It is time West Virginia faced a truth: we are suffering from a depraved sickness. White supremacy, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and transphobia have all been starkly exhibited throughout our government over this past year. Bigotry is becoming West Virginia's defining attribute.
As such, the sickening Nazi salute displayed by DOC basic training class #18 is shocking, but not surprising. It is especially unsurprising to see this hatred bubble out of the sludge that is our prison system---a system that feeds on the dehumanization and othering of Fascism.
We applaud DOC for taking quick action regarding this latest incident. But it is not nearly enough. Bigotry is destroying our state. We must change now.