Congratulations to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. I watched as millions of Americans as 45 flew off to Mar-a-Logo and Joe Biden left the Inaugural Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral. Immediately my thoughts moved to January 6, 2021’s insurrection. The leader of America’s first attempted coup was flying off into the sunrise on Air Force 1. The song “I did it my way” playing in the background was so typical of his psychopathic behavior. His statements that day to his rabid supporters, propelled them higher and higher into an uncontrollable rage. He fed them one lie after another and at the peak of their frenzy; he set them off on a path of mayhem, destruction and murder toward the Capital Building. After the swearing in of President Biden, his message of unity I pondered, if that was a possibility. Biden is the only President to mention the words white supremacy in an inaugural speech touching upon the root cause of the divisions of America since its inception.
In my lifetime, I’ve witnessed four previous Presidents call for racial justice in America: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama. However, President Ulysses S. Grant is the only President to use the powers of the Federal Government to bring justice to African Americans suffering from the violence of White Supremacists. After the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1,1863, the KKK terrorized African Americans. They beat, burned, lynched and used various forms of violence to deter them from voting and availing themselves of their rights granted under the Constitution. In1871, President Grant enacted the third version of The Force Act of 1871, which provided Federal protections for African Americans granted by the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. The Force Act was also known as: The KKK Act or Civil Rights Act of 1871. Federal troops were used to give relief to African Americans from the brutal terrorist attacks of the KKK mainly in southern states. Federal troops threatened the viability of the KKK from 1871 until 1883. Then the U. S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously it was unconstitutional for the Federal Government to penalize such crimes as assault and murder. They declared that local governments have the power to penalize such crimes.
I ask you, think about that ruling and what resulted afterwards. On August 3, 1925, tens of thousands of Klansmen marched up Pennsylvania Ave carrying banners identifying themselves by states. During the 1920’s, their numbers exceeded one hundred thousand. Clearly, the Supreme Court’s ruling only exacerbated the problem of African Americans. 1920 there were approximately one hundred thousand white supremacists 2021 there are millions.
President Joe Biden will seek to unify the nation; however, the politics of our times will present obstacles at every turn. Let me be clear about what happened on January 6, 2021. The white supremacist regime of the Republican party and its supporters attempted to overthrow the U. S. Government. Republican elected officials, right wing extremist and some mainstream media including social media backed lies to delegitimize the 2020 election. These lies were used to incite insurrection and a revolt against the Government, Democracy and the Constitution. The promoters and believers of these lies are white supremacists. These individuals claim to be patriots; however, rather than protect America against foreign and domestic enemies they are the enemies of America. What’s most astonishing about these insurrectionists is shortly after their failed coup they cried out for unity. Oddly, they didn’t cry out for the constitutional mandate for accountability for criminal acts committed on January 6, 2021. Instead, they wanted “We the people” and our democracy to become complicit in the coup by looking the other way under the disguise of unity. They claimed seeking accountability would widen the divisions in the country the very divisions their leader stoked from the White House since 2016.
The Republican elected officials who voted immediately after the failed attempt to continually challenge the legitimacy of the electoral votes are complicit in the lie. There were137 Republican Representatives of the House and 6 Republican Senators voted to continue the lie. President Biden should seek unity with our elected officials; however, he will find no unity among these 143 enemies of the government. Supporters of the lie are supporters of the insurrection. Those who continue to support 45 an ex-President who incited insurrection are enemies of the Republic. The impending second impeachment trial will clearly expose the elected enemies of our democracy and their supporters
The very thing that’s great about America can sometimes be very problematic for Americans. Citizens of America have the right to have different beliefs to include white supremacy and are afforded all rights granted under the Constitution. However, just as any of us, when we use violence to promote our beliefs, we are subject to laws that govern us under that same Constitution. On January 6, 2021, there was a violent attempt to overthrow Democratic rule established by the signing of our Constitution on September 17, 1787. The threat from foreign countries was thought to be the greatest threat to our Democracy; however, a greater threat arose from within on January 6, 2021.
Our democracy was challenged like never before in its history in the last four years. Its institutions, bureaucracies and norms were pushed to the brink of destruction. Yet, our systems of checks and balances set forth in our constitution prevailed. I see great promise on the horizon for America however, as always-great challenges as well. “We the people”, have chosen a new leader and rendered control of all branches of the Government to his party. Will he and those in power be up to the challenge of finally confronting the age-old problem of white supremacy in America? A change is occurring in America and a majority of “We the People” will determine if the changes unify us or further divisions.
WSM
1/24/21
4:41pm Sent from my iPhone
Very well written Warren!