Supply: FPG / Getty
When Sergeant Isaac Woodard was driving the Greyhound dwelling to Winnsboro, SC on February 12, 1946, I’m certain there was rather a lot on his thoughts. In spite of everything, at 26 years outdated, he’d simply completed serving 4 lengthy years with distinction within the Pacific theater of World Conflict II the place he’d seen a few of the worst and a few of the finest humanity needed to provide. The America he’d left to battle in that nice campaign had solely simply begun to emerge from the Nice Melancholy and the agricultural South was nonetheless very a lot in its grip. However it had been 4 years. He’d seen the world change and his fixed food regimen of patriotism and risk had fed an idealism that carried him by means of the worst of the conflict and felt that hope stirring in his chest as he rode the bus dwelling.
He’d see the world change for the higher. Little doubt America would have modified too.
However that hope was dashed when the driving force stopped in Batesburg, SC when Batesburg Police Chief Lynwood Shull arrested, beat and blinded Woodard, nonetheless in his Military uniform, merely for asking to make use of the restroom. One of many officers had even requested him if he was nonetheless within the Military or had been discharged first.
It seems that assaulting a soldier was and is a felony. However beating a Black man, so far as the officers have been involved, was downright inspired.
Two years later, on July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman desegregated the USA armed companies by signing Govt Order 9981 formally declaring “there shall be equality of therapy and alternative for all individuals within the armed companies with out regard to race, shade, faith or nationwide origin.”
In 2023, President Joe Biden celebrated the seventy fifth Anniversary of that historic second recognizing the numerous tales of women and men like Sergeant Woodard who stepped as much as defend liberty and freedom abroad solely to face discrimination, oppression and violence after they returned dwelling.
Two years in the past, President Biden honored that historical past. Right this moment, President Trump is making an attempt to erase it.
Medger Evers was an American hero. He fought within the Normandy landings throughout his time in uniform and he saved combating for freedom when he got here dwelling to Jim Crow Mississippi. He went on to turn into one of the exceptional and acknowledged civil rights leaders in America whose unflinching dedication and sacrifice impressed a era. He was laid to relaxation in Arlington Nationwide Cemetery which used to function details about Evars on its web site. Not any extra although.
Supply: The Washington Publish / Getty
Right this moment, following Trump’s orders to erase all remnants of variety, fairness and inclusion (DEI), Medger Evars’ historical past has been deleted together with icons like Gen. Colin L. Powell, the Tuskegee Airmen, Supreme Courtroom Justice Thurgood Marshall and extra.
Even Jackie Robinson wasn’t secure when, following Trump’s orders, the Division of Protection eliminated an article concerning the trailblazer from its web site prompting an outcry that was so loud that they needed to put it again.
However, as horrifying as it’s, I’m not writing to speak about web site articles. I’m writing as a result of that is solely the most recent within the MAGA mission to show again the clock till of us such as you and I cease combating for equal rights and equal therapy and return to the kitchens and cotton fields.
That is solely the most recent in a protracted line of assaults that embody pardoning white supremacists, legalizing employment discrimination, reinstating non-public prisons, stopping civil rights investigations, prosecutions and police reform and focusing on colleges that assist deprived college students.
Again within the 60s, the federal authorities banned segregated amenities from all federal contractors. Trump reversed it. We’re speaking about segregated housing, water fountains, swimming swimming pools and lunch counters. What is that this, Woolworth? Someone name the Scholar Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). It’s time to get to work.
This isn’t about reducing the price of groceries. It’s not even about serving to white of us. It’s about hurting Black of us, pure and easy and that isn’t the identical factor…not by a protracted shot.
The MAGA crowd isn’t glad with banning books anymore. They need to lock them up and anybody who’s learn them. They’re achieved pretending the Civil Conflict wasn’t about slavery. Now they’re pretending it didn’t exist.
For the MAGA crowd, America hasn’t been nice since Brown v Board of Schooling and 1954. Nicely, there’s a measles outbreak and the White Home helps segregation. Seems to be like we’re midway there.