{"id":19265,"date":"2021-04-02T13:43:54","date_gmt":"2021-04-02T13:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theoklahomaeagle.net\/?p=19265"},"modified":"2021-04-02T13:43:54","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T13:43:54","slug":"staywoke-the-oklahoma-eagle-editorial-gcc-dallas-and-suppressing-black-votes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/2021\/04\/02\/staywoke-the-oklahoma-eagle-editorial-gcc-dallas-and-suppressing-black-votes\/","title":{"rendered":"#StayWoke The Oklahoma Eagle Editorial: GCC, Dallas And Suppressing Black Votes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GCC Asks City\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Of<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Tulsa For\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Security Help After Threats<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The\u00a0<\/span><\/span>coming months will be a time of remembrance and grief as the City of Tulsa recognizes the 1921 Race Massacre and prepares for the world to cast their eyes on our city. It is anticipated that thousands of people will also come to witness how Tulsa and the Greenwood area remembers the darkest of days. Those thousands of people will no doubt put a strain on the infrastructure in ways that could leave<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the<\/span><\/span>\u00a0area strained beyond reason. Well, that is the belief of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(GCC) Freeman<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Culver. Specifically,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Culver wants help with security.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Culver sees the need for more and better lighting<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0repairing aging sidewalks. Sadly, there are threats being made and a security consultant has recommended closing Greenwood Avenue between Archer Street and the Interstate 244 overpass.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>It is unclear<\/span><\/span>\u00a0how credible the threats are\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>what Tulsa Police plan on doing. The threats according to Culver are aimed at Greenwood business owners and members of the GCC.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Apparently, the threats were found on the \u201cdark web\u201d and detailed the targets of racial hatred.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The city has\u00a0<\/span><\/span>acknowledged\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the request and plan<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0on addressing security. The plans regarding police actions are not likely to be announced<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span>or to what lengths the city of Tulsa is taking the threats<\/span><\/span>\u00a0seriously<\/span><\/span>. Unfortunately, we live in times where words can turn into action and unhealthy minds are liable to act on sick impulses.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The city in typical fashion sent a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>press\u00a0<\/span><\/span>release stating that private business owners are responsible for sidewalks. As the city prepares to show the world\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is healing the scars left a century ago, it is hoped<\/span><\/span>\u00a0it<\/span><\/span>\u00a0is more attentive to the needs of the Greenwood area.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Dallas Set\u00a0<\/span><\/span>To<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Rename A Street After Botham Jean<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Some cities really step up to the plate in doing what they\u00a0<\/span><\/span>can<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to heal acts of hatred within their borders.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Dallas, T<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>x<\/span><\/span>as<\/span><\/span>\u00a0is the latest progressive city to do the right thing. City officials have decided to rename a portion of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Dallas street for Botham Jean, th<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>\u00a0unarmed black man who was fatally shot in his apartment by his neighbor a<\/span><\/span>nd<\/span><\/span>\u00a0former police officer who claims she mistook\u00a0<\/span><\/span>his apartment\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for her own.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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During these times when we ask each other to say his or her name in remembering those shot down\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by police or others in acts of senseless violence, Dallas is taking that a step further. People will write down h<\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span>\u00a0name\u00a0<\/span><\/span>o<\/span><\/span>n mail going to the renamed street. They will also drive\u00a0<\/span><\/span>pas<\/span><\/span>t<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0remember a life struck down before\u00a0<\/span><\/span>its<\/span><\/span>\u00a0time.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It is of course an act of civic kindness and tender mercies for Botham<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Jean<\/span><\/span>\u2019s family<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>T<\/span><\/span>his occurred in a ceremony last weekend where the city and family came together to reveal the newly minted street signs for Botham Jean Boulevard.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The murder and trial will be remembered for some testimony for the kind of man Jean was and the expressions of ex-Dallas police officer Amber\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Guyger<\/span><\/span>\u00a0who in September of 2018 entered the apartment of Jean and shot and killed him.\u00a0<\/span>Guyger<\/span>\u00a0claims she was tired and thought she entered her own apartment and shot Jean thinking he was a burglar. She was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison for the killing.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jean was by all accounts a wonderful man. He worked as an accountant and was from the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Caribbean<\/span><\/span>\u00a0island nation of St. Lucia.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Perhaps in a tribute to the Jean family,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Guyger<\/span><\/span>\u00a0asked the judge if she could hug Jean\u2019s brother. The judge also hugged her.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It remains to be seen\u00a0<\/span><\/span>if the interactions and expressions of love and forgiveness are right in all situations, but there are times harmony is just what we all need.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Suppressing Black Votes Is Played\u00a0<\/span><\/span>With<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Bare Knuckles<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Is Georgia\u00a0<\/span><\/span>still smarting from losing both United States Senate seats to the democrats or are they returning to the Jim Crow era of the south? Probably a little of both and you could add\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the Governor has a history of raw efforts to suppress the black vote.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>He was n<\/span><\/span>o doubt effective in the past when he r<\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>n for governor against Stacey Abrams\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in 2018. Brian Kemp was at the time the Secretary of State and in that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>role<\/span><\/span>\u00a0he<\/span><\/span>\u00a0had control of elections and ballots.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>H<\/span><\/span>e thr<\/span><\/span>ew<\/span><\/span>\u00a0out hundreds of thousands of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>mostly black votes. He ran for governor against\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Abrams,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and she lost by 50,000 votes.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Abrams sued Kemp because he had a clear conflict of interest and was found to have violated federal voting laws in another investigation of the questionable election. To this day, Abrams will not recognize Kemp as the rightful governor. Her suit against Kemp has yet to be heard. Despite Kemp\u2019s sorry and brutal voting record he and the legislature have passed a rigid set of laws suppressing voting rights aimed at African Americans.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Black Georgians are sick and tired of Kemp\u2019s brutal regime and voter suppression. Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon was arrested after merely knocking on Kemp\u2019s door as he was preparing to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>sign the anti-voting laws. As Cannon knocked, she was approached by Georgia State troopers and promptly arrested. Cannon was literally dragged out of the capitol in hand cuffs. Under state law, legislators are free from arrest during sessions of the General Assembly except for extreme situations. Knocking on a door\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is\u00a0<\/span><\/span>not one of them.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Perhaps Kemp\u00a0<\/span><\/span>did not<\/span><\/span>\u00a0think the optics were right<\/span><\/span>\u00a0for voting rights advocates to witness<\/span><\/span>\u00a0as he signed the sweeping voter restriction laws while surrounded by white lawmakers under a picture of a Georgian slave plantation. Activist<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0were trying to overturn the restrictive laws they described as placing undue burdens on the right to vote<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>They see it as<\/span><\/span>\u00a0unconstitutional under the First and 14<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span>\u00a0amendments<\/span><\/span>. In fact, it may have<\/span><\/span>\u00a0violat<\/span><\/span>ed<\/span><\/span>\u00a0of the Voting Rights Act.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Basically, what is happening in Georgia is despicable. There have been calls for boycotting Georgia, but so far Abrams has not been keen to punish the state in that fashion.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>As lawsuits move to challenge elections and newly implemented laws perhaps it is best to see how they play out before pulling the economic trigger.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GCC Asks City\u00a0Of\u00a0Tulsa For\u00a0Security Help After Threats\u00a0 The\u00a0coming months will be a time of remembrance and grief as the City of Tulsa recognizes the 1921 Race Massacre and prepares for the world to cast their eyes on our city. It is anticipated that thousands of people will also come to witness how Tulsa and the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":19266,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[107,103],"tags":[],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-19265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19265"},{"taxonomy":"thb-sponsors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/thb-sponsors?post=19265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}