The Nation: Racism Runs Wild at Town Halls

[marmar]

Racism Runs Wild at Town Halls
August 12, 2009


Watch: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090817/lacewell_video

Princeton professor and Nation contributor Melissa Harris-Lacewell talks to Keith Olbermann about the racist undercurrent of the anti-healthcare reform crowds, the "birthers" and "deathers," and the recent trend of hanging public officials in effigy. With the arrest of a man with a loaded gun at a town hall with President Obama in New Hampshire Tuesday, the fear of violence is growing, and Harris-Lacewell agrees with Congressman John Dingell that the tactics being used are similar to those seen in the sixties during the civil rights movement. She points out, though, that despite the threats and intimidation used in the sixties, Congress and the President did pass civil rights legislation, and that the continuing struggle is not a reason to lose hope.

--Sarah Jaffe


http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090817/lacewell_video

[FSogol]

1. K&R. n/t

[EFerrari]

2. Thanks, marmar. I want to read this. n/t

[BuyingThyme]

3. They want their country back.

[noiretextatique]

4. call it what it is

these "protesters" are angry because their feelings of superiority are challenged by the uppity black guy in the white house. they are afraid they will be treated the way they treat people of color.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. It's only racist because of the President

With a slightly different outcome of the primaries, the townhall thugs would be sexist, not racist. Still full of hate.

:hi:

[Veruca Salt]

6. "What's the difference between the white folks who fought integration in the 60s..."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=6283435

I think this link is appropriate to the context of the OP message.

And because of my age and ignorance to events before my time; to me it's not only scary but enlightening to see what was juxtaposed to what is happening today.