Freedom Rider: Democracy is Dead, It's Movement
Time (Part 2)
by BAR editor
and senior columnist Margaret Kimberley
"There was no statement of protest from the Congressional
Black Caucus, no demand for an investigation."
"Arrest Bush, not Rev., and this co-dependent Congress as
well." - Rev.
Lennox Yearwood
Anyone needing proof of democracy's demise must witness the
government assault perpetrated on Rev. Lennox Yearwood. Yearwood attempted to
attend a Congressional hearing open to the public, where Gen. David Petraeus
testified that the killing in Iraq must go on as scheduled.
Yearwood is an Air Force reservist, and was the only black
person lined up to enter the hearing room. Capitol police, some of them black,
determined who would receive the few tickets distributed to the public.
Yearwood, wearing a button proclaiming "I love the people of Iraq" was told he
could not attend the hearing. When he protested, without violence or threat, he
was literally beaten
down. He later referred to his assault and arrest as DMB, Democracy While
Black.
"When Rev. Yearwood protested, without violence or threat,
he was literally beaten down."
There was no outcry from the people who are supposed to
defend democracy. There was no statement of protest from the Congressional
Black Caucus, no demand for an investigation. Democracy is drawing its last
breath.
The attack on Yearwood provides an important lesson in
building a new movement. Activism must be disassociated from the machinations
of politicians who aid and abet the Bush terror machine. Indeed, many members
of Congress must be sent packing, even those who once honestly claimed a
progressive mantle. Every member of Congress who has impeded impeachment
investigations must face a challenge in the 2008 election. Congressman John
Conyers has the power to begin impeachment hearings, but clearly has no
intention of doing so. That is why his congressional career must come to an end
along with Nancy Pelosi's and others. As Yearwood said, the co-dependent
Congress must go too.
The hopelessness and uncertainty currently experienced by
progressives can be neutralized by action and bold thinking. Instead of being
told that they must find a way to make Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid do the right
thing, they must be told that democracy will revive only when their actions are
in direct opposition to those of the Democratic party.
"Many members of Congress must be sent packing, even those
who once honestly claimed a progressive mantle."
Democrats have the power to end the occupation of Iraq now.
It is not true that Reid needs a veto proof majority. If only 41 Senators
maintain a filibuster they can prevent a bill from coming up for a vote. Reid
has more than the 41 votes needed to stop any bill authorizing continued
funding for the occupation.
If he won't use political capital to get members in line, it
is because he doesn't want to. That fact is hardly news to anyone paying
attention, but it is also proof that the conversation must change. Accepting
politics as usual now means going further down the road to hell. If Reid
doesn't stop Bush when he has the power to do so he is just as dangerous and
must be resisted as well.
The fight to unseat ineffectual Democrats will bring
vociferous criticism from many in progressive ranks. We will be told that
Congressperson Jane or John Doe was righteous at a particular moment in
history, that Republicans will laugh, that the press will criticize, that black
members have precious seniority, or that progressive pundits will fret.
Fear of criticism and loyalty to enablers will hasten the
oncoming disaster of a possible world war and an increasingly powerful
authoritarian American state. John Conyers' seniority and Nancy Pelosi's wasted
authority are neither worth saving nor justifications for silence.
The American people are about to be made complicit in an
awful crime against humanity. An attack on Iran is in its planning stages and
both houses of Congress have indicated that they will go along with only token,
mealy mouthed opposition.
"America will be compared to Nazi Germany, and rightly
so."
Bush and Cheney are already war criminals, and an attack on
Iran that is not followed by massive public demonstration will make us their
accessories. America will be compared to Nazi Germany, and rightly so. We will
be asked what we knew and what we did to stop the carnage. A new attack on a
nation that poses no danger to the country or the world should make Congress
and the American people ashamed, but it won't. Some will cheerlead for death
and others will make excuses for inaction. We will be exhorted to act like
disappointed baseball fans and wait ‘till next year.
If we follow that awful advice, we deserve to be viewed like
Germans in 1939. If members of Congress are not deluged with protest in
Washington and in their districts and if Nancy Pelosi is not targeted for
electoral defeat, then war criminals we will be.
I for one will not carry that label without protest.
Margaret Kimberley's
Freedom Rider column appears weekly in BAR. Ms. Kimberley lives in New York
City, and can be reached via e-Mail at
Margaret.Kimberley(at)BlackAgandaReport.Com. Ms. Kimberley' maintains an
edifying and frequently updated blog at freedomrider.blogspot.com. More of her
work is also available at her Black Agenda Report archive
page.
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