Friday, July 10, 2020

Political Issues in early July of 2020.



There are still good news in the world. Academy Award winner Matthew Cherry, who made Hair Love, gets a deal from HBO Max to create the animated series of Young Love. Young Love is about a Black Millennial family. It has the story of father Stephen, mother Angela, daughter Zuri, and her pet cat named Rocky. Hair Love is about promoting the appreciation of black hair. Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes and Dr. Anthony E. Monroe were appointed to lead colleges in the City University of New York system. Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes is now President of York College. York College is found in Jamaica, Queens. It has nearly 8,500 undergraduate students. Dr. Anthony E. Munore will be president of Borough of Manhattan Community College by October 1, 2020. This college has more than 25,000 students. He has a Ph.D. in health education from Columbia University in New York.

The transcript of the last words of George Floyd was disturbing. It confirmed what we knew. Floyd was mistreated, brutally assaulted, and murdered. Floyd begged for his life multiple times, and the cops have shown a sadistic, callous attitude towards his life. Even when the crowd of bystanders told the officers that he couldn't breathe and stop it, the police officers continued in their deeds of torture, disrespect, and a violation of the law. George Floyd's death so enraged the public, that ironically the Black Lives Matter movement strengthened. America doesn't need austerity. America needs massive investments, especially in the black community and other poor plus communities of color. Black life has been disrespected by evil people, but the good news is that a new generation has risen up to show the dignity, the power, and the beauty of black human lives. Protests continued, evil Confederate statues have been brought down, and more minds have been woken up. As black people, we still rise despite the obstacles. Our ancestors inspire us, and in the end, we will prevail.



We live in a time of a surreal reality. Trump has said that the country is doing good in his response to the coronavirus when that is not true. We have over 3 million Americans with the virus. We have ICE threatening to strip residency rights from almost 900,000 holders of student study visas. United Airlines threatens to get rid of 36,000 jobs. These realities make us aware that we have more fighting to do in making sure that a reactionary agenda is defeated. The Supreme Court ruled that Trump is not immune from NY Grand jury process. So, the court ruled that the President has no absolute immunity. We live in a political age. The WNBA's Atlanta Dream co-owner Senator Kelly Loeffler is against the WNBA's support for Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter is an anti-racist movement that wants an end to police brutality, and it seeks liberation for all black people. Loeffler is a Georgia Republican Senator. She said that less politics in sports is necessary and doesn't want jerseys to have phrases like Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name. She said that promoting causes for racial justice is a message of exclusion. She is wrong on all levels for many reasons. First, the history of sports is intertwined with political activism. Jackie Robinson was active to want black people in leadership positions involving baseball. Robinson was a public supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. Muhammad Ali wanted to end the Vietnam War and promote black consciousness in the lives of our people. Colin Kaepernick knelled in protest of social injustice. What have we seen now ironically is more support and more unity involving the cause of Black Lives Matter after the unfortunate, unjust deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. This unity refutes Kelly Loeffler's notion that political activism will crush unity. More people in America support Black Lives Matter, an end to police brutality, and an end to racist Confederate statues now than 5 years ago. Many WNBA players rightfully disagree with Loeffler. As Renee Montgomery has said, she is wrong. Sheryl Swoopes, Natasha Cloud, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Sue Bird, and Alysha Clark all have disagreed with Loeffler's statements.

Loeffler is a staunch Donald Trump supporter (who has spewed vile racist, sexist, and xenophobic words for years). Loeffer made the lie that Black Lives Matter is about the removal of Jesus from church, the disruption of nuclear families, promotes violence, and harbored anti-Semitic views. These words are the talking points of the far right. To answer that, I am a person who is a product of a nuclear family. Yet, my nuclear family shouldn't be used as some shield to disrespect other types of families. Anti-Semitism is wrong, but calling for the liberation of Palestinian people isn't anti-Semitic. Righteous Jewish people and righteous Arabic people desire peace in the Middle East without terrorism and without occupation. No one who is Jewish or Arabic should be oppressed in the Middle East or anywhere on Earth.

No rational person wants to eliminate Jesus from churches. Violence done by crooked cops and white racists are readily ignored by the far right. Peaceful protests is not related to violence. Loeffler only wants the American flag to jersey and licensed apparel. That is silly, because people should have the right to have the American flag or political messages on their jerseys. Loeffler hypocritically lectures others on divisiveness, but she supports the divisive political figure of Trump. Trump has defended the Confederate flag and Confederate statues. The WNBA has issued a statement disagreeing with Kelly Leoffler's views.

The ultimate point is that the sports world and all of us can't be silent. Silence is betrayal, and we have the right to use our action to stand up for freedom and justice.

By Timothy

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