#Blacklivesmatter organizers disrupt O’Malley and Sanders to demand end to structural racism

[DonViejo]

Last edited Sat Jul 18, 2015, 08:07 PM - Edit history (3)

Source: RawStory

A townhall-style talk at Netroots Nation with Democratic presidential aspirant Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders was disrupted midstream by protesters from the #BlackLivesMatter movement demanding the candidate put forward a plan to fight structural racism.

Local Phoenix activist Tia Oso took the stage and welcomed O’Malley to Phoenix before noting that the #BlackLivesMatter movement — born out of the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in New York– came into being two years ago on July 13.

“Will you put forward a racial justice agenda that will dismantle, not reform, not make progress, but will begin to dismantle the structural racism in the United States?” Oso asked the candidate.

O’Malley eventually got around to addressing the crowd, speaking about police reform but the candidate seemed caught off-guard by the protest.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/blacklivesmatter-organizers-disrupt-omalley-and-sanders-to-demand-end-to-structural-racism/

---

UPDATE:

Thanks uhnope for providing this video of the event.

-------------------------

[SoapBox]

1. It was just disgraceful.

No candidate, even running for dog catcher, will ever step foot at a Netroots Nation event ever again.

[uhnope]

19. I guess the concept of maintaining dignity is long gone from our society in general

[freshwest]

56. YOU WIN THE THREAD. The dignity of the people, not the pols and pundits. After 50 years...

It's amazing that anyone has to bring this up again and again.

[sheshe2]

112. +10000000000000000!

Perfect response unhope.

[wyldwolf]

22. and some of you wonder why Clinton skips these dog and pony shows

[msrizzo]

54. There's an answer for that...

....no doubt someone will supply it.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

87. No wonder. Fear. n/t

[Cha]

141. No, Hillary is a strong woman.. she's not in "fear" of anything.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

150. Yes she is.

But I question her political courage. Of course she couldn't come to Netroots, it would have been a disaster, so I concede that it was a cheap shot. I'm upset today because of the gaping wounds of racism in our nation.

I salute you for your Keystone flag, friend.

[Cha]

153. Thank you for your compassionate post, AL

[Admiral Loinpresser]

159. +1 n/t

[JDPriestly]

98. Obama is the president. Why aren't they demonstrating against him?

He was president when Trayvon Martin was killed and over the course of the past around 6 years. The police brutality has continued throughout this time.

Why protest in front of Sanders and O'Malley when it is Obama who has failed to rein in the police brutality? It is the Obama administration that has handed war materiel over to the local police in many places and fostered some of the brutality and confrontation we now see. I don't blame Obama personally, but he has not made fighting police brutality and institutional racism the center of his domestic policy by any means.

These demonstrations are misplaced. If Sanders or O'Malley had the authority now to stop this brutality and they did nothing, then I could understand the demonstrations. But it is not Sander or O'Malley who have that authority, who can direct the FBI to focus on police racism. It is Obama. Why aren't they protesting against Obama's failure to stop the police brutality and use the FBI to do it?

[Yo_Mama]

134. You always ask the candidates about these issues! That's why we have political campaigns!

It's not like there aren't ongoing protests.

Any person has the right to bring up any issue that concerns them with a political candidate, and that is just as true for groups. The candidates can't do anything now, but what would they do if they got elected?

Are political campaigns supposed to be just applause fests now? If so, I don't want to give any money for someone's ego tour.

[JDPriestly]

146. NormallBernie

They were demonstrating before there was any chance for the candidate to really speak to the issue. It was completely out of place, politically foolish and counterproductive.

Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law. He was white. He was a Southerner.

Assuming that a white person won't care about Black Lives Matter is just as silly as assuming that a Black person will.

People who care deeply about justice and happen to be white will care about Black Lives Matter.

Across the country there are many white people who care deeply about Black Lives Matter. Bernie Sanders, rest assured, is one of them.

He cared about the rights of LGBT people before anyone else did. He marched with Martin Luther King when few ordinary white people did. He led a demonstration for integrated, fair housing very early on. It is disingenuous to pretend that Bernie Sanders does not care about Black lives Matter.

The demonstration was discourteous and out of place. Blacks should be demonstrating in front of the White House, and now.

It is appropriate to ask questions, but when it is your turn.

[Yo_Mama]

151. You're reacting as if this was a personal insult to the candidates,

and I don't think it was.

I think Sanders is good on these issues, and overall this is an area where he will shine, if that means anything to you.

[JDPriestly]

158. I do think Sanders is strong on these issues.

But the demonstration made my wonder why these same demonstrators aren't confronting Obama who has had years in which to make some regulatory changes in the justice system, changes that desperately needed to be made immediately when he took office but which have not been made and which he did not even suggest as far as I know.

For example, the Justice Department and FBI could have instituted a system in which the federal government required detailed report on race aspects of all police brutality reports especially deaths of people in police custody. We should have been reading those reports and Obama should have been talking about them shortly after taking office.

There are some other things. When we had Democrats in Congress we should have had a much stronger community policing bill and a lot of other executive actions that would have prevented at least some of the deaths.

I think that the rather brutal show of force in evicting the Occupy Movement encouraged some of the police brutality. And that happened on Obama's watch most definitely. The police marching like storm troopers through the streets of Portland was just a terribly militaristic sight that I see as encouraging police to feel very righteous about exercising uncontrolled, militaristic power on helpless, unarmed people. And that is what we are seeing with the police brutality against Black people in their custody.

[CTyankee]

169. Obama wasn't there. The two progressives who want to succeed his presidency were there.

So the demonstrators were specifically holding their feet to the fire at this particular venue. So let's keep that in focus.

This demonstration is but one manifestation of the Black Lives Matter movement. I can't criticize them.

Altho I am not a POC, it is crystal clear to me that after all the talk and even after all the work about the issues this group specifically addresses, things have not changed. No wonder there is anger. They are fed up. Our candidates say the right things and then nothing happens. I think this is the turning point.

[JDPriestly]

183. I agree with you very much about the importance of the issues the Black Lives Matter

group is addressing. And I see them as the most important of a list of issues from our surveillance state to the problem in Ferguson of a system of civil penalties for minor infractions to make up for the lack of an economic basis that can be taxed to support local government.

But O'Malley and Sanders are by nature strong allies of the side that Black Lives Matter is on. They should have been demonstrated with not demonstrated against. And the reading of the names of those who have been killed by police, that is something I would have liked to have heard done in a more thoughtful, meaningful way. Time for the Black Lives Matter demonstration should have been arranged without taking time away from the candidates' speeches.

The Black Lives Movement psychologically and strategically opposed itself to candidates who are on its side. That is not smart. They made themselves look as though they were motivated by some desire to destroy or harm the campaigns of two potential and actual allies. It just was not well done at all.

Bring your friends closer to you and push your enemies further away. That is what Black Lives Matter should be doing. It is unfair to the families of the victims that they represent to alienate even at the most subtle level the feelings of people who support their cause.

This was a mistake. Sanders and O'Malley have struggled with justice issues (especially Sanders) from the beginning of their careers. Sanders is just a little older than I am. He came to political age during the era of Martin Luther King as did I. There is no way that we are insensitive to the terrible injustices that Black Lives Matter is raising. No way.

Civil rights issues are so important to people of our generation who are Democrats. Younger people cannot imagine the role that the civil rights movement played in our youth. Same for women's rights.

The demonstrations were poorly done, but done for a cause that is extremely important.

That's my view.

The names of the victims of police violence should be given better, more respectful attention.

[CTyankee]

185. I don't know whether you have/are walking in their shoes. I know I'm not and have not.

Therefore, I respect them and want to hear from them. I don't feel remotely qualified to criticize and advise them that what they are doing is strategically in their best interests. They've heard all this before, I am sure. They are fed up.

As for whether or not they are doing a disservice to their own cause, again I am not qualified to make such a judgment. I'm just not. They are telling these candidates and by extension, the rest of the white progressives on DU and elsewhere, what they feel is lacking and they want specific answers to their specific concerns.

Honestly, I don't blame them one bit.

[JDPriestly]

187. Bernie Sanders has been a strong advocate for the rights of African-Americans for 50 years.

And thanks to the bad strategy of Black lives Matter, Time magazine has printed this headline

Sanders and O’Malley Stumble During Black Lives Matter Protest

http://time.com/3963692/bernie-sanders-martin-omalley-black-lives-matter/

First, Bernie Sanders did not stumble at all. He took charge, demanded some courtesy and unemotionally and compassionately acknowledged the rightness of the Black Lives Matter cause.

The protest was a stunt. A better strategy would have been to have let the candidates know that the protest was taking place beforehand.

This stunt will not hurt the cause that Black Lives Matter is talking about too much, but it will mean that the right wing and racists have a wonderful laugh and a talking point and something to also point their fingers at.

The demonstration was ugly and pointless.

The cause is noble and right. But these demonstrations should be addressed at racists, not at someone who was himself demonstrating for civil rights long before the members of Black Lives Matter were born.

Awkward; gauche; undisciplined; foolish -- there are not enough words to describe how this act of discourtesy set back the Black Lives Matter effort.

Martin Luther King knew how to work with white people who supported his efforts.

Black Lives Matter needs to learn how to discern between friend and foe.

True. We have not all walked in the shoes of African-Americans. But some of us have come closer to it than others.

The aim should be to change the hearts and minds of the racists who kill Black people.

The aim should not be to attack people who support the cause of equal justice before the law and laws that are fair to all.

[CTyankee]

188. can't you see how your advice could be interpreted as "let us white people tell you black

people what you should do."?

I can see it...

[JDPriestly]

189. Hey! It's my opinion. They can take it or leave it.

I listen to their opinions. They should listen to mine. It's an exchange of opinions.

I am speaking in a soft voice not yelling.

They are welcome to ignore my ideas. I'm welcome to ignore theirs.

That's the way the world works.

The discourtesy shown to O'Malley and Sanders yesterday by a small group of people was inappropriate and foolish. Sanders especially has been a friend of all aspects of the Civil Rights movement. What happened was a huge mistake. Sorry. But that is simply the truth.

I am very much in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement's ideas. I want them to get their message out.

But if I found what they did yesterday to be in poor taste, many, many other people who have worked for equal rights and justice probably did too.

Shouldn't happen again.

Know how to discern friends from enemies. Treat friends well.

[CTyankee]

190. In the short run, it can be the way you see it. In the long run, however, it can shake

things up and shake a nation to awakening. I saw it happen when white people were disparaging black people's agitating for civil rights back in the 60s and antiwar people shaking it up against Vietnam and Occupy shaking it up on income inequality. And what comes around, came around, sure enough. We got the Civil Rights Act, we got the end of the Vietnam War and now everybody is talking about income inequality...

but at the time these people were told their tactics were wrong, they were counter productive and they should be more orderly. My history goes WAY back. I've seen this play out before in my lifetime...

Frederick Douglas said "Power never gives up without a struggle. It never has and it never will."

[CBHagman]

200. For years the Department of Justice has been investigating racism in local police departments...

...and though the news media has duly reported on the same, perhaps it hasn't been clear to people who only picked up on recent events.

