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Leslie Jones, we’ve got your back!

It’s time to rally around the actress and comedian as she experiences more vicious racist attacks

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    Leslie Jones (1)
    Actress Leslie Jones attends the 2015 American Museum of Natural History Museum Gala at American Museum of Natural History on November 19, 2015 in New York City. Noam Galai/WireImage
    Kelley D. Evans By @kelleysthrngrl

    Social media, comment sections and websites have all proven that racism hasn’t gone anywhere, despite what some would like to think. They have given guts to the gutless and courage to the cowardly. Internet trolls can now spew hate with a keystroke and then hide. It’s simple. It’s like freedom of speech on steroids. It’s a culture that allows truth and hate to coexist.

    The actress and comedian Leslie Jones has been on the receiving end of racism in the past month. She recently starred in the all-female version of the 1980s film Ghostbusters, and she is the witty, real and relatable star on Saturday Night Live. Her first attack came via Twitter and soon afterward she decided to quit social media for a few days. She returned and was so fierce that she live-tweeted the 2016 Summer Games, which turned into a new gig when NBC invited her to Rio de Janeiro to keep the party going. Then on Wednesday, her website was shut down because it was hacked. It was filled with racist images and stolen photos.

    Racism is not new, but it’s happening in new and different ways. Hateful people have a huge platform to spew their racist hate, and they have no remorse.

    What is the answer? Right now, it is to show Jones love.

    Dear Leslie:

    Today, we salute you. We salute you for living your life and showing us your talents. We appreciate your humor and we thank you for sharing your life with us. Today, we rally around you.

    https://twitter.com/OlympicRio016/status/768600273119948800

    Kelley Evans is a digital producer at Andscape. She is a food passionista, helicopter mom and an unapologetic Southerner who spends every night with the cast of The Young and the Restless by way of her couch.

    This Story Tagged: Get Lifted Race Leslie Jones Ghostbusters Saturday Night Live