide to participate in this kind of activity, they should know that they’re going to be held accountable,” Ms. Dumpson said Friday. | “People that decide to participate in this kind of activity, they should know that they’re going to be held accountable,” Ms. Dumpson said Friday. |
| She added that the settlement gave her a sense of closure, and that she was proud that important educational and advocacy work would result from it. She called it a “unique opportunity” rooted in the principles of restorative justice, which focuses on rehabilitating offenders through reconciliation with victims. | She added that the settlement gave her a sense of closure, and that she was proud that important educational and advocacy work would result from it. She called it a “unique opportunity” rooted in the principles of restorative justice, which focuses on rehabilitating offenders through reconciliation with victims. |
| “I’m using what was a traumatic experience for me to help promote racial justice,” she said. | “I’m using what was a traumatic experience for me to help promote racial justice,” she said. |
| Ms. Dumpson, now 22, was singled out after she became the first black woman to serve as American University’s student body president in May 2017. The same day, bananas hanging from nooses were found around the campus. | Ms. Dumpson, now 22, was singled out after she became the first black woman to serve as American University’s student body president in May 2017. The same day, bananas hanging from nooses were found around the campus. |
| After news outlets reported on the nooses, Andrew Anglin, who runs The Daily Stormer, posted Ms. Dumpson’s picture and personal information online and exhorted his followers to harass and bully her, a tactic he has also employed against Jewish and Muslim targets. | After news outlets reported on the nooses, Andrew Anglin, who runs The Daily Stormer, posted Ms. Dumpson’s picture and personal information online and exhorted his followers to harass and bully her, a tactic he has also employed against Jewish and Muslim targets. |
| One of the people who heeded his call was Mr. McCarty, also now 22, a student and actor who had been leading a secret life online, posting hateful messages and songs under the alias “Byron De La Vandal,” a reference to Byron De La Beckwith, the Ku Klux Klan member who assassinated the civil rights leader Medgar Evers. He was identified as Mr. McCarty by an anti-fascist group in April. | One of the people who heeded his call was Mr. McCarty, also now 22, a student and actor who had been leading a secret life online, posting hateful messages and songs under the alias “Byron De La Vandal,” a reference to Byron De La Beckwith, the Ku Klux Klan member who assassinated the civil rights leader Medgar Evers. He was identified as Mr. McCarty by an anti-fascist group in April. |
| The lawsuit stated that Ms. Dumpson constantly feared for her safety amid the relentless harassment, and was eventually diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite that turmoil, she graduated from American University and is now enrolled in law school. | The lawsuit stated that Ms. Dumpson constantly feared for her safety amid the relentless harassment, and was eventually diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite that turmoil, she graduated from American University and is now enrolled in law school. |
| As part of the settlement, Mr. McCarty agreed to assist Ms. Dumpson in her legal efforts against his two co-defendants, Mr. Anglin and Brian Andrew Ade. | As part of the settlement, Mr. McCarty agreed to assist Ms. Dumpson in her legal efforts against his two co-defendants, Mr. Anglin and Brian Andrew Ade. |
| Mr. McCarty must also apologize to Ms. Dumpson in writing and on video. She may use his video for “civil rights advocacy, outreach and educational activities,” the settlement states. | Mr. McCarty must also apologize to Ms. Dumpson in writing and on video. She may use his video for “civil rights advocacy, outreach and educational activities,” the settlement states. |
| He agreed to undergo anti-hate training and at least a year of counseling, complete four academic courses on race and gender issues and do 200 hours of community service related to racial justice. Ms. Dumpson’s legal team will monitor his compliance and can inflict monetary penalties if he does not comply. | He agreed to undergo anti-hate training and at least a year of counseling, complete four academic courses on race and gender issues and do 200 hours of community service related to racial justice. Ms. Dumpson’s legal team will monitor his compliance and can inflict monetary penalties if he does not comply. |
| “What we are doing here is pulling back the veil on online racist trolls,” said Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which filed the lawsuit on Ms. Dumpson’s behalf. | “What we are doing here is pulling back the veil on online racist trolls,” said Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which filed the lawsuit on Ms. Dumpson’s behalf. |
| “For too long, they’ve been allowed to act with impunity,” she said. | “For too long, they’ve been allowed to act with impunity,” she said. |
| The Lawyers’ Committee is a nonprofit that was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy, who sought to involve private lawyers in civil rights cases. | The Lawyers’ Committee is a nonprofit that was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy, who sought to involve private lawyers in civil rights cases. |
| Ms. Clarke said she hopes the agreement will have “a chilling effect” on white supremacists, and called on the Justice Department to do more to prosecute members of hate groups. | Ms. Clarke said she hopes the agreement will have “a chilling effect” on white supremacists, and called on the Justice Department to do more to prosecute members of hate groups. |
| In a statement, Mr. McCarty’s parents, Deb and James McCarty, said they were “profoundly sorry” for the harm their son caused to Ms. Dumpson. They said their son “feels deep regret” about his actions and that he had “disengaged in the ideology of the alt-right.” | In a statement, Mr. McCarty’s parents, Deb and James McCarty, said they were “profoundly sorry” for the harm their son caused to Ms. Dumpson. They said their son “feels deep regret” about his actions and that he had “disengaged in the ideology of the alt-right.” |
| “He is a different person than he was when he hid behind an alias and was persuaded into hateful activity on the internet, and recognizes its potential for harming others,” they said. | “He is a different person than he was when he hid behind an alias and was persuaded into hateful activity on the internet, and recognizes its potential for harming others,” they said. |
| James Ralph, executive director of the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts in Eugene, said he was shocked by the revelation of Mr. McCarty’s online activities. Mr. McCarty had worked for the theater and performed in its productions of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “Mary Poppins,” among others. | James Ralph, executive director of the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts in Eugene, said he was shocked by the revelation of Mr. McCarty’s online activities. Mr. McCarty had worked for the theater and performed in its productions of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “Mary Poppins,” among others. |
| The organization severed ties after learning of Mr. McCarty’s online activities in April. Afterward, Mr. McCarty called Mr. Ralph to apologize for damaging the institution, but Mr. Ralph was unsure how much he could believe him. | The organization severed ties after learning of Mr. McCarty’s online activities in April. Afterward, Mr. McCarty called Mr. Ralph to apologize for damaging the institution, but Mr. Ralph was unsure how much he could believe him. |
| “People can apologize, and they can be really good at apologizing, but you have absolutely no idea if it’s for sure or not,” he said. “The apology I think is more for him, in his personal recovery, than for us.” | “People can apologize, and they can be really good at apologizing, but you have absolutely no idea if it’s for sure or not,” he said. “The apology I think is more for him, in his personal recovery, than for us.” |
| “The jury’s always out,” Mr. Ralph added. “I’ve seen people change, but I’ve seen just as many not.” | “The jury’s always out,” Mr. Ralph added. “I’ve seen people change, but I’ve seen just as many not.” |