From four years ago, during the president's first term:

[url]http://www.salon.com/2011/05/30/justice_department_civil_rights_police/[/url]

In a marked shift from the Bush administration, President Obama’s Justice Department is aggressively investigating several big urban police departments for systematic civil rights abuses such as harassment of racial minorities, false arrests, and excessive use of force.

(SNIP)

In just the past few months, the Civil Rights Division has announced “pattern and practice” investigations in Newark, New Jersey and Seattle. It’s also conducting a preliminary investigation of the Denver Police Department, and all this is on top of a high-profile push to reform the notorious New Orleans Police Department — as well as criminal prosecutions of several New Orleans officers.

(SNIP)

“Under the Bush administration, the Justice Department disappeared here in terms of federal civil rights enforcement. You could see the shift to counterterrorism at the ground level after Sept. 11,” says Mary Howell , a New Orleans civil rights attorney who has been working on police misconduct cases for more than three decades. “Now they’re back doing criminal prosecutions of police and the civil rights investigation, which is huge.”

There's a lot more at the link.

A more recent story:

[url]http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/doj-police-racially-offensive-text-messages/[/url]

In the past five years the Justice Department has opened 20 investigations into local police departments -- more than twice as many investigations than were opened in the previous five years, according to the department.

A Justice Department spokesperson says the majority of law enforcement agencies the department investigates agree to work with the department to correct patterns of officer misconduct -- but when an agency refuses to correct the problems the Justice Department files suit against the agency.

Right now the Justice Department has suits pending against local law enforcement agencies in four jurisdictions -- Maricopa, Arizona; Alamance, North Carolina; Colorado City, Arizona; and Meridian, Alabama.

[url]http://www.nationallawjournal.com/id=1202667191136/Eric-Holders-DOJ-Takes-On-Police-Departments-Officers?slreturn=20150620233918[/url]

The U.S. Department of Justice under Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. has filed a record number of criminal police-misconduct cases and aggressively used civil laws to force reform at police departments across the country.

Also from 2011:

[url]http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/criminal-justice/law-disorder/17-justice-dept-investigations-into-police-departments-nationwide/[/url]

We’ve been telling you about the Justice Department’s examination of the New Orleans Police Department as part of our Law & Disorder investigation into six cases of questionable police shootings in the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina. In March, DOJ released a blistering report describing “systemic violations of civil rights” by the NOPD, and just last week it was announced that two FBI agents will be stationed full time in the NOPD’s Public Integrity Bureau to investigate allegations of significant corruption or civil rights violations.

But the NOPD investigation is just one of 17 active investigations into law enforcement agencies across the country currently being conducted by DOJ’s Civil Rights Division — “more than at any time in the division’s history,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Thomas Perez told Congress last week.

The probes — which are sanctioned under a law passed in the wake of the notorious 1991 videotaped beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers yelling racial slurs — are known as “patterns and practice” investigations, and they look at whether police departments exhibit patterns of behavior, including excessive force, false arrests, unreasonable searches and seizures, or racial/ethnic discrimination. While the DOJ doesn’t name the departments it’s investigating, often the cities themselves will publicize them as attempts at reform.

Again, there's more detail at the link.

From a 2011 story in The Root:

[url]http://www.theroot.com/articles/politics/2011/12/police_brutality_investigations_the_status_in_2011.html[/url]



It's a modern article of American faith: Metropolitan police departments have a history of conflict with their cities' minority citizens, conflicts that suggest police agencies trade evenhanded justice for heavy-handed contact with the public. In the recent past, police departments in Los Angeles, New York City and New Orleans have been taken to task for excessive force and have taken actions to correct the problem.

But in the last two years, according to the U.S. Justice Department, allegations of wrongdoing by police departments across the country have mushroomed to unprecedented levels. According to Thomas Perez, the assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, at least 17 U.S. police departments are under investigation for various civil rights violations, "more than at any time in the division's history," Perez said in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September.

A very recent example, in one of America's most storied precincts of liberalism and tolerance, symbolizes both the breadth of the problem as a national issue and the challenges facing its correction.

Then-Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez's testimony on the Civil Rights Division:

[url]http://www.justice.gov/crt/opa/pr/testimony/2011/crt-testimony-110913.html[/url]

The problems with police brutality didn't appear during this administration and they are unlikely to be solved within this administration, and moreover the work of the actual investigations (and eventual corrections) is going to be of many years' duration. But it is a disservice to the people who do the work to either ignore their efforts or, worse, denounce them as the cause of the problem.

[JDPriestly]

201. I would not denounce the people who are working on police brutality issues as the cause of t

the problem. But it seems to me, we need to do more than to investigate a few police departments. Since Rodney King and well before that time, it has been very clear that we have a serious problem with racism and the use of excessive force in many, many police departments. We need a nationwide program that denies to police officers who use excessive force or are corrupt (had a problem with the planting of drugs here in LA a number of years ago) anonymity and privacy and that insures justice for their victims.

What is being done is great, but not near enough.

And the Obama administration has been active in this area, but hasn't really carried the torch on this issue.

[CBHagman]

202. So sad to see someone DU serve as an example of the backfire effect and moving the goalposts.

"I would not denounce the people who are working on police brutality issues as the cause of the problem."

You just did, posting above that the Obama administration had "fostered" the situation. Then when I posted examples of the increases in investigations of police department (and not "a few&quot , the work meant the administration qualified as "active," though not really carrying "the torch on this issue."

[JDPriestly]

203. Fostering something is not causing it.

The problem was there long before the Obama administration. Remember Rodney King?

That was right before Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton responded by increasing the numbers of police officers across the country in response to the crime wave.

Fostering means "encourage or promote the development of (something, typically something regarded as good)."

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AwrSbgIqla5V8W4AV02l87UF;_ylc=X1MDOTU4MTA0NjkEX3IDMgRmcgN0aWdodHJvcGV0YgRncHJpZAMEbl9yc2x0AzAEbl9zdWdnAzAEb3JpZ2luA3NlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzAEcHFzdHIDBHBxc3RybAMEcXN0cmwDNgRxdWVyeQNmb3N0ZXIEdF9zdG1wAzE0Mzc1MDQ4MDg-;_ylc=X1MDOTU4MTA0NjkEX3IDMgRmcgN0aWdodHJvcGV0YgRncHJpZAMEbl9yc2x0AzAEbl9zdWdnAzAEb3JpZ2luA3NlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzAEcHFzdHIDBHBxc3RybAMEcXN0cmwDMTcEcXVlcnkDZm9zdGVyIGRlZmluaXRpb24EdF9zdG1wAzE0Mzc1MDQ4MTM-;_ylc=X1MDOTU4MTA0NjkEX3IDMgRmcgN0aWdodHJvcGV0YgRncHJpZAMEbl9yc2x0AzAEbl9zdWdnAzAEb3JpZ2luA3NlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzAEcHFzdHIDBHBxc3RybAMEcXN0cmwDMTcEcXVlcnkDZm9zdGVyIGRlZmluaXRpb24EdF9zdG1wAzE0Mzc1MDQ4MTg-;_ylc=X1MDOTU4MTA0NjkEX3IDMgRmcgN0aWdodHJvcGV0YgRncHJpZAMEbl9yc2x0AzAEbl9zdWdnAzAEb3JpZ2luA3NlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzAEcHFzdHIDBHBxc3RybAMEcXN0cmwDMTcEcXVlcnkDZm9zdGVyIGRlZmluaXRpb24EdF9zdG1wAzE0Mzc1MDQ4MjU-;_ylc=X1MDOTU4MTA0NjkEX3IDMgRmcgN0aWdodHJvcGV0YgRncHJpZAMEbl9yc2x0AzAEbl9zdWdnAzAEb3JpZ2luA3NlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzAEcHFzdHIDBHBxc3RybAMEcXN0cmwDMTcEcXVlcnkDZm9zdGVyIGRlZmluaXRpb24EdF9zdG1wAzE0Mzc1MDQ4NTg-;_ylc=X1MDOTU4MTA0NjkEX3IDMgRmcgN0aWdodHJvcGV0YgRncHJpZAMEbl9yc2x0AzAEbl9zdWdnAzAEb3JpZ2luA3NlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzAEcHFzdHIDBHBxc3RybAMEcXN0cmwDMTcEcXVlcnkDZm9zdGVyIGRlZmluaXRpb24EdF9zdG1wAzE0Mzc1MDQ5MTY-?p=foster+definition&fr=tightropetb&fr2=sb-top-search&type=11051_112414&iscqry=

Sorry that web address is so wrong.

Obama's administration has claimed to investigate case after case, but rarely if ever brought charges. Obama's administration has sold military weapons to police forces or approved of those sales. Obama's administration coordinated the closure of Occupy sites with militarized, martial police actions. The Occupy movement members were unarmed and at least in LA trained in non-violent civil disobedience. The show of excessive force was unnecessary but part of sending a message out that it's OK for police to use excessive force to get their way. I don't blame Obama personally, but his administration has not responded to repeated racial problems with the kind of strength and support for the Black community that it should have shown.

I am an Obama admirer, but in this area as in economic areas especially banking regulation and the handling of the foreclosures, his administration is leaving a lot to be desired When Obama had Democratic majorities in Congress and could pass bills, he did not coordinate pushing through bills on many issues that needed attention, and this is one of them. The reinstatement of a Glass-Steagall bill is another. There are quite a few failures in this respect.

[George II]

106. but just earlier today Clinton was being hammered for not being there.....

...even though she committed months ago to a very important non-candidate event in Arkansas being held tonight!

[Agnosticsherbet]

152. Demanding equal rights is not disgraceful.

[TexasBushwhacker]

171. The method is as important as the message n/t

[Agnosticsherbet]

175. So you think that if someone doesn't say please and thank you may I be free, they don't deserve it.

[TexasBushwhacker]

179. It's an issue of what is effective

To just shout down people who are sympathetic to your cause isn't effective in getting more people sympathetic to your cause. There is a time and place for loud protests. I don't think this was the time or place. The politicians cannot do it alone. They must have the support of the people, including sympathetic white people. The Civil Rights Acts of 57 and 64 weren't passed with only black votes.

The thing is, when it comes to the presidential election, there are people who will always vote GOP and there are people who will always vote for the Dem, including me. The election is decided by the independents, the true independents who sometimes vote for the GOP candidate and sometimes the Dem. The candidates must speak to their base, but they must also speak to those people in the middle. Not only did the #BLM chanters effectively shut down the #NN15, they turned off a lot of people in the moderate middle who might have been happy to listen as long as they weren't being yelled at. Speaking out is important. So is listening.

While they're at it, I suggest the BLM draft legislation and policies that they think will help rid our country of structural racism. If they've done that, by all means, divide me some links.

