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10/5/2017 "It's Not Murder If They Are Black".....Racist Threats Posted Online Towards Students at Howard University.Read NowJohn Edgar Rust, 26, posted online threats on 4chan, claiming that "Any niggers left at Howard University after 10 tomorrow will be first to go" Article Written By Tasneem Nashrulla.Overview
Many classes were cancelled at Howard University after a threat was posted on November 11, 2015, announcing that any students on-campus after 10 would be killed. The threat was posted by John Edgar Rust, a 26-year-old male, from a Panera Restaurant at around 7:28 pm. Rust is registered as a sex offender, and he now faces up to 5 years in prison for the online threat. In the 4chan post, Rust writes "So I've decided. Any niggers left at Howard University after 10 pm will be the first to go. And any of those cheapskate niggers who try to get out using the metro will regret that choice real fast. Sure, the po po will take me down, but I'll get out a hero knowing I made the world better". The threat frightened both administrators and students at the school, which led to classes cancelled and 48 hour on-campus police, along with an FBI investigation that led to Rust. Author's Diction The author's choice of words creates a concerned tone, but it also reveals that she finds this message repulsive, and is happy with the arrest of Rust for his racist and threatening post. The author also uses images of the post itself, and adds the fact that Rust is a sex offender, as a way of showing that he has a previous criminal record, and that he was in violation of his probation for using the internet in the first place. Rhetorical Devices Used By The Author The author appeals the most to pathos by creating a very negative background for Rust. She points out that he was previously charged as a sex offender, and that his use of the internet alone violated his probation. She also posts the threat that Rust sent, as a way of showing his tone and diction, and to further emphasize his words. In addition, the title of the article itself is a quote taken from the post, so that the first thing a reade notices is the foul language used by Rust, and his cruel intentions. All of these things combined create a very hateful feeling towards Rust, and makes the reader feel outraged and satisfied that Rust is now behind bars. Author's Tone The author has a indignant tone towards this topic, and she emphasizes it through her use of evidence, images, and word choice. The author keeps a neutral feeling about the way that the case was handled, but points out Rust's previous criminal record several times throughout the article. She also mentions that he had visited sites and downloaded articles on how to murder a person and how to create explosive devices. This all makes for a hostile and indignant tone, and a clear sense of disgust at Rust's actions. The author clearly feels strongly about this topic, and is trying to make the reader feel the same way through her tone. Author's Purpose The author's purpose is to inform the reader of the cruel and racist comments made to the student body of Howard University, and the steps taken to find the man responsible, and who exactly that man was. She does not intentionally try to persuade the reader to believe anything, rather she is stating facts about the events that took place. However, there is also a very negative background placed against Rust, which does not help him, but instead makes him look worse than he already does. It makes her purpose a bit more biased, even though Rust's acts are inexcusable. Her purpose is not a bad one, but it is a biased one.
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AuthorDamariz Ortiz. Sophmore Magnet Student at North Cobb High School. Archives
January 2018
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