A recent video circulating on social media features a woman threatening violence against white people if Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits are discontinued. The woman stated, “We are going to eat regardless, even if we have to hunt you animals down & roast & eat you, the delectable crackers & cheese,” further asserting that EBT recipients would create their own self-sufficient nation, growing their own food if necessary. These remarks have sparked outrage and concern, raising questions about the rhetoric surrounding social welfare programs and the potential for such statements to incite violence.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, served over 41 million Americans in 2023, according to the USDA. The program is designed to combat food insecurity, which disproportionately affects minority communities and low-income households. While the video’s threats are not representative of the millions who rely on SNAP, they highlight the volatile emotions sometimes associated with debates over government assistance and economic inequality. Law enforcement agencies are likely to assess the credibility and potential threat posed by the individual’s statements.