[Agnosticsherbet]

180. The death toll in the streets show listening is not effective.

[heaven05]

2. excellent

if they are not able to face confrontation over something as important as the racial injustice and brutality being exhibited by the forces of PTB authority, they don't deserve to have the position of POTUS. NOTHING is disgraceful about this situation. Disgraceful because it's asked, "please do you have time to listen to my story of brutality"? A lot here and other places like these candidates are too insulated by their privilege to have to deal with real people with real problems. All these candidates are going to have to straight forward deal with the problems of many people who are dealing with injustice. Stumble around all they want, that whistle on that train barreling down on us can be heard to be louder now.

[virtualobserver]

6. when you have spent your entire life fighting racial injustice....

you don't deserve to be shouted down in this way.

If attacking people who are on your side sounds like a good way to solve this problem, I don't know what to say.

[heaven05]

7. okay

sometimes, the direct approach for a direct response is the only way. If you find that offensive, so be it. Otherwise pleading to be heard get's one nowhere. Why do you think racism and the ignorance surrounding it has survived 200+ years. In the 60's when the PTB saw we were serious they threw a few bones, since taken back. Your anger means nothing to a Sandra Bland.

[virtualobserver]

78. I don't find it offensive, and I understand it.

I just think that protesting against people who agree with you doesn't make a lot of sense.

More like screaming at the choir, rather preaching to it.

I can't let go of what happened to Sandra Bland either.

Why do I think that racism has survived? Because it is being pushed into generation after generation of the soft little heads of children.

I think that the youngest humans in America are much less racist, Dylan Roof notwithstanding.
Personally, I feel that until white people fully understand "white privilege", the the true depth of racism in the society will be invisible to them. I think that this point needs to be pounded home.

I used to live in South Jersey when I was young, and had a friend who lived in Camden, NJ which even today is the poorest city in NJ. His wife's car broke down and needed a ride home from where we both worked. He was actually concerned for my safety, driving away from his house alone after I dropped him off (naive youngster that I was, I wasn't thinking in those terms). What surprised me more, in later conversations, was finding out that he was afraid to travel ANYWHERE in the United States. It was only then that I started to really understand "white privilege", as the privilege to simply live, although at that time I had never heard the term.

When I think of the recent events in Texas with Sandra Bland, I am reminded again that I live in a different world than she did. She imagined that changing lanes without signaling would not lead to the end of her life.

What I don't know how to change, are the people who think that the way it is, is the way it should be.


Does anyone have a plan to change this?

[JDPriestly]

95. Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland and all the deaths in between happened on Obama's watch.

Why are these protestors disrupting the speeches of candidates for the presidency who aren't in the White House? Why aren't they protesting in D.C. at the White House, in front of the AG's office, etc.?

Sanders and O'Malley haven't had the chance to do anything about the racism in our country. Obama has.

Why the absence of demonstrations in front of Obama on this issue? Why the silence when Obama is speaking?

[still_one]

128. Yeah, it is all Obama's fault, that's good

[sheshe2]

131. It's Obama's fault.

It's true, this has escalated under Obama, and you have no idea why?!

Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland and all the deaths in between happened on Obama's watch.

Why are these protestors disrupting the speeches of candidates for the presidency who aren't in the White House? Why aren't they protesting in D.C. at the White House, in front of the AG's office, etc.?

They have escalated, because there are some White people, That Can Not Stand The Fact That There Is A 'BLACK Man' in The WHITE House". These people are racists along with the angry old white GOP, that were determined to see that uppity man fail.

Barack Obama faces 30 death threats a day, stretching US Secret Service
US President Barack Obama is the target of more than 30 potential death threats a day and is being protected by an increasingly over-stretched and under-resourced Secret Service, according to a new book.

Since Mr Obama took office, the rate of threats against the president has increased 400 per cent from the 3,000 a year or so under President George W. Bush, according to Ronald Kessler, author of In the President's Secret Service.

Some threats to Mr Obama, whose Secret Service codename is Renegade, have been publicised, including an alleged plot by white supremacists in Tennessee late last year to rob a gun store, shoot 88 black people, decapitate another 14 and then assassinate the first black president in American history.

Most however, are kept under wraps because the Secret Service fears that revealing details of them would only increase the number of copycat attempts. Although most threats are not credible, each one has to be investigated meticulously.

According to the book, intelligence officials received information that people associated with the Somalia-based Islamist group al-Shabaab might try to disrupt Mr Obama's inauguration in January, when the Secret Service co-ordinated at least 40,000 agents and officers from some 94 police, military and security agencies.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/5967942/Barack-Obama-faces-30-death-threats-a-day-stretching-US-Secret-Service.html

Black people have targets on their backs, doesn't matter their income, rich or poor they are targets. So, all the economic justice in the world will not change that.

FYI, the President is not done yet, not by a long shot. i am not ruling anything out.

[JDPriestly]

148. Yet a white Southerner, Lyndon Johnson, signed the Civil Rights Act.

That proves that you cannot predict based on a future president's skin color what he or she will do when it comes to Black Lives Matter and other race issues.

What matters is the president's courage in the fact of the threats.

I realize that Obama has been subject to many threats and that he has had the courage to face them.

But that does not justify people assuming that white candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination are insensitive to the Black Lives Matter issue. The demonstrations were out of place at Netroots Nation. They should be held in front of the White House and the Department of Justice if anywhere.

The president may not be able to do a whole lot to end racism. I'm sure Obama thinks about what he can do. We don't see much in the way of results.

I'm seriously asking what has he done besides giving some speeches, what has he proposed that Congress do, that the Attorney General's office do, that the FBI do, about the racist police brutality?

[bravenak]

160. How is a black man going to end white racism?

[JDPriestly]

161. End white racism? That's something tha only white racists can do.

Changing white racists into compassionate people is the job of white people for the most par.

But people of all races who are either not racist or don't want to be racist, working together can make it very uncomfortable for people to express racist thoughts or perform racist deeds.

It would take a great movement of solidarity.

I liked the idea of the Black Lives Matter group of listing one by one the names of all Blacks who have died as a result of police brutality, and I would add, of racism.

Here is how I would do it. This could be performed live and videoed.

You have a stage. In the front of the stage is a mass of unlit candles -- one for each Black life lost due to police brutality or racism. There might be additional names of dead Black people like Martin Luther King or other victims of racism that you would want to add.

You have three or four musicians -- drums, maybe two drummers maybe three, a timpani with brushes and a cymbal, a bongo (for the hollow sound) and maybe a small child's toy tin drum, a saxophone player and a muted trumpet (maybe not always muted).

You have a choir made up of singers and actors, preferably with gospel choir and/or improvisational experience. There is one member of the choir for each name on the list of Blacks who have died and who are to be remembered.

The choir members enter silently and slowly, each lighting a candle upon reaching the front of the stage where the candles are placed and then walking to a position on risers on the stage (as in any choir performance).

The choir members are wearing black robes and the stage is black with the exception of the candles which will be lit one by one as the choir members enter. Upon reaching the risers, each member of the choir stands and slowly turns his/her back to the audience. The musicians improvise sounds that are solemn but not continuance according to their personal inspiration as this occurs.

When all the candles have been lit and all the choir members are on the stage with their backs turned to the audience, everyone remains silent for about five minutes. (That's pretty long.)

Then one choir member says clearly and distinctly the name of the first Black victim to be honored. The choir murmurs "Black lives matter." It is a chant, and not all choir members are saying the words in unison or in the same rhythm or the same voice. Each says it according to his/her inner feeling at the moment, according to his/her meditative or prayerful inspiration of the moment.

The choir member who spoke the name is on one end of the risers and goes to the mass of candles and extinguishes one candle then exits the stage. We hear the murmur Black Lives Matter, or maybe the scream or cry Black Lives Matter in the background from the choir, each according to his or her feeling of the moment.

There is a space, a silence, a musical rest (this is very important), and then when the next choir member is so moved, he/she says the name of the next Black victim to be remembered and walks to the candles and extinguishes the second candle. And the choir members each separately at his/her own tempo murmurs, then or screams or whispers or yells, as the moment requires, Black Lives Matter. The instrumentalists play but sparsely and again with variety in what they play improvising very quietly. This process continues, with each name read and as each name is read, a candle is extinguished and member of the choir leaves the stage.

At the end, the stage is dark. There are no lit candles. There are no members of the choir on the stage. Each of the instrumentalists plays a very short dirge like sound and at the end, the percussionist that remains plays the sound of a death rattle. The audience sits in silence for several minutes until finally the lights in the theater are very slowly from the dimmest upward lit.

And then as this lighting occurs, the sound of the choir chanting in unison, Black Lives Matter is heard.

That is what I envision and hear as a tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement and the victims of racism.

That's just what comes from me. Each person has to have their own experience with this.

I think that the listing of the names is extremely moving but it should not be shouted or spoken in anger but rather in a sense of loss.

The way that the Black Lives Matter movement was kind of brought in that made them look like usurpers of a program that was important to a lot of people because it was one opportunity to hear O'Malley and Sanders speak to a liberal group was very unfortunate for all concerned. It did not properly show respect for the victims and their families. It did not give enough time to the Black Lives Matter group to respectfully read the list of names which is so moving and so impressive and it was insulting to the candidates because it suggested in a way that they don't care about the police brutality. It suggested that based on no evidence.

In fact all the Democratic candidates care deeply about fighting racism and about the many Black lives lost to violence including but not limited to white violence against Black people but also gang violence, domestic violence but especially the police violence.

I don't know how to change racists into compassionate people who see all as equals. But I think that the more that we all encourage compassion, the better chance we have of increasing the numbers of people who are not racist and reducing the remnants of racism that remain in so many of us even when we think that we are not racist.

Rowdy behavior is appropriate in many protests. But here, rowdy behavior is counterproductive because what needs to be inspired is compassion. What needs to be expressed is mourning. Mourning by the entire nation for the terrible loss of Black lives due to violence. This has been going on for a long, long time in our country. And the fact is that Black Lives Do Matter, and the loss of so many Black lives is a great loss for all of our country.

[bravenak]

162. That is a very interesting answer, thank you for responding.

I'd actually like to see that show in the future, even once or twice a year.

[JDPriestly]

163. Yes. Think of Medgar Evers, and so, so, so many others.

Victims of slavery. The list is so long. And each name should be honored.

[bravenak]

164. Yes. And we can work on ending the mass incarceration and police violence too.

[JDPriestly]

165. Yes. I was talking to a mother today whose children have been in court with

her so many times. She really suffers from it all.

Somehow, if first offenders could be treated as human beings outside the prison system, especially those with less serious offenses, I wonder if that would help take people out of the prison and arrest cycle.

There is so much heartbreak associated with the prison, crime, prison cycle.

So much of it is pointless because people serve their time and then when they get out they have no life. They have made no progress during their time in prison.

The children of the woman I spoke to today have problems resisting impulses and problems with addiction. I don't know what the solution is, but somehow just putting people behind bars does not begin to deal with these kinds of problems.

I wish I had answers. There is so much pain for so many people in the way we deal with these issues. I think we are still in the Middle Ages as far as our attitudes toward law enforcement are concerned.

[pnwmom]

9. O'Malley was a get-tough on crime mayor -- not someone who spent his

"entire life fighting racial injustice."

[virtualobserver]

10. I was thinking more of Sanders....

I should have been more specific in my response.

