Missouri GOP Director Denounces Voter Registration Efforts In Ferguson

[mfcorey1]

Republicans are lashing out at activists in Ferguson, Missouri, who are using the protests over the death of Michael Brown -- an unarmed black teenager who was fatally shot by a police officer on Aug. 9 -- as an opportunity to promote civic engagement and mitigate the city's history of low voter turnout and racial disparities in political representation.

Activists set up voter registration tables near a makeshift memorial for Brown and the QuikTrip convenience store that has become a gathering base for protesters. The efforts were organized by local clergy with the help of the Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

Missouri Republican Party executive director Matt Wills called the actions "disgusting" and told Breitbart News the activists are "fanning the political flames."

"Injecting race into this conversation and into this tragedy, not only is not helpful, but it doesn’t help a continued conversation of justice and peace," Willis told Breitbart News.

Political representation in Ferguson has long been divided along racial lines, and the city has a troubled racial history. Two-thirds of the residents are black, but its mayor and five of its six city council members are white. In addition, only three of Ferguson's 53 police officers are black.

One reason the city's government poorly reflects the demographic makeup could be low voter turnout. Only 12.3 percent of people voted in this year's municipal elections. Turnout was even lower in 2013 and 2012, with 11.7 percent and 8.9 percent voting, respectively. On Sunday, Sharpton decried the dismal turnout in an address at a local church.

"You all have got to start voting and showing up. Twelve percent turnout is an insult to your children," he said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/19/voter-registration-ferguson_n_5691997.html

[leftyohiolib]

1. it's a direct cause and effect. theyre mad b/c the citizens there have been woken up

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Voter registration is disgusting?

Maybe black voter registration to this guy. A piece of shit who should keep his mouth closed. If he gave a rat's ass, he'd be working with the black community to get support, but he's happy the way things are now.

So, where are the churches and the local leaders to keep this drive going? Sharpton is not one of my favorite people (and not just because of the Tawana Brawley thing) but he's right on here. Absolutely nothing will happen unless the community finds ways to vote themselves useful politicians and start running the place themselves.

"Black power" includes the vote, local black businesses, and pride in the community. It's hard work, but lets see what besides slogans and anger rises out of the ashes.

[JoePhilly]

3. Maybe the GOP would prefer they seek "2nd ammendment" remedies?

Some one should ask him that question.

[KittyWampus]

4. I guess some Republicans still truly believe blacks and women shouldn't be voting.

[Gothmog]

5. The GOP does not want poor people to vote

The whole purpose of voter id laws is to keep poor people from voting. If African Americans start voting in Ferguson, then the whites will lose power and the GOP hates that

[Laelth]

7. +1. n/t

-Laelth

[gordianot]

6. It is hard to imagine a more ludicrous yet accurate title.

For all time Ferguson MO will stand as the absolute example of what happens when you do not exersize your hard fought voter franchise. More than 200 years of American History, a Civil War then a Civil Rights movement led to this. Republican hatred is real, left unchecked it is deadly.

[wildeyed]

8. Idiot. This is the healthiest thing that could possibly happen. For everyone.

The entire reason this situation spiraled out of control is because the residents are not represented politically. In my city, we had a similar shooting last year. The officer was charged less than 48 hours after the event and the local DA (white Republican male) found and excuse to recuse himself and ask the state to take over. This all happened because the black community in my city is politically organized. They are not the majority, but if you are an elected official in an at-large seat and you piss them off, they know how to turn out their voters and it will probably be enough that you will lose your seat at the next election. Since this was a racially charged incident where a young man lost his life, the powers-that-be went into overdrive to address it fairly and quickly.

This is healthy democracy. The people are represented in the democratic process and get their needs met in a way that seems reasonably fair and quick, so they feel the extreme frustration that has lead to the social unrest in Ferguson.