"When I see the people that react to Donald Trump's words at those rallies, I see the same look in their eyes that I saw [in the eyes of Dallas Sheriff Clark and his posse]—a look that says, 'you're not a part of us, you're not a part of the American family, you come from someplace else.' When Trump talks about building a wall, to lock certain individuals out, people rallied. They screamed and yelled. It reminded me of some of the rallies that I saw on television for [infamous racist/segregationist Alabama governor] George Wallace during the '60s. It makes me somewhat sad. I thought for many, many years that our country had become much more hopeful, much more optimistic, and we had come to a place where we saw unbelievable changes. I've said over and over again that we have witnessed what I like to call a nonviolent revolution in America during the last 50 years, a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas. I think the Trump campaign is trying to take us back to another place, another time, and we've come so far, made so much progress, I don't think we can afford to go back. We have to go forwards, and continue to be what Dr. King called 'the beloved community,' where we lay down the burden of division, the burden of hate, and create an American community at peace with itself."
Showing posts with label John L. Lewis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John L. Lewis. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
The Meaning of a Trump Presidency
Civil Rights giant John Lewis was beaten in Selma on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. On another occasion he was left unconscious in a pool of blood after getting off a freedom rider bus. He is the last living speaker from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, having addressed the crowd and the nation's conscience just before Martin Luther King made his "I Have a Dream" speech. Now a congressman from Georgia, here is what he had to say recently about the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency, as quoted in Esquire Magazine.
"When I see the people that react to Donald Trump's words at those rallies, I see the same look in their eyes that I saw [in the eyes of Dallas Sheriff Clark and his posse]—a look that says, 'you're not a part of us, you're not a part of the American family, you come from someplace else.' When Trump talks about building a wall, to lock certain individuals out, people rallied. They screamed and yelled. It reminded me of some of the rallies that I saw on television for [infamous racist/segregationist Alabama governor] George Wallace during the '60s. It makes me somewhat sad. I thought for many, many years that our country had become much more hopeful, much more optimistic, and we had come to a place where we saw unbelievable changes. I've said over and over again that we have witnessed what I like to call a nonviolent revolution in America during the last 50 years, a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas. I think the Trump campaign is trying to take us back to another place, another time, and we've come so far, made so much progress, I don't think we can afford to go back. We have to go forwards, and continue to be what Dr. King called 'the beloved community,' where we lay down the burden of division, the burden of hate, and create an American community at peace with itself."
"When I see the people that react to Donald Trump's words at those rallies, I see the same look in their eyes that I saw [in the eyes of Dallas Sheriff Clark and his posse]—a look that says, 'you're not a part of us, you're not a part of the American family, you come from someplace else.' When Trump talks about building a wall, to lock certain individuals out, people rallied. They screamed and yelled. It reminded me of some of the rallies that I saw on television for [infamous racist/segregationist Alabama governor] George Wallace during the '60s. It makes me somewhat sad. I thought for many, many years that our country had become much more hopeful, much more optimistic, and we had come to a place where we saw unbelievable changes. I've said over and over again that we have witnessed what I like to call a nonviolent revolution in America during the last 50 years, a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas. I think the Trump campaign is trying to take us back to another place, another time, and we've come so far, made so much progress, I don't think we can afford to go back. We have to go forwards, and continue to be what Dr. King called 'the beloved community,' where we lay down the burden of division, the burden of hate, and create an American community at peace with itself."
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Three Cheers for Congressional Democrats
I'm very proud of congressional Democrats, who staged a sit-in in the well of the House floor to protest inaction and call for a vote on urgent gun safety measures favored by super majorities of the American people. Led by civil rights icon John Lewis of Georgia, they refused to heed a "moment of silence" for the Orlando shooting victims, shouting "We will no longer be silent!"
Specifically, they demand a vote on two measures. The first is to require all gun purchasers to pass a background check. This is supported by 92% of Americans, including majorities of Republicans and even NRA members. The second would make it illegal to sell weapons to people on the terrorist "no-fly" watch list. This proposal is favored by 85% of the American people.
33,000 Americans died last year from bullets shot by guns. It would be easy to take a few common sense steps to help stem the carnage, but congressional Republicans remain at the mercy of the extremist leadership of the gun lobby. With majorities like these, some time in the not too distant future I can foresee a tipping point on these gun questions like the one we've recently seen with respect to LGBT equality. And when the tide turns the groundswell will be just as great a pleasure to watch.
Specifically, they demand a vote on two measures. The first is to require all gun purchasers to pass a background check. This is supported by 92% of Americans, including majorities of Republicans and even NRA members. The second would make it illegal to sell weapons to people on the terrorist "no-fly" watch list. This proposal is favored by 85% of the American people.
33,000 Americans died last year from bullets shot by guns. It would be easy to take a few common sense steps to help stem the carnage, but congressional Republicans remain at the mercy of the extremist leadership of the gun lobby. With majorities like these, some time in the not too distant future I can foresee a tipping point on these gun questions like the one we've recently seen with respect to LGBT equality. And when the tide turns the groundswell will be just as great a pleasure to watch.
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