[JDPriestly]

102. Obama has been president for six years during which racism has exhibited itself in police

forces and in other forms repeatedly and with increasing viciousness.

What has he done to end the institutional and societal racism? He is the one in the position to order changes in the priorities of the FBI and respond to this crisis. What has he done?

And in the absence of adequate action by Obama in this respect, why are people demonstrating against Sanders and O'Malley?

Is there some motive other than the motive they claim?

Seems to me that Obama, not Sanders and O'Malley should be the target of the criticism and the Black Lives Matter campaign. The institutional racism appears to have worsened during his presidency. He could direct the FBI to make that racism a priority in their work. There are a number of other actions he could take to start change in this area.

[Starry Messenger]

173. BLM protested during Obama's speech at Selma this year.

What motives do you think the protesters have, other than what they claim?

[JDPriestly]

181. Utter frustration!

I see the problem they are addressing as the most egregious in a pattern in which we see a very well organized, developing police state mentality.

Fear, exaggerating the importance of minor infractions, demeaning court appearances, a lack of community level mediation by community leaders, excessive fines for minor offenses, failure to support structures that build community (like the absence of free meeting places for small groups and large groups in urban communities), and a long list of missing links in our social structure lead to alienation and to ultimately some police treating Black people, the mentally ill, members of what they perceive as fringe populations with first disrespect and then as victims to be hunted and killed.

The Black Lives Matter movement is in itself frustrated and for good reason.

But the way their protest was organized, the confrontational methods used were not effective. I really like the idea of reading the long list of names of people who have been killed. In another post, I suggested how this should be formalized and done. I would like to see something like my idea "performed" so as to draw more attention to the core charges of Black Lives Matter.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026987884

That kind of event would appropriately honor the solemnity of the issue and maybe raise some money to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Some variation on my idea would be effective, I think. It should be like a concert or a requiem, not like a loud party. The list is just tragic. So many lives lost.

I fault the lack of respectful coordination between Netroots Nation and the candidates and Black lives Matter. The candidates should have been told that the demonstration would happen. The candidates should not have been treated like enemies of the movement or issue. That was quite an insult to people who have been working on justice issues for many, many years -- both O'Malley and Sanders.

The whole thing was very badly handled. And that is sad because this is such an important issue.

[The Wizard]

46. +1

Something stinks here.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

48. Exactly. This isn't Code Pink deservedly slamming Condi. (n/t)

[MissDeeds]

74. +1000

That was appalling. It will probably be picked up by the RNC and used for a variety of purposes. Absolutely disgraceful.

[A Simple Game]

8. So what is the answer to the question? How do you think they could possibly do what was asked?

How can a President control the racism in a small town sheriffs office? In the national and state Senates and Houses, the county boards and city governments?

Tell us please, how is it to be done by one person? How can one person even if President dismantle racism?

What is Hillary's plan?

Me? I say it isn't possible.

[heaven05]

17. So it isn't possible

so let the Sandra Blands just keep on being murdered, let the Trayvon Martin's just keep on being murdered, "because nothing can be done". Nothing is being done because those insulated by their comfort and privilege don't give a damn whether 1000 Sandra Blands get murdered. No threat to them. Don't give a damn if a thousand george zimmermans kill a thousand Trayvon Martins, or a dylaaan roof marches into a black church every prayer meeting and Sunday and kills. When those in their privilege "bubble" get outside that bubble and start writing their elected representatives at all levels of representation to say enough with the police brutality, white confederates waving their snot flags, if there are a million of those letters being received by our so called representatives, then something will be noticed and just maybe change will finally come about in making equality just that for all americans. Too many people don't give a damn about black death and torture at the hands of the white population. And it starts with the very top. One person CAN make a difference. I have been fighting white privileged thinking for many years now, it has remained the same. That's the simple game. I'm hoping before Obama leaves office that the Justice Department is sicced on all these racist cliven bundy/storm front groups and that either they are destroyed or sent so far underground that they never see the light of day again.

[A Simple Game]

29. There is lots that can be done and you know it as well as I do.

But the question was:

“Will you put forward a racial justice agenda that will dismantle, not reform, not make progress, but will begin to dismantle the structural racism in the United States?” Oso asked the candidate.

The questioner want action like it was a switch that can be turned off, it can't and I'm sure you know that too.

racism is something that it almost seems some are born with, they at least are taught it beginning at an early age. Racism can be countered by reform and progress can be made, but you will have to tell me how it can be dismantled because I can't see that as anything but a long hard process.

You say one person can make a difference and then say you have been fighting it for years and it remains the same. You want to destroy racist groups, how do you destroy them? Or send them underground, how will that help? The best disinfectant is sunshine.

Until racism is eliminated racial justice is a hard thing to achieve but I think progress and reform are being made. Some cops are now being charged and convicted of crimes we never even heard about just a few years ago. I honestly don't think racism can be dismantled at least in the short term, it will take decades. Each generation seems to be less racist than the proceeding one and that's a good sign, slow but good.

We're both on the same side, I just don't see any quick fixes which is what I think Oso expected for an answer. Also I'm not sure making people hide their beliefs is going to help, better to have it out in the open where society can work on changing their beliefs.

[heaven05]

57. yeah

it's been a generations long, hard process already and nothing has really changed. As you noted new generations of racists are created every day. That light switch you are referring to, its been broken, never has worked. Every electrician I've called on that damn switch has told me the same thing you have, it can't be fixed. You're good with words. One person writing letters can make a difference times one, times one, times ten, times a hundred, times a thousand, but the privileged are not and will not write. None of my letters/emmails/texts are even answered sometimes and that is only because they didn't receive 1000 more letters/email/texts on the same day about the same subject. You destroy those racist groups by marginalizing them and having enough of their own race ostracizing them openly and forcefully. I'm beginning to think it hasn't happened because the insulated privileged need them to protect their privilege, so they DO NOT speak out.

Look white people do not care to dismantle racism because they are not directly affected by it or the policies that systemic and institutionalized racism bring to bear against POC. It's a simple game. Been that way for generations. It's gonna take a lot of white people giving hell to their elected representatives for groups of racists to be destroyed, for systemic and institutionalized racist mechanisms designed to keep POC in an economic, educational disadvantage to the privileged to be dismantled. White people in general are not directly affected by a cliven bundy, stormfront, KKK, a dylaan roof type murderer, CCC, the death of a Sandra Bland or Trayvon Martin, S.C Mother Emanuel Nine, so it means nothing in the context of their daily lives. Yet all mentioned are a direct threat to every black person alive in this racist culture that is getting worse every day.

In the historical context of american racism white people have never been affected, therefore a majority could give less than a damn about racism and POC and won't ever. Racism is still here to be dismantled so I know white people don't care enough to even write a letter to start the process of dismantling systemic and institutionalized racism. The individuals who wave their flags of white pride and heritage? Live and let live until they don't want to let me live, peacefully. Then all bets are off. When Bernie, O'Malley, HRC, Webb, never happen, as candidates stand up and say no more to the racists of this nation that are driving the systems and institutions that are keeping POC in the place they want us instead of worrying about alienating the vote then maybe more privileged will say the same. I don't know. Too many privileged are too comfortable inside their gated consciousness. Maybe you're right, it'll probably keep degenerating to the point where millions of people will have nothing to lose. Then we'll see what happens.

You're not offering a damn thing, I see that, you're just saying you can't do anything about the fact that I could drive to the store tonight and forget to use my turn signal and in up dead by "suicide" in a jail cell. And I guess you're not offering because you feel it ain't gonna happen to you. Also because you think it racism cannot be defeated for another 250 hundred years or whatever. What a joke racism is. It's a scam of the highest order to keep one race, both the conscious individual who know what's going on and the unconsciously culpable who don't want to know what going on to keep one race in the drivers seat and for 250 years it has worked. You're right, "no quick fix", so far. You're still in the drivers seat. Believe it or not it's where most of the privileged prefer to stay and with the societal perks, who can blame them.

Finally ask the 1% if they would like to see racial, economic and social equality. See what they say about the "long hard process".

[JDPriestly]

122. What has Obama, a Black man, done about this racism?

Has he done enough in your view?

Not in mine. Not in my view. Yet he is Black.

Sanders' economic views reflect his dedication to justice for all.

Since that is his primary concern, it is quite likely that he will do more to end or reduce racism in the US than any other candidate or in fact than Obama who is Black.

Some people like Martin Luther King just have a sense of justice. Obama is strong in that respect, but has not been strong enough to make it a priority in his administration.
I think Sanders is the most likely to make that one of his very top priorities. I say that because his views on issues, from same-sex marriage, to the War in Iraq, to marching with Martin Luther King as a young man are centered on justice for all.

Sanders is actually the candidate most likely to fight racism as well as other forms of injustice. It's his character and his moral fiber to do that.

Obama has done many good things, but he did not put bankers in jail and racism has not declined during his administration, not in terms of police brutality anyway.

It isn't the color of the candidate's skin that we should look at. It is the candidates' focus, whether it is on justice or on getting elected or perhaps some other issues. Sanders' views on the economy are motivated by his moral outrage at injustice. That is the key to determining whether he will see that Black Lives Matter and that whites can take care of ourselves.

[heaven05]

132. Has nothing to do with Obamas strengths or weaknesses

has everything to do with the do nothing rethugs that have blocked every damn thing that Obama has put forth. If Obama was to say racism is not a local issue but a national tragedy, the flag wavers, both confederate and RW stars and stripes would call for his head. Why? Because most of the privileged in this country thinks racism is a "local problem". You're just not to be taken seriously. You do not deserve serious consideration and I only give you a modicum of respect because you are a fellow human being, privileged as I am not, but sharing the same air. Have a good one I'm done with your pathetic attempts at downplaying and diminishing the tragedy of racism as a local issue. This POTUS is one of the strongest in many generations and your insult is noted. I will not give my hand away on the candidate(s). Too early and your preference is noted. Don't care, but noted.

[JDPriestly]

147. What has Obama done to make sure that Black Lives Matter?

I know it is hard to face facts, but he really has not done much, has he?

I stand corrected if you can list some things he has done.

He is in charge of the FBI and the Department of Justice? What have they really done?

Has he strongly campaigned on the Black lives Matter theme?

What has he done?

It is right to assume that a Black person will do more for racial justice than a white one?

LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act. He was a white Southerner.

People assume things that just are not true. Don't assume that Sanders and O'Malley would be weaker on racial justice issues than Obama has been. Might not be possible.

[TexasBushwhacker]

170. At the very least, Obama could have seen that federal

charges were brought against George Zimmerman for violating Trayvon Martin's civil rights. They could start making a habit of it. Every time someone, especially cops, gets away with killing a person of color, they are brought up on federal charges. EVERY TIME. Maybe then police departments will start training their cops better and firing the bad apples when they show any use of excessive force. Michael Slaeger should have been fired BEFORE he had a chance to shoot Walter Scott 8 times in the back.

[JDPriestly]

182. My view precisely.

I think Eric Holder was a nice guy but a very weak Attorney General.

