Memorial Day News.

 

Today is Memorial Day, and as I always do on this day, I would like to acknowledge Mrs. Field's brother-in-law who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Miss you, bro.

Now on to the news: 

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre, it's amazing to me how many Americans were not aware of this atrocity that took place in this country we hold out as the "shining city on a hill" when it comes to human rights. The truth is, the white mayor of Tulsa, who was born and raised there, and whose father was the head of the historical society, never heard of what happened on what was known as Black Wall Street in his own city. 

Tulsa, of course, is not the only city that suffered from the cruel acts of racial violence against its black citizens. It happened in Rosewood, Florida, in Wilmington, North Carolina, Elaine, Arkansas, and Opelousas, Louisiana.  I could go on, but I would encourage you to google Red Summer.

This is why when conservatives try to whitewash (pun intended) the ugly truths about our history, and pretend that these things never happened, it's all so offensive to me. And pay attention, folks, because they are doing it again. Just look at all the gaslighting going on now that we are just months removed from that terrorist attack on out seat of government. Imagine how poor Viola Fletcher felt having to watch those domestic terrorists rekindle the memories she has of those past horrors against her family and her people.

Finally, while republicans continue their efforts to restrict the voting rights of people of color, the democrats, at least in the state of Texas, seem to be fighting back against the "the big lie". Thankfully, they walked out at the last minute last night before republicans could pass their restrictive--and some would call racist-- voting laws. 

 "The sudden revolt torpedoed the sweeping measure known as Senate Bill 7, which would have reduced polling hours, empowered poll watchers and scaled back ways to vote in Texas, which already has some of the nation's strictest voting laws.

For Democrats, the victory may be fleeting: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who had declared new voting laws in Texas a priority, quickly announced that he would order lawmakers back to the state Capitol for a special session. He did not, however, say when that would happen.

"We've said for so many years that we want more people to participate in our democracy. And it just seems that's not the case," Democratic state Rep. Carl Sherman said." 

With the former national security advisor and trump acolyte calling for a Myanmar type coup in this country, they seem to want to do more than just pass laws at this point. They're getting desperate, and that's when bad things happen. Just ask Viola Fletcher.