'White Civil Rights' Aren't a Thing: Why Black People Are Protesting Unite the Right 2

[sheshe2]

On Aug. 12, white nationalists, fascists and their sympathizers will descend on Washington, D.C., for a “white civil rights” rally intended to terrorize black and brown residents. This rally is coming from the same white nationalists responsible for the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., where Heather Heyer was killed and dozens of anti-racist protestors were brutalized.

By now, we should all know that “white civil rights” are not a thing. White people’s civil liberties have never been in danger because they are white. In fact, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the United States itself, were all erected upon the fundamental belief that only white (land-owning) men were “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among [them] are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The rest of us—including the 53 percent of white women who voted for Donald Trump—weren’t even a blip on their radar.

The upcoming “white civil rights” rally isn’t an aberration of outdated hatred. On its face, it’s a grand example of Trump supporters’ desire to make America return to Jim Crow-era white nationalism. The implicit aim of the “alt-right” groups sponsoring the rally is to increase harassment and state-sanctioned violence against black, Native, Latinx, Asian, queer, trans, gender non-conforming, disabled and undocumented people while advocating against policies that would actually strengthen the social safety net for all people—including the poor and middle-income whites who make up the majority of people receiving public assistance.

The current White House occupant notwithstanding, this is not the first time D.C. has been under direct threat from white supremacists. Thirty-six years ago, District residents saw a grassroots victory that, to many, signaled racial progress. In November 1982, the Ku Klux Klan attempted to hold a rally in Lafayette Square Park. Klansmen planned to march down H Street N.W. to the park under the protection of nearly 1,000 police officers.

A group of black youth—supported by Native, Latinx, Asian, and white youth—organized a counter-protest to drive the Klansmen out of the city. The number of counter-protestors grew to over 5,000. This organized resistance to actual white terrorism and the violation of black people’s civil rights lasted for hours, but the counter-protestors successfully interrupted and ended the Klan assembly.

Read More:https://www.theroot.com/white-civil-rights-aren-t-a-thing-why-black-people-are-1828234874

I do not want our country to be taken back I want us to take it back and then move it forward.

[heaven05]

1. I agree. 21st century sensibilities

are aggrieved by these racist clowns still acting out almost 200 years from slavery.

[sheshe2]

4. I hope everyone protesting is careful.

These people are dangerous as we saw in Charlottesville. Be vigilant.

[AlexSFCA]

2. stupidity

whites will become minority, they should be the ones strengthening non-discrimination laws because soon enough they’ll need them.

[sheshe2]

3. You would think.

However, they will instead double down.