We needed at that moment a career prosecutor, not a political figure or an influential figure in the Department of Justice. The DOJ needed to be cleaned out and set on a path of enforcing not just laws but justice itself. Obama missed that opportunity by appointing someone who was not effective in many areas.

[hill2016]

186. the Justice

department is supposed to be a-political and free from interference even from the President.

Remember the Saturday Night Massacre?

The DOJ investigated Zimmerman and found insufficient evidence for federal charges.

If Obama forced federal charges on George Zimmerman (or cops) without due process that would be a massive blow to the credibility of the Justice Department. If he interfered with the judiciary process to get the results he wanted he could face impeachment.

[A Simple Game]

127. Thank you on the compliment, and you aren't so bad yourself. Very nice post.

Just a little about me to let you know where I'm coming from.

I'm white, half Irish with the name to prove it, and while I haven't been the subject of racism I have been the victim of discrimination. There are still people in this country that look down on the Irish. But the first discrimination I was on the receiving end of was when I didn't even know the name for it. I was in grade school and a person that came to do an assembly for the school happened to have the same surname as mine. When I introduced myself he asked me where my relatives were from, the Republic or Northern Ireland. I didn't know the answer so he asked me if I was Catholic, which I was, he then dismissed me like I was a piece of trash. I'm not sure he could tell where I was from by my religion or if my religion was why he suddenly didn't like me. This was back in the mid sixties when there was a lot of unrest in Ireland between the Protestants and the Catholics, and also between Ireland and England. I know this is small compared to what a Black person has to endure almost daily but it left a lasting impression on me and I have been against discrimination of any kind since. I could relate 3 or 4 more incidents about discrimination against me because of my heritage.

I have also been a student of history and know this country has a poor record of racism and discrimination, the Irish, the Italians, the Chinese, the Japanese, of course Blacks, Latinos, etc., etc. Religions also have been subject to discrimination. So racism and discrimination mainly affect Blacks but don't forget that others have seen the doors closed, the put downs, and felt the stares on their backs too. Some at times as badly as Blacks but not for such a long period of time as the Blacks have had to endure.

Never forget the racists and especially the more vocal ones are in the minority and there are many of us that are 100% on your side. But I don't think things are degenerating, I think things are more out in the open and obvious and give the appearance of getting worse but which in the long run the openness will be a good thing. Whites are soon to be a minority and we'll see if there is an attitude adjustment that goes along with the status change. Let's hope so.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

50. I want specifics as to what can be done to end "structural racism."

I don't have the answers, and want to know details of the "plan" Democratic candidates are expected to put forward...

[heaven05]

59. I just want to see a plan

the closest yet, is Sen. Sanders and Gov. O'Malley, but that's it.

[JDPriestly]

113. These questions need to be addressed to the sitting president first.

He is the one with the authority to put the FBI and other agencies to work trying to do something about the police abuse of authority and racism now.

Why hasn't he done enough?

To demonstrate against Sanders and O'Malley, especially Sanders who has/have not had the authority to do anything about this abuse makes no sense. It really does look like there is some motive behind the demonstrations other than concern about the horrible racism in our country.

What is the assumption that underlies the demonstrations against O'Malley and Sanders. (You always have to look for the assumptions.) Is it that because Sanders and O'Malley are white, they will not care about the racism and police brutality against African-Americans?

Is there an assumption that because Obama is black he is doing all he possibly could to end the brutality? If that is the case, then it looks like doing all a president can doesn't lessen the brutality.

The demonstrations should have been aimed at the current government. O'Malley and Sanders are not yet the problem.

And if you think Clinton is going to make racism a priority, have another think. If Obama hasn't made racism a priority and there is an assumption that because they are white Sanders and O'Mallety wouldn't either, then how in the world can it be assumed that Hillary who is also white will really do anything about it?

These protests should be held outside the White House and NOW while Obama can do something about it, while Obama can instruct the FBI and his AG to make fighting police racism and murder a national priority.

[Travis_0004]

129. So why not take this issue to Obama

He is president now, not somebody who may or may not be president in 2 years.

[heaven05]

140. I'm more than sure

that my POTUS is aware of the problems, racially, in this country, I'm sure he has access to the thousands of tweets, you tubes and other texts concerning his and Michelle's race, I've read a lot of them and they are truly offensive and from all over this land. One disadvantage in a racist system for a POTUS of color is that as soon as he mentions race and the white privilege driving racism in this country he would be subject to the stupid shit accusing him of "reverse racism" on a national level. And, by the way, there is no such thing. If he had shot down cliven bundy and his crew who threatened his authority, the impeachment proceedings would still be going on by the racist tea party and their republicon cronies. And that's just one of the potential missteps the flag wavers, confederate and RW stars and stripes, were waiting on. Who do you think you're fooling with a "take it to Obama". I can't take you seriously and I won't. Have a good one. I understand white privilege and see right through this BS post.

[m-lekktor]

26. apparenty Obama couldn't do anything to prevent all the racial incidents

that occured under his watch, and he is like " the best president in everybody's lifetime".

[A Simple Game]

30. Complete dismantling is an impossible expectation. Much time will be needed and then

I doubt all racism can be eliminated. If racism can't be eliminated then racial justice is never going to be perfect.

[PDittie]

32. It is troubling

that after 6.5 years of America's first black president's terms, this is still such a massive societal problem that the people most affected by it need to protest so vigorously about it. And not to the man in charge but to the two men who (allegedly) won't be in any position -- such as the White House -- to do anything about it.

They might have well been protesting in Phoenix last weekend, when Donald Trump was there speaking to his minions.

[starroute]

68. "Structural racism" isn't what's in people's hearts

It's a lot simpler than that. It has to do with housing, with education, and with the justice system. All of these have been deliberately skewed in ways that most white folks aren't even aware of because for them the system works the way it's supposed to. For black folks, it doesn't, and that's the problem.

I don't give a damn if some confederate flag-waving idiot in Northwest Nowheresville has a heart full of racial hatred, as long as the system itself doesn't play favorites. And that's what's being demanded.

[nc4bo]

93. And there you go. +1. nt

[Admiral Loinpresser]

24. Sister Oso was respectful yet

confrontational with O'Malley on stage. How can people contain their righteous indignation when innocent people are dying all the time because of thug cops? Bernie had no one on stage with him other than the moderator, but some people still yelled things from the crowd.

Bernie Sanders has been talking to all the people throughout his adult life and I think one-on-one it would have been better. But my wife and I got emotional and proud when she got up there and demanded specific examples of what O'Malley would do to protect black lives and seek justice.

Bernie will keep going to the people. I predict Hillary will not. Nobody will get close enough to ask her if black lives matter.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

33. Hillary has the ability to listen to the voices if she chooses.

She's got a number of black and Hispanic women high up in her campaign. If they're not just window dressing, they'll be advising her on how to deal with such confrontations from here on out.

[Warpy]

34. It wasn't confrontation

They were more interested in shouting than in listening to any answer to their questions.

That's what was disgraceful about this. All they wanted was to hear the sounds of their own voices.

[HooptieWagon]

55. It was just plain Narcississism.

Ooo, look at me, look at me. Their cause is just, but they just set it back a bunch. Who the fuck would want to engage these assholes in dialog now? They've marginalized an extremely important issue.

[Warpy]

58. Yeah, that's my take on it

plus pretty much ensured that nobody who would ever listen to them will be at NN in 2016.

[hollowdweller]

138. So did the protestors have like a list of legislation or other ideas to present to the candidates?

I mean I don't see how getting up there and interrupting them helps.

If they had a list of demands or policy proposals and made them comment on them I'd think that would be better.

[HooptieWagon]

142. I don't think they had any proposals...

...based on the comments I've read. If they did have anything constructive, it was lost in the manner of their delivery. The biggest loss to them was having the meeting with Sanders cancelled due to their unruliness. Had they not blown the opportunity, they would have found a sympathetic ear, a willing partner, and probably a list of valuable contacts in DC to talk to. Maybe even a ph call from Sanders gets them a meeting with the Attorney General. They just pissed all that away, because their goal was to cause a disruption and get camera time, not to work on solving a serious problem. The cause needs better leadership, leadership that doesn't treat allies like enemies.

[heaven05]

66. if you say so

sometimes the sound of ones own voice can make a difference. All this gentle civil shit is not going to stop a Sandra Bland from dying from a forced hanging by racist pigs tomorrow, or stop a bullet to the back for an alleged traffic violation. The time for being nice and exhibiting patience has to come to an end. I want change and I want it now! I want the power of the militarized police forces reined in by certain and defined laws as to how they can treat ALL alleged traffic violators for one small change. A to hell with state laws. A federal law saying don't kill traffic violators would be a start by one of these potential POTUS. Nice, civil, patience is not working and is coming to an end. Only the privileged can demand that because they have been nice, patient and civil in allowing racist hate and murder to continue for 250 years.

[Warpy]

70. Then do this at the racist cops, not at people who are running for office to make a difference

These were a bunch of bad mannered brats. Nothing is going to change that and they diminished a righteous cause by their bad behavior.

[heaven05]

72. like I'm saying and going to say over and over

thank goodness for ambush and push back. Sander and O'Malley are owed nothing, and I truly wish HRC had been there. I would have loved to have seen that reaction. I am proud of those "bad mannered brats". The time for nice has been given 250 years to work, ain't happened. New tactics are necessary for change. GO "bad mannered brats"!!!!!!!

[nc4bo]

81. +1. Want the vote? Address the issues, period.

These protesters did well imho.

Feet to the fire!

[romanic]

166. ambush and push back

got them backlash and condemnation from a number of AA progressives on Twitter who are also apart of BLM. Those new tactics won't lead to change, it'll lead to infighting in BLM. But whatever keeps the struggle going matters most than actual change, I get it now.

And yes, those protestors were brats and stupidly self-righteous and self-serving ones at that. And I'll say that over and over til im blue in the face.

[heaven05]

168. and I repeat

Last edited Tue Jul 21, 2015, 03:35 PM - Edit history (1)

I know that POC are becoming united, again, because of "Black Lives Matter" and as long as we keep the new 'Cointelpro' out, we'll be alright. I love the "brats" and I love the tactic. Keep begging on your knees for the crumbs some are counseling, been begging for 250 years and all the crumbs that have been given are being taken away. I don't care if Sanders and O'Malley were made to face some righteous anger, I don't give a damn about Sanders and his "I've been fighting for 50 years" meme, so have I. I couldn't help Sandra Bland and he damn sure didn't. Nothing "stupidly self-righteous" or "self serving" about fighting to keep ones life in the face of stark, open and lethal white racism that is becoming more and more prevalent. You're entitled to your opinion. I want the "brats" to keep acting up and if locally we can act up when one of the "self-serving" candidates show up, IF they show up, count me as a 67 years old "brat".

[magical thyme]

156. they took over, wasted a lot of time, demanded that O'Malley answer their question and then wouldn't

shut up long enough for him to answer. I'm all for protests. I protested vietnam. I leafletted, council draft dodgers, etc. But we never made it impossible for candidates to talk.

They made themselves look and sound like rude, self-important idiots. They did *nothing* to help their cause.

