Tell Rumsfeld to Adopt a Zero-Tolerance Policy

Southern Poverty Law Center President and CEO Richard Cohen delivered a letter (PDF) to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld calling for a zero-tolerance policy regarding racist extremism in the U.S. military.

Help us convince Secretary Rumsfeld he must address this issue and finally put a stop to racist activity in our armed forces. Send the Pentagon a letter today.

You can use the contact form on the Defense Department's website, cut and paste the text below, or download the letter as a PDF.

Donald H. Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000

Dear Secretary Rumsfeld:

The Southern Poverty Law Center’s report of July 7, 2006, documented mounting evidence that military recruiters and commanders, under intense pressure to meet manpower goals with the country at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, relaxed standards to prohibit racist extremists from serving in the armed forces.

As someone who has a deep respect for our military and its traditions, I urge you to take the Center’s report seriously. As a Center supporter, I know its work is reliable.

Because hate group membership and extremist activity are antithetical to the values and mission of our armed forces, I urge you to adopt a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to white supremacy in the military and take all necessary steps to ensure the policy is rigorously enforced.

Sincerely,