You're right, this is an extension of what the author experienced. What the author experienced were co-workers that did not share his perspective, and he called

You're right, this is an extension of what the author experienced. What the author experienced were co-workers that did not share his perspective, and he called this difference of opinion disparaging and racist. I can easily find over 100 protests against abortion in a given year. Does it follow that I am obliged to agree with these protesters, otherwise I am disparaging them? If a bunch of anti-abortion protesters block freeways and someone points out that this mostly annoys the populace and is counterproductive to the protesters goals, then that is disparagement? No. If nothing else, this author definitely seems to think that he is entitled to the approval of his co-workers when it comes to his political views. And when he does not get the approval from his peers that he feels entitled to, he calls his co-workers racist. If the author wants people to have empathy for the protesters, then he or she should lead by example and exercise empathy for those co-workers that do not share his perspective on the protests. Otherwise, the author ends up looking like a hypocrite.