It has been at least a perception by a recent article published by The New York Times aimed at singling out and trying to silence US organizations in their struggle for peace and social justice.

While reading the influential New York Time´s publication, one thing is being reminded of that part of history in which fear of “the Reds” and the anti-communist harassment promoted by Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy (1947-1957) was instilled.

During his 10 years at the Senate, McCarthy and staff were noted for their investigations into individuals in the federal government, while targeting others whom they termed as Soviet agents or communist followers infiltrating the civil service or military.

By extension, the “McCarthyism” term described the hunting to which people in the media, government, military and civil servants were subjected in the United States from 1950 through around 1956 – when it became popularly known as Red Scare.

Now, “a new McCarthyism against peace activists, critics of US foreign policy and Americans of Chinese ancestry” is on the rise, the CodePink organization said in a statement.

Political and media, both liberal and conservative, have initiated McCarthy-style attacks by considering peace lovers as “Chinese or foreign agents,” the organization added.

Scientists, researchers and members of the Armed Forces of Chinese ancestry have been falsely accused of espionage and unregistered foreign agency.

As many were groundlessly attacked, they now accuse prominent organizations, including CodePink, The People’s Forum and the Tricontinental Institute, which have been victims of slander and accusations by different media including the Times.

From The New York Times to Fox News, CodePink said, “the Red Scare that once shattered many lives and threatened movements for change and social justice is bouncing back.”

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