Charlottesville, Va. has joined the sad fraternity of American cities touched by domestic terrorism like Oklahoma City (Murrah Building), the Tulsa Burning of Black Wall Street, and the Boston Marathon Bombing.
Like the other attacks, it was terrorism by American on Americans. Like the other attacks, it represented a growing amount of tension and intolerance for a fellow American. In this case the terrorists are White Supremacists, White Nationalist and the Ku Klux Klan who rallied to unite their mission to “take back America.”
Fighting broke out by protesters who gathered to resist the message of hate and intolerance. As the groups were dispersing, Alex Fields, 20, described as a Nazi supporter drove his vehicle into a group of those opposing the message of hate. In his wake, he reportedly injured 19 and allegedly killed Heather Heyer, 32, who lived in Charlottesville.
Like other events requiring the President of the United States to step forward and comfort and support hurting Americans, Donald Trump spoke about the actions of White Nationalist and in this case domestic terrorist and gave what can best be described as vague condemnation of the events and saving some criticism for those who oppose domestic terrorism. The response was expectedly strong in criticizing the president for not personally denouncing White Supremacist as terrorist. While some members of his family and staff have denounced the actions of the terrorist, Trump himself remains silent on the issue. It’s not the first time his relationship with White Supremacist, the KKK and White Nationalist have been questioned. He has yet to fully separate himself from the terror group.
In truth, some in his own administration are like Trump and their connections with the now terror groups. Steve Bannon has a long history with White Nationalist and they hailed his hiring at the White House. Steven Miller an advisor to Trump is also a darling of the Alt Right movement and White Nationalist who has bashed Muslims, African and Native Americans. Also, Sebastian Gorka a senior White House advisor and a former employee with Breitbart News with vague credentials and false background in terrorism. He has familial ties to the German Nazi party and has at times wore a pin associated with Nazi groups. Not sure Trump is being encouraged to denounce anyone associated with the terrorism groups. Not that he has a history of sensitivity and tolerance.
When the former Grand Wizard of the KKK, David Duke, endorsed him, Trump was less than insulted. When asked about denouncing the support from a domestic terror group like the KKK, Trump said “Sure, I could do that if it makes you feel better, I don’t know anything about him. Somebody told me yesterday, whoever he is, he did endorse me, Actually I don’t think it was an endorsement, he said absolutely the best of all the candidates.”
Duke attended the rally and said they were rallying to Trump’s side. After Trump gave confusing and less than strong condemnation of the riot and death of Heyer, Duke tweeted “so after decades of white Americans being targeted for discrimination and anti-white hatred, we come together as a people and you (Trump) attack us?” He several minutes later tweeted “I would recommend you take a good look in the mirror and remember it was white Americans who put you in the presidency, not radical leftist.”
Trump had a chance to unite the Nation and begin the healing of pain in Virginia, he has instead stood by his guns and was silent. In truth, even if he did say the right things, few would believe it would have come from his heart. Republicans and Democrats have denounced the terror in strong language reserved for enemies of the State. Trump himself, as of this writing, only recently came out with some language denouncing racist in this country. It was too little, too late.
Rogers County Hires Shelby In A Confusing Move
One has to wonder what Rogers County Sheriff, Scott Walden, was thinking when he decided to swear in former Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby, the notorious police officer who killed an unarmed Terrance Crutcher, and was acquitted by a Tulsa jury.
She later resigned because she wasn’t going to be allowed to prowl the streets of Tulsa with a gun on her hip. Truth be known, not every policeman was excited to see her back on the job. But, Walden knew Shelby and he agreed to bring her on as a reserve deputy. But, why?
Perhaps Rogers County was as safe a place to bring in a controversial figure. Rogers County is not a racially diverse county. Out of the 91,000 people who live there, 75 percent are white and one percent are African American.
A review of their jail population paints a different situation, where 10 to 12 percent of those in Rogers County jail are African American.
Walden told The Oklahoma Eagle he feels no racial tension in his county. And when asked what African Americans might feel about Shelby patrolling the streets of Rogers County he said he just didn’t think it would be a problem. In Rogers County .225 percent of the population is in county lock up. And 3 percent of the African American population is in county jail. He only has to ask those in custody what they think.
This is a bad idea given the bright lights currently illuminating racial injustice today. While most are avoiding the appearance of intolerance, Rogers County appears to be unaware there are consequences to wrong decisions.
