This submit was initially printed on Defender Community
By Aswad Walker
Some name it karma. I name it the work of the ancestors. Trump’s path to and from Fulton County Jail the place he was arraigned took the accused felon by means of actually the Blackest neighborhood within the nation, rolling down Joseph Lowery Blvd and Bankhead Hwy (Hootie Hoo). You couldn’t get Blacker than that in the event you have been cruising with Dick Gregory, Nina Simone, Maya Angelou and Malcolm X with “diamonds within the again, sunroof prime, diggin’ the scene with a gansta’ lean, oo-oo.” The neighborhood that dude who tried to throw out Atlanta’s 2020 Presidential Election votes rode by means of was dwelling to Black icons MLK, Julian Bond, Maynard Jackson, Lowery and others; with streets named after folks who bled and died for Blackfolk’s proper to vote. Watching the protection of Trump being arraigned in that jail infamous for its brutality in opposition to Blackfolk put America’s two-tiered justice system on blast. Not the BS one Trump references, however reasonably, how any of us would have been thrown below the jail had we finished 1/one thousandth of what Trump did. It additionally confirmed the ability of Black ladies.
With all his robust discuss, when soul sister Fani Willis stated “Soar,” that “scared little [Trump]” replied, “How excessive?” Take into consideration that for a second; a sister did what no different human on the planet has been capable of do — put Trump within the crosshairs of doubtless being held accountable for his misdeeds. And whereas that twice impeached former president rode by means of the identical So So Def streets as Jermaine Dupree, Goodie Mob and OutKast, I swear I might hear ATLiens chanting, “That you must stand up, get out, lower that bull[stuff] out.” Donald Glover couldn’t have written a greater episode of “Atlanta” than that.
Accountability Wanted
Within the Nineteen Eighties, conservative politicians demonized hip hop, blaming it for all of the nation’s ills. At the moment, 40 years later, rappers are being arrested for his or her lyrics—for his or her artwork. I must know why Democrats and progressives in 2023 aren’t utilizing that very same vitality to criminalize everybody who 24/7 promotes the “Large Lies” (the stolen election lie and the “All Blackfolk are savage criminals” lie). These lies proceed to feed bigoted haters who already existed however really feel extra emboldened with every repeated “Large Lie” to inflict violence (bodily and political) on us. The proof is overwhelming. Most lately, we noticed it in Jacksonville. Yearly since 45 hit the nationwide political scene, demonizing immigrants, Muslims, Asians and Blackolk, hate crimes have skyrocketed. Each month there’s a brand new Jacksonville, a brand new Buffalo, a brand new Charlottesville. Large Lie pushers, whether or not they’re politicians, media networks or on a regular basis residents, have blood on their fingers.
Quid Professional Quo
Anybody in search of Black votes must make one thing occur. Interval. Voting rights safety. Felony justice reform. Environmental justice. Equal pay for ladies. Checks and balances on a SCOTUS gone wild. Younger folks are turned off from voting as a result of they see the vast majority of People wanting this stuff, but, a minority of wealthy, entitled lawbreakers efficiently blocking all the pieces. They are saying, to hell with gridlock; make one thing occur! And Dems, if you do make issues occur, however inform no person, younger voters equate that with doing nothing. Hell, Republicans do a greater job of taking credit score for wildly profitable legal guidelines that they voted in opposition to than the Dems who made them occur. Do higher. Democracy is actually on the road.