I felt bad for O'Malley. He flew there to have maybe 20 minutes, and they wasted every fucking one of them.

If they want to protest police brutality, then protect the police. If they want to protest the inaction of those who have been in power for the last xyz years, the take it to them.

But if they want to find a candidate that supports them, then they need to stfu and give the candidate a chance to talk.

If they want to disrupt candidates, then go disupt the GOP candidates. Have they given the GOP equal time and their precious attention? Pissing all over the 2 people most likely to be on your side is just plain fucking stupid.

[heaven05]

172. I am going to take the

Last edited Tue Jul 21, 2015, 04:00 PM - Edit history (3)

time to answer this. Yeah, Yeah, I did all that also during the 60's and got my head busted(stitches) during a spiro agnew event, 10,000 dollar a head dinner event. And we were loud, very loud.The "stupid" people, your reference, did everything in advancing the fact that people are tired of begging on their knees for our own lives not to be ended for a traffic violation or broken taillight, and this begging has been/is to our own candidates. SHAMEFUL it's still a necessary action. GOP? Fuck em. We shouldn't even waste any time. So O'Malley had to fly there to get his political speech drowned out by righteously angry people. Sandra Bland could give a damn less that poor O'malley or Sanders couldn't speak, I see his veneer kind of cracked there. Has his 50 years of fighting gotten POC and SOME poor people to have to stop begging on their knees for some crumbs, Dickens comes to mind. He's BEEN in the positions to help racial, not just economic justice for 50 years in a large manner. Sandra Bland-Trayvon Martin have been murdered by an openly racist 'officer of the peace' and private citizens taking the law into their own hands. Has he used his fight, his legislative power(s) gained over 50 years to eradicate poor education/schools in the "inner cities" vs the more privileged neighborhoods? Yeah he's saying, now, vote for me, I'll do this.

My fight, the fight of hundreds of thousands is literally for life and the right to not have it ended by bullets, hanging or while worshiping in the quiet of the church sanctuary. All this self righteous offense being taken at people who are literally fighting for all black lives is meaningless and hypocritical. If more demonstrations like this had happened since Nixon and Atwater's 'Southern Strategy' by all the comfortable, insulated privileged and blind, poor tools of the GOP as well as POC, we would not be watching the funerals of the Sandra Bland-Trayvon Martins of this country. Naw, "Black Lives Matter" doesn't need to "STFU", many others do, though.

Is it any consideration to the progressives and liberals on this board that the very effective push back of the 'Southern Strategy' happened barely 5 years after the POC in this nation were given the legislated right to vote? That strategy culminated in the theft of the 2000 election by RW PNAC racists and their cohorts of all stripes and races, Condi and Woo come to mind, along with that general who has since become aware of how he was used as a lying tool. I still respect his service, but will never forgive his lapse of reason at the U.N.

All this whining about "Black Lives Matter," not mattering is self serving and serving the racists of this nation from both political Party's. The whining is pathetic BULLSHIT designed to derail the train of justice and righteousness barreling down on the 1% and the privileged that are being "kept" by them as a buffer.

[magical thyme]

178. what did they accomplish? did they get answers? no. Did they learn how O'Malley or Sanders plans to

address their issues? No. Did they learn whether O'Malley or Sanders even have a plan that has a chance to work? No.

All their screaming and chanting and cussing when O'Malley was trying to answer their question did not bring a single murdered POC back from the dead, nor did it do a single thing to prevent another cop from killing another POC.

O'Malley and then Sanders gave them an opportunity to voice their rage and gave them an opportunity to discuss what needs to be done to fix the problems.

And in return, all they did is make it impossible for O'Malley or Sanders to talk and answer their questions. And make certain that nobody got to learn where O'Malley and Sanders stand on the issues and how they intend to address them.

When people are seeking those positions, any time not spent learning how they are likely use that power is a lost opportunity for everybody, not just them.

Like I said, BLM did nothing to help their cause by their behavior. I was supporting them, although cringing when they started shouting mother fuck whatever, until they finally got to aske their question and started screaming and shouting over O'Malley after he was able to answer with all of 4 words. They lost me there, and for good. And nothing you or anybody else writes about my "whining" is going to change that. You just end up lumped in with them.

They'd be far better off taking their protests to people who are already in positions of power.

[heaven05]

184. oh yeah?

Well I state emphatically and completely, "Black Lives Matter" is not the problem. The people in power behind the power who are controlling the tools that continue the hate and tragedy of racism ARE the problem. I'm going to go as far as to say that there are too many, ignorant racist people in this society now for racism to ever end. There's a post on DU today with them waving confederate flags and grunting like gorillas at black people at some kind of KKK rally and these racists now are creating more ignorant racist people every day, so racism will not be defeated in my time here, my children's time here and probably my grand children's time here.

That's about the same amount of time my grandfather, my father and myself has had to deal with the american culture of racism and hate. Satisfied? The racist will probably NEVER be defeated. Satisfied? But "Black Lives Matter", myself and interested and concerned others must continue to fight the ignorant hateful white people who hate precisely and only because of a person's skin color. You can be offended all you want by the tactic(s) of "Black Lives Matter and others who are afraid for their children's lives. Afraid because hateful white people want to kill them because of the color of their skin.

American culture created and embedded this problem that has irredeemably poisoned american culture and many of the people of this society. White people created racism in this country based first on hate for a freed slave who they feared might want revenge for forced bondage. Since then it's become embedded as a tool of the privileged self serving people who want to continue to hold onto their power and perceived white supremacy by keeping our united power to resist, divided. And they divide by trying to cause internal problems in groups that are resisting white american hate and racism. It really is simple to see.

Every candidate has the chance in many forums to state their policy positions on racial, economic and social justice. One so far has addressed policies aimed at social and economic justice. To be applauded yet still has still fallen short on stating policies on dealing with the continuing abrogation of voting rights of POC as just one policy on a racial issue impacting the voter of color. Beside just that one issue not being addressed there are many racial issues important to many, many millions of people residing in this racist culture and who are impacted by it's racist systems and institutions that, given precedent, WILL NOT and have NEVER been addressed. That is one of the main reasons racism has lasted this long and with the lethal virulence being shown in this 21st century. No matter what was done by any candidate in the past, that's water under the bridge.


Nothing is wrong with saying NOW is the time for a candidate to step up and say what they feel can be done to minimize the racist hate of white people toward POC, legislatively, judicially and socially. People are sick of hearing that they have to be civil in the face of continued non action and words from our elected representatives and those who seek this high office. I don't care if they shouted, screamed, hissed, boo'd those candidates. Did Sandra Bland scream as the noose was put around her neck by laughing people with murder on their mind. I bet she did. "Black Lives Matter" is not the problem no matter what you say or think. No matter.

Racists, as those shown in the OP on DU's main page ARE the problem. Now how do we get rid of shitheads like that? Not "Black Lives Matter" shouted at a candidate. geez...

ON EDIT: Sen. Sanders did listen and addressed the "Black Lives Matter" complaint(s) openly and I must say with political courage in his Phoenix rally.

[JDPriestly]

90. President Obama has been president now for about 6 years.

Do you think he should have done more about the issue of racial injustice?

If so, what?

What do you want the next Democratic president to do about it?

It is mostly a local issue.

Eric Holder certainly did not do much to improve the police abuse of authority problem in the US?

What should be done?

I would like a positive answer.

The president may be able to tweak the economy or enforce laws that are on the books. But beyond that, the president cannot magically rid the nation of racial discrimination and inequality. Certianly, if a president could do that, wouldn't President Obama have done it?

I can understand the frustration of Black people in America, but I would like to know specifically what laws they would like passed or what measures taken at each level of government that would change the situation. And when I ask people who oppose the kind of injustice we have just what specific changes they would make in our system in order to make it just, I don't get answers.

If we have racial injustice under a Black president, what do you suggest we do?

[heaven05]

126. A local issue? A local issue

Last edited Sat Jul 18, 2015, 09:03 PM - Edit history (2)

from your perspective and your analysis is flawed completely. Eric Holder and the JD did NOTHING to help POC. Why? Well seeing where he landed after "retirement" I can see why. I think the POTUS is subject to the money interests of this country. He/she will never be anything more unless they buck the money system and we know where that can end. To start with your requested answer. A national set of guidelines to local militarized police forces to follow would help. Do you shoot an unarmed person while they are running? No. We will see where that SC cop ends up as the trial get started. Do you end up hanging a person because they were verbally "combative" at a bullshit stop and at a cop it seems was not going to let her smoke her cigarette and from what I understand was intentionally disrespectful to Sandra Bland. She stood up for her rights as a non privileged POC and died for doing that and offending the new massa and overseer, the white LEO, evidently. A national set of procedures that must be followed in stops like this would help. Better training and more stringent psychological screening to weed out the many thugs posing as cops would help. You understand the frustration of POC? Do you now? I can't believe that when racism in american culture is NOT A LOCAL PROBLEM as assessed by you. How could you even think that would pass?

All you pretenders who claim an understanding of the frustration of POC always end up talking about "magical" this and "magical" that when it comes to systemic and institutionalized racism and how this system can rid itself of them.

A black child in the "inner city", code word you know, has no chance to get a proper education with funds diverted into other areas(charter schools) that WILL NOT serve every child compared to the schools in the more upscale communities that have everything white privilege can buy to guarantee that privileged child a good education. Systemic racism stops funds from reaching those schools in the "inner city", institutionalized racism prevent those children of color from getting the best teachers and training the more upscale, privileged children get K-12. Make the educational system equal in tools to educate children. Make sure, with whatever oversight needed by a diverse group, that the tools and money to buy those tools to educate, computer, modern, not historically racist revised learning tools are equitably dispensed in "inner city" schools as in privileged upscale schools. Be a damn good start. In a generation POC would have the same advantage(ohhh scary) needed to vie for that job as a privileged person has. Now if we had a national set of criteria to judge those job applicants on, regardless of and exempting race as it is not exempted now, then equality can be achieved and white privilege knocked down to size.

Look I don't know what you're looking for but your "racism is a local issue" caused me to almost ruin my keyboard with my drink, and not take your interest in a answer seriously. That pretty much told me what your line of thinking is, privileged and insulated from the national tragedy and reality of american cultural, systemic, institutionalized and nationally pervasive racism as it is. With your assessment of racism as "a local problem" I really have given you more than I think you deserve. Have a good one.

[JDPriestly]

149. I very much agree with your proposals for a campaign to reduce the racism

in local police departments. But the fact remains that police departments and schools are funded and staffed locally. So far, the federal government does not have much say in those matter. Might be good if they did, but a lot of local people would be upset to have the police department directed from D.C. You make some excellent suggestions about police selection and training.

I agree with you about the schools. My children attended inner city schools. At one point they attended a school in South Central Los Angeles. I do not agree with the charter school concept. It does take money from public schools that need it.

But as I have been pointing out, LBJ (Johnson) as president did as much as any president since to fight discrimination. And he was a white Southerner.

He taught poor Mexican-Americans in Texas when he was young and was based on that experience very sensitive about discrimination and the damage it does to our society.

