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1/Hi @_BarringtonII, You think it's Democrats who're infringing upon Civil/Voting Rights? Let me correct the record. You're simplifying history w/o context. Let me give you context: It's Republicans, not Democrats who've led the way in dismantling Civil/Voting Rights since 1965. https://twitter.com/_BarringtonII/status/1300459310657556480
2/First, my worry is Barrington is you're erasing the work of elected Democratic Black Women & Men who have fought diligently for Voting Rights and Civil Rights. That pains me. Can Democrats do more? YES. Are they trying to do more & being blocked by Senate Republicans? YES!
3/Second, you could 100% say that Dems did little to nada for Black Voters before 1965: White Southern Dixiecrats & Northern Dems had little to no interest in advancing Civil Rights. FDR's New Deal disproportionately benefited White Americans. After 1965, things begin to change.
4/When CRA/VRA passes
Black Voter registration skyrockets, the backlash from newly minted GOP (absorbing Dixicrats) & virulent racists like Strom Thurmond (R-SC) immediately try to dismantle it, so resentful that it Black Americans had Civil/Voting rights. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/racist-filibuster-we-cant-afford-forget
Black Voter registration skyrockets, the backlash from newly minted GOP (absorbing Dixicrats) & virulent racists like Strom Thurmond (R-SC) immediately try to dismantle it, so resentful that it Black Americans had Civil/Voting rights. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/racist-filibuster-we-cant-afford-forget
5/What the passage of the VRA brings in 1972 is Congressman Andrew Young Congresswoman (hello your district D-GA) and Barbara Jordan (D-TX) the first two Black congressional members since RECONSTRUCTION. 100 years without Black members in Congress.
6/What does Barbara Jordan (D-TX) do right away upon joining Congress? She successfully leads the effort to amend the Voting Rights Act to protect language minorities. That's rights, she got Section 203 added to the VRA aiding countless new voters. BOOM. #WinWithBlackWomen
7/You want to be critical of Dems? By all means. If you're coming harder at DEMS then you are the GOP who are blocking the ballot box, don't care if we live or die, and who pledged allegiance to an autocrat in the making... then I'll say, "the audacity." https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the-complete-listing-so-far-atrocities-1-842
8/The audacity of you to say that while running for Representative John Lewis' seat. Representative John Lewis fought for Civil Rights, Voting Rights, LGBT and Women's Rights. He fought against Gun Violence. Republicans fought HIM at every turn. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/06/22/democrats-stage-protest-on-house-floor-to-force-gun-control-votes/
9/You can fight for policies that create equity and equal access within the Democratic party while fighting the white male supremacy that currently occupies The Party of Trump (and some leftists). The GOP no longer exists. This November it's Democracy or Autocracy on the ballot.
