Great Replacement Myth

The Great Replacement myth is a white nationalist, far-right conspiracy myth arguing that Jewish elites are bringing non-white individuals into the United States and other Western countries to "replace" white voters to achieve political aims. The myth has been an essential element of various far-right theories since the late 19th century, particularly by French nationalist and author Maurice Barres, and French writer Renaud Camus, who believed that Muslims were being brought into Europe to replace native white Europeans.

The theory was perhaps most prominently featured in the white nationalist rally at Charlottesville, Virginia, where white supremacists chanted, “You will not replace us!” and “Jews will not replace us!”

Seeing people of color as a threat in politics, economics, and culture, white nationalists are worried that as the “replacement” continues, whites will no longer be a majority of the general population and that this will have disastrous effects on their own well-being and that of the nation.

This notion has also become popular among anti-migrant and white nationalist movements in Western countries, with supporters maintaining that immigrants are “flocking” to predominantly white countries and causing the “extinction of the native population."

The myth labels non-European immigrants as "colonizers" and "occupiers” to implicitly call for violence against minority groups. As such, it has been propagated by many white nationalists, including in manifestos of white supremacists who led mass shootings attacks on Jews and other minorities.

Among attacks in which this idea was invoked have been the following:

October 27, 2018 – A white supremacist killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Prior to the attack, the assailant uploaded a post in Gab blaming Jews for bringing non-white immigrants and refugees to the U.S.

March 15, 2019 – A white supremacist livestreamed himself killing 51 people at two mosques in New Zealand. Prior to the attack, the assailant posted a manifesto using talking points from the great replacement myth.  

April 27, 2019 – A white supremacist, killed one and injured three at a synagogue in Poway, CA. Prior to the attack, the assailant claimed online that Jews were responsible for the genocide of “white Europeans.”

August 3, 2019 – A white supremacist, killed 23 people and wounded almost two dozen during an attack in a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. In a manifesto, the assailant talked about a “Hispanic invasion” and made other references to the Great Replacement myth.  

May 14, 2022 –A white supremacist, killed ten during an attack in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. The assailant's manifesto specifically called for an attack on Black people and includes dozens of pages of antisemitic and racist memes and repeated citations of the Great Replacement myth.