National
Removing Flag May Get Done, But Not Now
By Barney Blakeney
Special to the NNPA from The Charleston Chronicle
The heinous June 17 massacre of nine African American worshippers at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston by a white supremacist spewing hatred for Blacks has spawned a renewed demand for removal of the Confederate Flag from the South Carolina Statehouse grounds. But surprisingly while Blacks led by the state’s NAACP conference consistently have called for the flag’s removal, the demand now comes from S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and some Republican supporters.
While Haley surprised many with the announcement made during a Columbia press conference, a similar press conference later was held in North Charleston where Mayor Keith Summey, flanked by local public and civil rights organizations officials made the same demand.
The Confederate Flag doesn’t represent the future of South Carolina, Haley said. It is time to remove the Confederate Flag from the Capitol grounds. One hundred fifty years after the end of the Civil War, the time has come, she said.
The South Carolina General Assembly has to muster a two-thirds vote in each the senate and house of representatives to approve the flag’s removal. They also have to muster a two-third vote in each chamber to debate the issue. Legislators are in Columbia this week to finalize a state budget. Charleston legislators Rep. Wendell Gilliard and Sen. Marlon Kimpson said it’s unlikely the general assembly will take action to remove the flag this week.
Former Charleston Sen. Robert Ford criticized those calling for the flag’s removal at this time. “This is a time of major crisis,” he said emphasizing the state’s citizenry still is reeling from the church murders. “This is the time we should be mourning not kicking around an issue that can wait at least until we bury our dead.”
Ford, who was instrumental in a political compromise 2000 that removed the flag from its original position atop the state house dome to its grounds near the Confederate Soldier’s Monument, said he feels current supporters for the flag’s removal are doing so now because they have either personal or political agendas.
“I think this is a sideshow. They could have waited a week until the memorials for all the victims are over. This was the worse church assassination in American history. We should be mourning,” he said. However he added, “But in a week it would be forgotten.”
Ultimately, Ford said he feels the general assembly will remove the flag from the capitol’s grounds. But the fight will be an uphill battle, he said.
“If the governor is willing to go on national television and put her political future on the line (Haley could be eyeing the nomination to run as vice president in 2016, Ford suggested), she has the votes to get it done,” he said. “My concern is 70 percent of the whites in the state say leave the flag there and most of them live in conservative districts represented by people who want to get re-elected.” By Barney Blakeney
The heinous June 17 massacre of nine African American worshippers at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston by a white supremacist spewing hatred for Blacks has spawned a renewed demand for removal of the Confederate Flag from the South Carolina Statehouse grounds. But surprisingly while Blacks led by the state’s NAACP conference consistently have called for the flag’s removal, the demand now comes from S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and some Republican supporters.
While Haley surprised many with the announcement made during a Columbia press conference, a similar press conference later was held in North Charleston where Mayor Keith Summey, flanked by local public and civil rights organizations officials made the same demand.
The Confederate Flag doesn’t represent the future of South Carolina, Haley said. It is time to remove the Confederate Flag from the Capitol grounds. One hundred fifty years after the end of the Civil War, the time has come, she said.
The South Carolina General Assembly has to muster a two-thirds vote in each the senate and house of representatives to approve the flag’s removal. They also have to muster a two-third vote in each chamber to debate the issue. Legislators are in Columbia this week to finalize a state budget. Charleston legislators Rep. Wendell Gilliard and Sen. Marlon Kimpson said it’s unlikely the general assembly will take action to remove the flag this week.
Former Charleston Sen. Robert Ford criticized those calling for the flag’s removal at this time. “This is a time of major crisis,” he said emphasizing the state’s citizenry still is reeling from the church murders. “This is the time we should be mourning not kicking around an issue that can wait at least until we bury our dead.”
Ford, who was instrumental in a political compromise 2000 that removed the flag from its original position atop the state house dome to its grounds near the Confederate Soldier’s Monument, said he feels current supporters for the flag’s removal are doing so now because they have either personal or political agendas.
“I think this is a sideshow. They could have waited a week until the memorials for all the victims are over. This was the worse church assassination in American history. We should be mourning,” he said. However he added, “But in a week it would be forgotten.”
Ultimately, Ford said he feels the general assembly will remove the flag from the capitol’s grounds. But the fight will be an uphill battle, he said.
“If the governor is willing to go on national television and put her political future on the line (Haley could be eyeing the nomination to run as vice president in 2016, Ford suggested), she has the votes to get it done,” he said. “My concern is 70 percent of the whites in the state say leave the flag there and most of them live in conservative districts represented by people who want to get re-elected.”
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024
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Barbara Lee
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza
On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.
By California Black Media
On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12).
“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.
The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.
“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.
The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.
Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.
“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.
Commentary
Commentary: Republican Votes Are Threatening American Democracy
In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We needed to know the blunt truth. The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.
By Emil Guillermo
In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
We needed to know the blunt truth.
The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.
And to save it will require all hands on deck.
It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening.
That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.
No man is above the law? To the majority of his supporters, it seems Trump is.
It’s an anti-democracy loyalty that has spread like a political virus.
No matter what he does, Trump’s their guy. Trump received 51% of caucus-goers votes to beat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who garnered 21.2%, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who got 19.1%.
The Asian flash in the pan Vivek Ramaswamy finished way behind and dropped out. Perhaps to get in the VP line. Don’t count on it.
According to CNN’s entrance polls, when caucus-goers were asked if they were a part of the “MAGA movement,” nearly half — 46% — said yes. More revealing: “Do you think Biden legitimately won in 2020?”
Only 29% said “yes.”
That means an overwhelming 66% said “no,” thus showing the deep roots in Iowa of the “Big Lie,” the belief in a falsehood that Trump was a victim of election theft.
Even more revealing and posing a direct threat to our democracy was the question of whether Trump was fit for the presidency, even if convicted of a crime.
Sixty-five percent said “yes.”
Who says that about anyone of color indicted on 91 criminal felony counts?
Would a BIPOC executive found liable for business fraud in civil court be given a pass?
How about a BIPOC person found liable for sexual assault?
Iowans have debased the phrase, “no man is above the law.” It’s a mindset that would vote in an American dictatorship.
Compare Iowa with voters in Asia last weekend. Taiwan rejected threats from authoritarian Beijing and elected pro-democracy Taiwanese vice president Lai Ching-te as its new president.
Meanwhile, in our country, which supposedly knows a thing or two about democracy, the Iowa caucuses show how Americans feel about authoritarianism.
Some Americans actually like it even more than the Constitution allows.
About the Author
Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a mini-talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1.
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