Georgia lawmaker is arrested and removed from Capitol after protesting new unjust voting restrictions: By Donovan Reynolds Independent Writer
It requires a certain amount of determination to believe
that in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s presidency, democracy is still under
assail in the United States -of all places. Although, it should come as no surprise
to external onlookers as the waters of democracy in the US is being constantly
muddied by incidents of racial inequality.
Last Thursday in the US state of Georgia, a group of
ultra-white conservative politicians to include Republican Party governor Brian
Kemp. Signed into law a bill which makes it more difficult for black and ethnic
minority voters to take part in elections. It is from a similar playbook that
that he Governor Kemp has run before. Let’s not forget now, that the same Governor
Kemp is accused of having used voter suppression to edge his way to an election
victory against Stacey Abrams a Democratic candidate in 2018 by less than
55,000 votes.
Meanwhile, on the same day while the repressive law was
being signed by Republicans behind closed doors. To add insult to injury, CNN
aired a video showing state police officials takin away U.S. State
representative Park Cannon from a government building in Georgia with hand
cuffs. After she knocked gently on the
door where the bill was being signed. As the people’s political state representative,
she was attempting to enquire. Why the voters that she represents were being
suppressed by the governor signing into law 1950s “Jim Crow” like oppressive
legislations?
The new voting provisions sets the bar out of reach of poor
Georgians by adding a new ID requirement for absentee ballots and limits on the
use ballot drop boxes. The new laws make it also a crime to approach voters in
long queues with food and water. Likewise, the new rules gives state
legislature more control over how elections are run in the future.
Kingstonmouth.com has
been reliable informed by the associated press that the Georgia legislation is
just the tip of the iceberg. As Lawmakers in at least 43 other states have
proposed voting restrictions that will soon be enacted. In response to the 2020
election, and that Georgia is one of several states that has already passed
major voter restrictions.
On the same day that these inequitable laws were passed,
President Biden circuitously called out
Georgia at a press conference, referring to its voting bills and calling GOP
voting restrictions “sick” and “un-American.” Elsewhere, he called the
enactment of the unjust voting laws “Jim Crow in the 21st Century”. In a
counter attack, Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina accused the Democrats
of playing the race card.
On Fox Television News last Sunday, Senator Graham labelled
H.R. 1—a House bill proposed by the Democrats. Of seeking to expand voting
access, institute new ethics rules and once again task independent commissions
with redistricting. He also argued forcefully that the bill is, “the biggest
power grab in the history of the country”. Since then- the counter accusations
have been more politically polarised, emotive and headline grabbing.
What therefore is the reason for this senseless move by the
republicans? One school of taught peddled by Democrats is that, the former
President has made the acceptance of his false conspiracy theories about voter
fraud in 2020 a bargaining chip for Republican candidates seeking his support
in upcoming primary elections. As he still has influence over a large swathe of
Republican voters.
The other argument is,
that many Democrats believe that the oppressive laws were drawn up in revenge. Since
Democrats- captured Georgia in the presidential election for the first time
since 1992. Amidst a massive turnout
nationally as voting methods, including mail-in ballots were expanded. This
made it easier for American minorities to realise their fundamental democratic
rights in a pandemic.
Additionally, Democratic supporters believe that Georgia
Republicans have also lost two US Senate seats that handed Democrats control.
Of the fifty-fifty chamber based on huge Black voter turnout in runoff
elections in January of this year and the laws are designed to claw back
republican support in future upcoming primary elections.
Kingstonmouth .com believes that in the aftermath of a one term Donald Trump. Conservatives unwisely believe, that the sustainability of the GOP as a political party now lies in expanding the big election lie. Furthermore, Democratic politicians argue that by placing needless limits on mail-in voting and other access to voting. It will make it difficult for minorities to vote for the Democratic Party.
We are also of the opinion, that there is a brazenness and shamelessness about how the republicans are responding to the election loss by using disinformation and voter suppression. There is little by way of policy offering to attract new supporters in the Republican Party. It is indeed a lazy and dangerous way to gaining power by using legislation to screen out opposing support -in our opinion.
Whatever the reason for this voter suppression legislation. The arrest of Georgia lawmaker Park Cannon will
create a 21st Century Rosa Park moment. It is going to ignite a new
emotionally charged debate over a sweeping federal voting rights bill.
Already black
feminist has rolled out the carpet of racial intersectionality in the face of
this politically motivated arrest. They argue that the apprehension of congress
woman Park Cannon who self identifies as a Queer. Was done to put her in her
place- as she had no right to interfere in the business of white racist law
makers.
It might sound cynical on our part but in the aftermath of
the Trump loss at the poll and the vengeful big lie about an election steal. We
at Kingstonmout.com don expect a white Knight in a Republican Shining Armour to
clean up this mess in short order. Nor, do we expect the officers who arrest
Park Cannon to get their just desserts or comeuppance. In America historically,
the dice of Justice has always been loaded and rolled out in favour of rich
white Republicans. However we have remain hopeful for “justice sake”.
We at kingstonmouth.com are promoters of human rights. We
should be having faith in the courts ability to deliver justice to Park Cannon.
However, it’s difficult even in the aftermath of Donald Trump loathsome and
shallow leadership. He has created a fantasy version of the Republican Party
inspired by toxic lies about an election steal that has gaslighted the minds of
most Republicans.
The story of last January election in for the Democrats gave
them a 50/50 majority in the Senate. It showed resilience and triumph by people
of colour in Georgia that extended to the wider US. Park Cannon was arrested
for knocking on the door of the oppressors was a claw back moment for Democracy
in the USA. There are telling signs that something is wrong with America's race
relations and political system.
In contrast, We at Kingstonmouth.com unashamedly must curry
favour with the opinion Mary Parker Follett an American Social worker on the
state of democracy in America. Mainly, because we a deeply hopeful yet
sceptical human rights activists. She once eloquently opined “The paradox of American democracy has been
that its slogan of equal opportunity has meant, often, equal opportunity to get
power over your fellows”. These words certainly hold true in the face of the
current Republicans and their underhanded attempt to attain power by voter suppression.
Donovan Reynolds is CEO for Kingstonmouth.com He is a trained Diplomat,
Human Rights Activist, and a Communication Consultant. This article is edited
by Ann Smith, a British Educator and Social Activist. Kingstommouth.com is a
charitable organization that has been in existence for over nine years. We have
an interest in Politics, Human Rights, and International Development Issues.
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