When it comes to economic justice, Sanders is beyond a doubt the strongest advocate for fairness. I think overall that of the candidates Sanders is the most likely to be strongest when it comes to justice issues, and race is a justice issue. Sanders is in my view the candidate most likely to judge laws and policy on their moral and social impacts. That's why I support him.

White privilege is a reality. But that does not mean that every white person enjoys the same privilege as other white people. Many white people are really not so privileged at all. And white people who enjoy privilege can empathize and sympathize and fight for the rights of people who are not white. The color of your skin does not in all cases indicate or predict a your attitude to race. It just does not.

[votesparks]

177. YES!

K&R

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Bernie Sanders' response:

Bernie Sanders was also disrupted, telling the protesters, “Of course black lives matter,” before adding “I’ve fought for civil rights for fifty years, but if you don’t want me to be here, that’s okay.”

He later stated that black people are dying in America because, “We have a criminal justice system that is out of control.”

[Vattel]

4. is there a video?

[DonViejo]

5. There's a video at the web site but, not sure if it shows the "disruption"...

if had been a YouTube vid I would have watched it and posted it but, it isn't.

[uhnope]

15. video here you go. Hard to watch.

?t=2m45s

[riversedge]

49. She is so

passionate. I wish all politicians of all stripes would really listen to her.

[MH1]

51. Thank you for posting that.

I think O'Malley handled it very well.

I don't know why these protesters chose to target the people who are most likely to help them.

I got the impression they would have stayed there all day and never let O'Malley speak, if the Netroots people hadn't FINALLY taken control.

[BooScout]

11. I wonder how long it will take.....

Before this disruption gets blamed on Hillary too......I'm just sayin.

[virtualobserver]

13. I don't blame anyone........

There have been so many horrifying incidents lately.

I don't blame anyone for being angry, no matter where they direct their anger.

[Thinkingabout]

16. Yes, must be her fault. lol

[BooScout]

18. I bet it's why she didn't attend.....

Should we start a petition?

[Thinkingabout]

21. You think?

[George II]

116. Months ago she committed to the Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Arkansas being held tonight....

...that's why she isn't there.

[BooScout]

121. Shhhhhh George......

Stop confusing the issue with facts!

[George II]

124. Sorry........

...But it's amazing that presumed Democrats don't understand the significance of the dozens of Jefferson Jackson Dinners around the country.

[BooScout]

139. Now you're just being silly......

How on earth could fundraising for the various local and state Democratic Parties so that Democrats all over the country have the means to get elected be more important than sitting on a stage and watching Bernie poop in his depends?

[George II]

143. ...

[BooScout]

144. ...

[msrizzo]

27. Too late it already has. :-) nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

53. Well ... it didn't take long ... Not long at all. n/t

[freshwest]

69. I think it already has been discussed and she was 'found wanting.'

In the meantime, the CDS 'wailing and gnashing of teeth' will continue.

I wonder if HRC supporters should adopt one of those 'Thanks, Obama' memes for her. Even though she's already been called 'Hitlery' or 'Billary,' and a few other words I won't bring up. It's popular to diss her, nothing too low.

I keep hearing the words of GOP governors who defend transvaginal ultrasound when I read stuff like that here. IOW, Republican Rape By Object they say women should find having them done to them is pleasant.

So Close our eyes and think of England,' or whatever. It used to be we couldn't even refer to GOP women the way that HRC is.

Yeah, if it 'looks like a duck, talks like a duck...'

[jeff47]

77. Not her fault, she just benefits from it.

The shouting meant no one could hear any answers, which means she gets to keep pretending the end of her 2008 campaign didn't happen.

Benefiting does not mean she or her campaign orchestrated it.

[Starry Messenger]

14. I wonder how many people who disapprove of this criticized Clinton for not attending NN15.

This is pretty mild for Netroots, just saying. I've been.

[BooScout]

20. We should take a poll on Facebook to find out!

[freshwest]

71. It was already mentioned in a thread somewhere earlier. She was dissed for it. n/t

[99th_Monkey]

25. As a Bernista, I found this video to be quite informative

A) That Net-Roots is very open to dissent, to the point of tolerating a total disruption
at it's events, especially when the issue being forced onto the stage by protesters
involves black people being murdered with impunity in broad daylight by police and
white supremacists.

B) I do wish the Black Lives Matter peeps had petitioned NetRoots ahead of time, to
have their issue pointedly raised as part of the proceedings, such that the candidates
would have come knowing that would be asked, and so there was something like a
civil discussion, rather than a shouting match.

C) I was personally disappointed in Sanders' response. It was weak in two ways:
1) Bernie seemed to only be able to speak from an 'economic justice' perspective, rather
than directly address the ongoing carnage and brutality that African American people
face every day of their lives, and
2) Bernie has been fighting for civil rights ever since the 1060s, which has been posted
on DU a bunch, and Bernie said as much as part of his response; but he seemed a bit
out of touch with that part of himself, with his passion for confronting racial injustices.

D) I feel strongly that the Sanders 2016 campaign -- both to win and because it's the right
thing to do -- needs to radically expand it's message to directly address racial injustice
issues, beyond seeing it as merely a part of his economic justice message. I hope this
encounter will inspire Team Bernie to do just that, and soon-ish.

[whereisjustice]

28. +1000 It is civil disobedience, open protest - what do you want? Free speech zones?

There was nothing wrong with this - it is a MASSIVE issue.

Our criminal justice system and war on drugs has created a lost generation. These are people demanding justice.

What do you think is going to happen when the leadership in both political parties support policies that lead to disparity and injustice?

For example - if Hillary supporters believe TPP and Wall Street deregulation is important, you are free disrupt Bernie Sanders with "TPP matters".

But I suspect they won't do that because they have the full weight of Wall Street banks to do that for them.

It takes guts to do what they did and given the horrible state of economic conditions for the middle class and below, we should be thankful it isn't worse.

Politicians are making things worse.

Only someone in a bubble would think this protest was "uncivilized".

If we had more open forums between politicians and people, things wouldn't build up to such an explosive outcome.

Instead we have rope lines and free speech zones.

[uhnope]

61. Narcissism

as someone said http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1150173

[nc4bo]

85. Then black people are nothing but narcissists for speaking out

Going by you and whomever else agrees with your logic,l.

Not.

[uhnope]

89. Won't be provoked by your race-bating

you should be ashamed

[nc4bo]

92. Your attempt to shame me is no concern of mine. nt

[uhnope]

94. I said "should" not "will". but keep alienating allies if that's yr thing

[nc4bo]

100. Say what?

No one is alienating anyone.

We want to be heard and we want our politicans to acknowledge our concerns. We are not all treated the same and this needs to change.

The candidates message is not getting through to the people that need to hear it. If it was, no one would feel the need to protest.

[HooptieWagon]

103. They had a private meeting with Sanders scheduled after the speech.

Face to face, with a presidential candidate and sitting senator, to discuss the issue. Sanders was on their side, he's not the enemy. That's why he put them on his schedule. Their unruly behavior caused the meeting to be cancelled. No one is going to hear them out now. Sanders will schedule a meeting with another, more civil, group. BLM was just seeking personal attention, not solutions to a serious problem.

[nc4bo]

107. Did some one interview the protesters?

Is that what they said?

The woman on stage was not hostile at least from what I saw.

It would have been good on Sanders to speak to them, scheduled meeting or not.

[HooptieWagon]

145. When causing a disruption to get camera time...

...takes precedence over advancing their cause, then yes that's narcissism.
They had a meeting scheduled with Sanders after the speech. That meeting could have been very productive...Sanders is not their enemy, and I'm very sure was willing to listen and help. They blew it. Their behavior caused the meeting to be cancelled. Oh well, at least they achieved their goal of camera time.

[Chakab]

97. Should we write off the entire gay rights movement as "narcisssists" who should be collectively

ignored because of these incidents?


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/04/michelle-obama-confronts-protester-threatens-to-leave-fundraiser/


http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/lgbt-activists-to-protest-obamas-event-in-miami-beach-tonight-6553577


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/us/politics/activist-removed-after-heckling-obama-at-lgbt-event.html


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/us/politics/activist-removed-after-heckling-obama-at-lgbt-event.html


I remember when these incidents happened on DU, and there sure as hell wasn't any condescending shit addressed to the protesters like what you and others have written in this thread.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

31. DUers, what would your "plan" entail to dismantle structural racism?

What details should be included in the presidential candidates' platforms? Specifics, please.

[Kalidurga]

36. Bernie talked about that at length, but...

apparently all some people heard was economic justice. I hate to break it to them, but economic injustice is social injustice. It isn't just one part of it, it is the foundation of it.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

42. I'm more in line with your thinking, but many are pushing "social injustice"...

as the end all, be all. I want to hear from those folks EXACTLY WHAT they would do to end structural racism. What do they want to hear from Clinton, Sanders, Webb, O'Malley?

[Kalidurga]

45. I want to hear from those folks EXACTLY WHAT they would do to end structural racism.

I do too. I think both Bernie and Martin had some great insight and good policy ideas. I am not all that happy that when they were trying to speak to those issues they were still shouted down. But, at least the both got to showcase their policy ideas. I am not sure how many people actually heard the message though.

[99th_Monkey]

60. My hunch is O'Malley and Sanders were not adequately briefed

ahead of time, of the raucous nature of NetRoots .. anything goes. be ready for anything. etc.

[djean111]

38. I asked my 20YO grandson how he would end racism.

He said, we cannot. We can pass laws about equal opportunity, equal justice, we can crack down on the police, we can teach against racism in schools. But there is no way to pass any law or laws that would end racism. And that people who say that, know that very well.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

43. That's pretty much how I see it. I'm wondering exactly what the protesters...

propose be done? Again, specifics. I guess the answer lies in "structural." What do the protesters want to be hearing? What are they proposing as solutions?

[red dog 1]

35. Is Ms. Oso planning on disrupting the Republican candidates when they are in Phoenix?

If she does, I'll bet she doesn't even make it to the stage.

K&R, thanks for posting, DonViejo.

[BeyondGeography]

37. Better to make our candidates, any of whom would run DOJ's that will turn PD's upside-down

when they pull a Ferguson, look like ineffectual clowns who can't control a stage.

This is productive. Yeah.

[Enthusiast]

39. Netroots Nation is now dead to me.

[haikugal]

83. Very disappointing....it's ruined for me as well.

Sad really...and not helpful to anyone's cause in my view.

[riversedge]

40. The Hill has several video's --from the stage and the audience views....

Last edited Sat Jul 18, 2015, 06:51 PM - Edit history (1)

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/248430-black-lives-matter-protesters-halt-omalley-event

[red dog 1]

47. Thanks for that link

[The Wizard]

41. GOP paid agitators.

Obviously they took a payoff to disrupt the very people who are on their side. Rove's fingerprints are all over this.

[BooScout]

44. DUZY nomination!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

52. More like Hillary's.

KIDDING!

[uhnope]

64. it doesn't take a conspiracy

for people to be counterproductive narcissists

[GoneFishin]

65. Too early to tell. But it was either deliberate or stupid to hurt your most sincere and empathetic

advocate (Bernie).

