Elon James White posts answer to his detractors on DKos.

[sufrommich]

It has come to my attention that some of the Daily Kos community are very angry over the disruption that occurred at #NN15's Town hall with Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley. And on top of said anger it seems that some of you have decided that I either started, planned, or participated in the interruption based on my twitter stream which clearly voiced support for the action.

So for the record, I did not plan the action. That was done by amazing Black Women organized by Tia Oso. I was not even in the same venue that the action was planned in. I was hosting the #TWIBnation #NN15 party. And when the protest started I was actually standing on the TWiB! Media Stage at NN dealing with the theft of all of our cameras the night before. I ran into the auditorium and immediately started covering the action as I have done across the nation from NYC to Ferguson to Baltimore to Berkeley.

Some of you have called for my firing from Netroots Nation. Some of you have said I helped destroy a progressive space. And to these folks I say, what do you think Netroots is? Every year there are protests. This shouldn't be a surprise. And while yes I am affiliated with Netroots, my stance on these issues and actions are quite public. And why in the world would Netroots Nation be upset at me for being the exact person that was hired in the first place. I've been a member of this space before my official capacity for years. I would think that many of you would be happy that NN is a space that's accepting of strong voices and wouldn't ask us to tone down or silence us.

Also, Netroots Nation released a message in support of the action that took place. Why would you want this progressive space to be simply a spot where people drop stump speeches and not listen to the people? Do you know how White Netroots has been? And now you're angry that PoC are actively coming to this space and demanding a place at the table? I find this very problematic. Your desire to protect politicians is being placed above the state of Emergency that is Black Life in America. So just to be clear, I will continue to be as vocal as I have been because I actually give a shit about the progressive space. I want it to be inclusive and supportive of voices that are constantly be silenced and give them a platform to make people listen. We've seen it start to work already.


http://m.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/21/1404384/-A-Message-From-Elon-James-White

[ibegurpard]

1. I like this statement

And I think he's right.

[randys1]

2. BIg fan, bigger fan now

[Spazito]

3. Good response...

Thanks for posting it.

[NCTraveler]

4. "That was done by amazing Black Women" nt.

[Zorra]

5. He does not indicate that he did not know that the action would be taking place.

Only that he didn't plan it.

[Damansarajaya]

6. If PoC want "a place at the table,"

why doesn't NetRoots Nation--who are so fucking thrilled at protest and disruption--give them a forum to speak?

Shouting down others who have been invited to speak "is not a place at the table."

[jeff47]

8. Nah, it's totally Sanders's and O'Malley's fault that NN didn't have one.

That's how powerful they were ignoring the issue. They managed to get a conference they were not in charge of to not schedule any BLM-centric forums, months before they even said they were willing to attend.

Their wiley abilities got the NN organizers to only schedule "minority-focused" forums around immigration. Damn their superpowers!

[HooptieWagon]

9. They did. There was a panel discussion that included BLM that very morning.

By no means was BLM being silenced. They are angry at lack of action by DoJ, and decided "white progressives must be taught a lesson", thus the disruption. I'm still perplexed at their logic, or lack thereof. White progressives aren't killing Blacks, nor are they in the WH, nor are they Attorney General.

[whatchamacallit]

7. I agree with the State of Emergency characterization

I think a lot of Sanders supporters were less upset about PoC protesting at NN, than they were about the (likely erroneous) perception that its aim was to diminish Hillary's opponents.

[Zorra]

14. Yes. I actually thought that #BLM pulled off a smooth move until I saw #berniesoblack,

and then the next day Clinton did a Facebook show that could have been called "Mother Hillary, Patron Saint of People of Color."

I then reconstructed the events front to back, beginning with the early race slanders of Bernie around a few months ago by Third Way Clinton supporters on DU, and I have little doubt that #BLM had dual motives for choosing to conveniently disrupt an event that Clinton could not attend because she had prior engagements.

[Number23]

10. HELL. YES. LOVE this response from Netroots Nation. I was wondering how they'd respond to the

backlash. Apparently they'd decided to give them the screamers the "you poor dear" finger along with the rest of us. It's so great to see liberals and progressives of all stripes telling the criers to STUFF IT.

Your desire to protect politicians is being placed above the state of Emergency that is Black Life in America. So just to be clear, I will continue to be as vocal as I have been because I actually give a shit about the progressive space. I want it to be inclusive and supportive of voices that are constantly be silenced and give them a platform to make people listen.

Serious props to Elon White.

[msanthrope]

11. It was an absolutely perfect response.

The fact is White progressives are just going to have to understand that when they share space with other people other people are not going to be told how and when to speak. The seeming level of control that's some of these whiners and criers want is frightening.

[Number23]

12. "The seeming level of control that's some of these whiners and criers want is frightening."

Exactly. This is why EVERY SINGLE SOCIAL MOVEMENT in this country's history has had to be divided by race. The needs of racial minorities, even within other social movements, are all too often overlooked, minimized or dismissed by the white people who have put themselves in positions of power and will do anything to make sure that they stay there.

It has been very telling. The responses from MoveOn and now Elon White have been incredibly supportive of the #BLM advocates and slack jawed in utter shock at the response from many Bernie supporters. They are certainly not alone in that regard.

What a difference, the responses from liberals and "liberals." Like night and day.

[msanthrope]

16. Bernie, save me from your followers.

We're headed for some pretty spectacular flameouts. I can feel it. the sense of outrage on this board is palpable. there is a subset of white progressives Bernie supporters who are truly in raged that they are not at the top of the food chain. their behavior is stunning and frankly from the private mail that I've been getting quite a few people eyes have been opened up to the antics.

at this point it's gotten so out of hand that there are duers ours speculating that second sanders group is going to be needed.

[LiberalAndProud]

13. And now you're angry that PoC are actively coming to this space and demanding a place at the table?

I'm not. It's time and past time. Demand away.

[scarletwoman]

15. Excellent! Perfect! Thank you for posting this!

I'm up way too late, and too tired to put together anything resembling a coherent comment - but the least I can do is kick this up!