Jim Crow is alive and well
We saw him just yesterday, in Georgia
On Thursday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, signed a draconian election bill (SB 202) into law that, among other things, would:
Place drop boxes inside early voting locations during voting hours
Make giving food or drinks to a voter (in line) a misdemeanor
Allow for unlimited challenges to voter registrations and eligibility
Require counties to keep counting ballots without a break
Shorten the runoff cycle from the current nine weeks to four weeks
This legislation was not a reaction to voter fraud. It was, instead, a reaction to voter turnout, specifically, record Black voter turnout. In his first formal press conference, Pres. Joe Biden called the voter restriction law “sick,” “un-American” and “despicable.” The head of the Georgia Democratic party called the law “flagrantly racist.” Stacey Abrams, one of the people responsible for sending two Democratic senators to D.C. and continues to fight for voters’ rights, posted on Twitter:
“Jim Crow” has been many things, probably starting as a song that was then adapted into a racist stage character by white minstrel actor Thomas Rice. “Jim Crow” later became a racial epithet, and then it morphed into a catch-all phrase to describe laws and customs that have historically disenfranchised Black people. Rice, who died in poverty in 1860, is buried in Brooklyn, New York, but Jim Crow is alive and well and currently celebrating in Georgia.
My husband and I will begin boycotting Georgia-based businesses today including Home Depot, Delta Airlines and my husband's beloved Atlanta Braves Baseball. We will be letting them know. I will also make what donation I can to Fair Fight. I am tired, we are all, but I/we must find the strength to stand up for our democratic republic. Oh, and my senators and congress people will be hearing from me voicing my support when they stand up for equity and voting rights. Mr. Manchin and Ms. Sinema, too.
I think it’s roll the dice time. Eliminating the filibuster completely is unlikely because it will kill any chance of the John Lewis Voter Rights Act (I like writing that). Like it or not Sinema and Manchin are in the driver’s seat. Moving back to a talking filibuster or something similarly onerous would give the two of them cover for their cowardice. They can twist themselves into pretzels to justify their current positions but I have to believe they know their choice is to be on the right side of history or to jump into the abyss of ignominy. And then there’s Susan Collins. Maybe she’ll be sufficiently “bothered” to do the right thing. If there’s anyone that can navigate this, it’s Biden.
Having said that, I agree there should be court challenges but we shouldn’t count on that. And we shouldn’t count on the Voting Rights bill passing. Anticipating the hardships created by Jim Crow 2.0, coming up with ways to support people faced with long lines, voter challenges, I.D. challenges, etc needs to start now. I’m stunned by the no giving of water to voters in line thing. I hope Georgia republicans realize this little piece of inhumanity targets them as well. You can’t give someone in line a bottle of water? OK, then how about a parasol, a sun hat, a chair? Can you have a water distribution site a block away from the poll? Can volunteers be place holders in line? Can we burn a cross on the Georgia statehouse lawn to put republican legislators in touch with their roots? Fair Fight and other groups are working on these things (ok, maybe not the cross burning). Susan you’re right. Time to write a check, at least.