There is some interesting political activity going on in Virginia. It was happening before Charlottesville and since then it has only increased. One of the most effective things that we can do on August 29, which is less than a week now, is to GET OUT THE VOTE in Fairfax County to elect a terrific Democratic candidate for School Board, Karen Keys-Gamarra. This school board is in one of the most diverse counties in the State of Virginia, yet it is not diverse at all. If elected, Keys-Gamarra would be the only black. Not that that is the reason to elect her, not by a long shot. The platform that she’s standing on is a crucial one that addresses the children’s rights. She opposes cutting after school programs, and she’s right. Extra-curricular programs are as important to education and development of children, if not more so, than anything in the academic curriculum. The kids need these programs.
Additionally, Keys-Gamarra wants to reduce class size and eliminate bullying. The class size issue is a no brainer and as to the bullying, this is the age of Donald Trump. The KKKlansmen have left the basements they were hiding in with their Confederate flags and dreams of lost glory and feel empowered now, and this attitude bleeds down from the top.
Here’s what's happening right next door, in adjacent Prince William County Virginia, just so you can get a flavor for the political atmosphere in the state. Virginia is very much the place where the invisible line has been drawn and where the fight for sanity and decency is going to take place. Believe me, all of these dots connect if you just bother to take a look. In Prince William County, there is a county board member who proclaims himself as having been “Trump before there was Trump.” What an admission to make, my God. Take a look. This is from the BlueVirginia website:
Despite being just the chairman of the Prince William County Board, Corey Stewart is known far beyond the borders of Virginia. Last year, he proclaimed himself “Trump before Trump was Trump” and Trumped so hard that Trump Trumped him from being campaign chair of our Commonwealth.
He wasn’t lying about being “Trump before Trump was Trump,” either.
How does all of this connect to Charlottesville? Well, in February, he organized a rally centered around protecting Confederate statues and the “heritage” they represent. During his time down there, Stewart encouraged and literally embraced white supremacist Jason Kessler, who went on to become one of the chief organizers of this past weekend’s “Unite The Right” Hate Rally.
In short, even if Stewart didn’t directly organize the atrocities of this past weekend, he help build the foundation for it. Worse yet, he put out two videos this week pulling a Trump — victim-blaming liberals for the violence and saying that there were “many sides” at fault.
Luckily, the Democrats and the NAACP are there to provide the voice of sanity. This is from a statement that the NAACP issued on August 18:
“We must embrace inclusion and celebrate our diversity,” said Rev. Cozy Bailey, PWNAACP President. A message of tacit support has come from the Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors,” said Bailey. “We find it reprehensible. Mr. Stewart has an irrefutable track record of vitriolic rhetoric intended to fan the flames of racism that, unfortunately, still burn in many,” he said.
We call on the members of the Board to repudiate Stewart’s actions. His hate must end. We cannot leave this country in the hands of those that would attack members of the clergy and men who would willfully strike women in the streets. The PWNAACP knows that despite the twisted explanations coming from the White House, there is no moral equivalency between those who incite hate and those who fight hate. We must be vigilant against hostility and intolerance in order to create a more perfect union.
Therefore be It Resolved, that the Occoquan District Democratic Committee (ODDC):
- Urges the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) to issue a statement condemning the acts of violence committed by white supremacist groups in Charlottesville, and to label those acts as domestic terrorism;
- Urges the General Assembly (GA) to pass a resolution instructing state law enforcement officials to categorize white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), neo-Nazis, and neo-Confederates as domestic terrorist organizations;
- Urges the BOCS and the Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) to label white supremacist groups such as the KKK, neo-Nazis, and neo-Confederates as domestic terrorist organizations. If such a categorization already exists, then it should be re-affirmed with a public statement;
- Urges the BOCS, PWCPD, and Prince William Delegation of the GA to commit state and county resources to combating groups who espouse these ideas and to educate our county and most importantly our young people to the evil of the message these groups espouse.
I mentioned connecting the dots. It’s a no brainer that education is key. Our future lies in our youth and their future lies in the education that we provide them today. We must give them quality education and the opportunity to seek higher education and that starts with giving them good people on the school board who know their needs and will work in their interests for their highest good. That person is Democrat Karen Keys-Gamarra. GET OUT THE VOTE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY AND ELECT THIS FINE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE!
Karen Keys-Gamarra
Fairfax County: At-Large School Board Special Election
Website Facebook Twitter Donate
Remember, great oaks from tiny acorns grow. With the election of Trump there has been an upheaval in the virulent racism which has been subdued in the South but which is now re-emerging more toxic than ever. We need to take a stand, right now, and this election could do it. This election could send the message that we want to send, that we will fight these dark and divisive elements in our society every time that they dare to come out into the light.
Friday, Aug 25, 2017 · 12:17:00 AM +00:00
·
ursulafaw
There was a debate last night between Keys-Gamarra and her Republican opponent wherein she said: “I understand this is the era of fake news but please don’t answer for me." Our fellow kossack lowkell was there, and posted this on the BlueVirginia.us site, which is where I just got it:
This is the first election right after Charlottesville and it could carry a message. That's one reason to vote for the Democrat in the race but the main reason is that clearly she's the best candidate. If there’s anything at all you can do to GET OUT THE VOTE please do it.