"Hey someone is finally and sincerely trying to give a voice to our cause. Let's childishly shout him down, shut him up, be rude to him, frustrate him, and make him wish he didn't get of of bed today."

It was either staged or stupid.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

73. I doubt it.

They've got serious and legitimate concerns. If this particular approach was a RW tactic, they got ratfucked as much as anyone else.

[rocktivity]

84. Rove's fingerprints?

NOT Hillary's lipstick?


rocktivity

[groundloop]

62. Counterproductive, IMO....

Disrupting Bernie Sanders to protest for racial justice makes about as much sense as picketing an Elton John show to protest for gay rights.

[Chakab]

76. Funny, I remember people here cheering the LGBT rights protesters who disprupted speeches by the

President and the First Lady in spite of the fact that no administration has been better on the issue.

[DonViejo]

99. ^^^^ + 1,0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

[Chakab]

105. I tried to bump the threads, but the system wouldn't let me.

Here's a link to one of the threads in response to Michelle Obama being heckled.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022947372

There were HUNDREDS of supportive posts of the hecklers behavior in this one alone.

Many posters were upset about the First Lady being disrespected but not once were the words "counterproductive" or "narcissistic" written, nor were there any suggestions that the actions of the hecklers diminished the integrity of the entire LGBT rights movement.

[progressoid]

63. Perhaps they could do this at a GOP event instead.

Pretty sure our candidates already support this.

[nc4bo]

86. Sure they do but the message isn't being received by black voters.

They, as in all the candidates, are going to have go into recorded message mode.

[GoneFishin]

67. "We're getting nowhere in Iraq, so let's invade Canada."

Stupid and counter productive.

They shot themselves in the foot.

[stuckinodi]

75. This is a good article on what happened

I love Bernie, but he blew it:
http://www.eclectablog.com/2015/07/white-progressives-get-a-taste-of-anger-frustration-as-blacklivesmatter-activists-upstage-bernie-sanders.html

[TexasBushwhacker]

174. Good article, but I don't think Bernie blew it

O'Malley has a record as a get tough on crime governor, meaning that more black people were arrested during his administration. Bernie has a record of being involved in the civil rights movement for FIFTY YEARS. He and O'Malley were invited to present their views and respond to questions during a Q & A. The moderator was HORRIBLE! He could have turned it around quickly by just asking the question "What do you plan on doing to get rid of structural and economic racism?" Instead, he took out his phone to take pictures. He should have jumped down into the mob to take selfies while he was at it.

[nc4bo]

79. Sometimes you have to put it out there.

To win the black vote, the politicians are going to have address the issues the effect black Amercians.

All I can say is, be prepared.

That's just the way it is.

[msrizzo]

82. Yep......

Especially the issues that are literally killing them.

[jeff47]

88. You'd have a point if both O'Malley and Sanders had not already made it a part of their speeches.

But both of them have.

So what, specifically, did they hope to get from the candidates? Both are already talking about the need to reform the justice system. Both are already talking about repairing structural racism.

So what more, specifically, do these candidates need to do to satisfy you?

[nc4bo]

91. More black people need fo hear the messages.

For some reason it's not resonating.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with bringing issues effecting black people front and center and as often as needed.

Our politicians need to know that we are serious and will not stand down.

[jeff47]

96. And shouting over the candidates fixes that how?

I see absolutely nothing wrong with bringing issues effecting black people front and center and as often as needed.

Our politicians need to know that we are serious and will not stand down.

Like, say, a meeting with the candidates where they would be able to discuss these issues? Like was already scheduled before they decided shouting was more important?

[nc4bo]

101. Squeaky wheels get the grease. nt

[HooptieWagon]

104. Or replaced. Nt

[Chakab]

108. With what? Good luck winning any national election without the black vote.

[jeff47]

114. Good luck under the Republican who wins.

It will be TOTALLY better to keep an ally out of office so a Republican can get even more "tough on crime" to placate his racist base.

The two candidates had already integrated these issues into their speeches. If that is just going to result in more shouting, then why peruse it any further?

[Chakab]

119. Wasn't the last Democrat who was in office one of the politicians most reponsible for pushing

mandatory minimums and a bunch of other "tough on crime" bullshit that disproportionately affected the black community? And his wife is supposed to be the "inevitable" nominee, right? What's the fucking difference?

[jeff47]

120. The fucking difference is both O'Malley and Sanders want to reverse that.

And you're cheering attacks on them, apparently hoping to keep them from helping.

[nc4bo]

123. Message not being received by target audience.

For whatever reason.

If they want our votes they're going to have to turn up the volume.

[jeff47]

125. Or the target audience will have to actually listen

But that would get in the way of shouting.

[nc4bo]

133. If a politician can't handle this then perhaps becoming POTUS isn't

The job for them, just saying.

All of these candidates ARE perfectly capable of handling protesters and probably just as capable of attempting to fix what is obviously a broken system but they will have to convince black people across the States.

They are not convinced now but there is plenty of time.

[jeff47]

135. They handled it fine.

But the result of this will be for the candidates to not bother talking to this particular group again. Because it's apparent they are not actually interested in talking. Which means this particular group is going to be greatly weakened in achieving it's goals.

Some new organization will have to take up the banner and try again. Which hurts the cause, because you're starting over.

If they had actually listened instead of shouting, they could have found out what the candidates thought, and asked them questions or steer them towards the goal they want to achieve.

[nc4bo]

109. Try replacing a voting bloc.

We vote and these candidates need our votes.

Every single Democratic voter including people of color.

[Chakab]

111. Amazing that people on a Democratic message board will be so quick to tell the most loyal

Democratic voting bloc to fuck off.

[jeff47]

110. Why? When it's obvious that "wheel" is not going to ever be satisfied

then there's no reason to fix it.

[Chakab]

115. Oh fucking shit. DU's really showing what a "tolerant" forum it is on this one.

[nc4bo]

117. Revealing isn't it? nt

[jeff47]

118. An intolerant form wouldn't have people talking to you.

In this thread, you are supporting an attack on the only two candidates who have actually made a point of addressing your issues in their campaigns.

That is really, really dumb.

[wolfie001]

80. With the GOPers and their gerrymandered districts set in stone at the moment....

......there doesn't appear to be any progress on any issue until 2020. Some court decisions may offer some relief. Maybe shaking things up will get more of the Dem "leaders" active and pointed in the right direction. Too many cops have blood on their hands and are walking free. That's bullshit!

[HassleCat]

130. Structural racism

Institutional racism, whatever you want to call it, is a difficult concept. I have an idea what it means, but I certainly have no idea what to do about it. I lean more toward the notion that government's job is to promote economic justice, police reform, prison reform, equal employment opportunity, educational opportunity, relief from poverty, fixing urban blight, etc. These are tangible things that can be addressed by specific legislation and government programs. Beyond that, I don't know what government can do about structural racism. I don't think the candidates know, either. Did Tia Oso explain what she meant? Did she ask for specific measures? I would be completely at a loss to give an answer without knowing more about specific expectations.

[Yo_Mama]

136. I think the answer you have given is a very reasonable one which would work

Just saying that you will use the power of the DOJ, the FBI, the EEOC to control abuses, and pointing out specific issues.

Heck, just stopping businesses from running credit reports on job applicants who will not be handling money would go a long way toward reform. A candidate could just state that and get applause.

Economic justice, equal opportunity, growth and reform of customs/structures that produce bad results is precisely how you address this sort of problem.

[CTyankee]

191. She wanted to hear specific proposals, not the categories you have cited. Everybody wants them.

She's saying "let's hear specific proposals on ending structural racism." And surely, our candidates can talk about that and say what he/she would specifically do as president.

[imthevicar]

137. This is a tempest in a teacup

Sanders will overcome this small disruption. This was a good set up but it failed Miserably My only hope is that it backfires on it's planners.

[architect359]

154. More shouting in the echo chamber

This demonstration would be more effective during a GOP rally / town hall event. That'll get their passion and message across - open people's eyes.

[Henryville]

155. Some folks would rather get attention and set their cause back...

... Than advocate in an effective manner....

It's all about them...

[romanic]

157. I look forward to Oso disrupting any upcoming GOP rallys next.

Til then I'll just sip my tea, it's gonna be A LONG WAIT.

[IMG][/IMG]

[nc4bo]

192. They just might but no one would be holding their breath......hoping

There's nota fat chance in hell any GOPiggie will even, attempt to help us.

We are far from stupid.

We hold our own candidates feet to the fire.

[romanic]

195. It's not about helping

it's about fighting. BLM needs to go to those that actively discriminate against them and stop picking easy targets like Sanders and fellow liberals in general. Until then I will keep sipping my tea and hope some of them will grow a backbone and really fight.

[Vinca]

167. Good cause. Wrong crowd.

Try a Ted Cruz, Rick Perry, Donald Trump - even Ben Carson - event.

[nc4bo]

193. RIGHT crowd. nt

[Vinca]

198. Is it a new tactic? Alienating your supporters? I don't get it.

And I felt bad that O'Malley has been skewered for his remark "white lives matter" which has been taken out of context.

[orpupilofnature57]

176. Isn't that disorganizing ?

[nc4bo]

194. Why do you say that?

It was an organized protest in front of an organized group of progressives, liberals.....Democrats.

[Nye Bevan]

196. Wow. A video version of a DU "white privilege" thread!

And just as helpful and constructive!

[davidpdx]

197. I have no problem with protests

In fact they were even offered (and accepted) a chance to come on stage to ask questions. I heard a couple of vague questions about 10 minutes in which was then drowned out with chanting. At most places they would have been simply pushed out, this wasn't the case. Again they were offered an opportunity to come on stage and actively participate and chose instead to hijack the event. It is a missed opportunity that could have been used for a meaningful dialogue.

I support BLM and I support Color of Change, which has been very successful in many instances.

Given BLM targeted only the candidates at Netroots Nation, I have to wonder if they will equally target other candidates who were not there. Certainly if their cause means as much as it does, then they should be putting pressure on all of the candidates.

[alarimer]

199. I'm not sure is this the way to get your point across.

I mean, Code Pink had accomplished pretty much nothing. We still have military in the middle east.

But, at the same time, politicians need to get out of their comfort zone now and again. I'm sick of every appearance being scripted and controlled to the nth degree, everybody stuck in "First Amendment Zones" miles from the debate. So they get yelled at and are taken aback. So what? Of course they are unprepared; that's kind of the point.

But the people who really need to hear this are the Republicans, not the ones vying for the Democratic nomination.

[Chan790]

204. The irony is that this probably benefits Clinton whose policy initiatives and past work...

does more to continue structural racism than anybody else in the Democratic field.

If we can't stop firing down our own lines, can we at-least aim at the logical targets? Clinton is a terrible candidate for pretty much anybody except the white male wealthy establishment...and yet nobody attacks her for it.

We get the candidate we deserve, not the best candidate. I was told that during college and never understood it until I watched the worst Democrat of a generation have more political lives than a sack of cats.