Musician Neil Young, Critic of Trump Calls For Empathy: Social Media & Trump 'Fomented Hatred'

- 'Neil Young calls for empathy for Capitol attackers: 'We are not enemies.' The Guardian, Jan. 12, 2021. In website message the Canadian rock star said social media manipulation and Donald Trump had combined to ‘foment hatred.’

Neil Young has called for empathy towards those who stormed the US Capitol building in Washington DC, arguing they had been “manipulated” into doing so. In a message posted to his website, Young writes:

I feel empathy for the people who have been so manipulated and had their beliefs used as political weapons. I may be among them. I wish internet news was two-sided. Both sides represented on the same programs. Social media, at the hands of powerful people – influencers, amplifying lies and untruths, is crippling our belief system, turning us against one another. We are not enemies. We must find a way home.

The veteran rock star has long been critical of Donald Trump, and until recently was suing for using his songs during political rallies. In his new message, he again criticised the outgoing president, saying he “has betrayed the people, exaggerated and amplified the truth to foment hatred”, but said his feelings are now “beyond” Trump.

“Resentment of the Democratic party among the insurrectionists at the Capitol was rampant. We don’t need this hate,” he wrote. “We need discussion and solutions. Respect for one another’s beliefs. Not hatred … With social media, issues are turned to psychological weapons and used to gather hatred in support of one side or the other. This is what Donald J Trump has as his legacy.” He also criticised the “double standard” that saw heavy crackdowns against Black Lives Matter protesters in Washington in 2020, and relatively light policing of last week’s Capitol breach...

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/12/neil-young-calls-for-empathy-for-capitol-attackers-we-are-not-enemies