Given that today is the 58th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when white cops beat the crap out of the Blacks attempting to march on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the way to Montgomery, it is appropriate to remember how our synagogue re-enacted that march.. To bring the attention of the world to the need for fair and equitable voting rights- as well as civil rights, in general.
Tag Archives: Selma
Martin Luther King Day, celebrated on Monday
He would have been 94 yesterday. But, because the Feds consider holidays should occur on a work day, we are honoring Martin Luther King today. Of course, MLK was murdered decades ago- which is one reason why he is not alive today.
Continue reading Martin Luther King Day, celebrated on Monday
Could have been 95
Today is Tu B’Shvat. “What?”, you say.
Oh, it’s the New Year for Trees. When we recognize the role we play in keeping this world healthy, where we plant trees- or if there are too many, we provide funds to cull the forest to keep it healthy and nourished.
Chaos or Community?
It’s not quite the right day- but, in America, we seem to opt for Monday holidays. So, today, not the 15th, we are honoring Dr. Martin Luther King. It is interesting to note that his last book turns out to be a most timely concept for discussion today.
55 years ago tomorrow
March 7, 1965. The first attempt at the Selma to Montgomery March. 55 years ago- and despite the Voting Rights Act that was one of the primary results of this march- we still live in a country that suppresses the votes of minorities and the poor.
MLK would be 90
Today is actually Martin Luther King’s birthday. (No, it’s not next Monday. That’s just the convenient choice the government makes to provide a 3 day weekend.) Had he not been murdered (and, of course, still alive), he would be 90 today.
Never Forget
It’s Black History Month. And, I wrote about Freedom House (1315 Duke Street, Alexandria) a year ago. During its 33 years of operation, some 1 million slaves were sold or traded from this building. Interestingly, these actions occurred even when Alexandria was part of the District of Columbia- Alexandria rejoined the Commonwealth in 1847, after 58 years of Federal Control. (The slave house actually operated from 1828 to 1861; that operation ceased when the US government forcibly took control over the city of Alexandria at the start of the Civil War.)
A Full Deck has passed. Now, 1000 fewer places for Blacks to Vote
I don’t normally post on Sunday. Period.
But, today is the 52nd anniversary of Bloody Sunday. (OK. It’s the Sunday anniversary; the date was 7 March.) And, our great nation is NOT becoming great again because some 30 states have found ways to preclude the poor, the Blacks, the Latinos from voting. And, Jeff Sessions (Sen. Elizabeth Warren warns us of his continued ‘racism, sexism, bigotry‘ ) is already retreating further from fair and balanced voting regulations.
Continue reading A Full Deck has passed. Now, 1000 fewer places for Blacks to Vote
Selma- from the mouths of babes
So, last week, I described my reactions to our synagogue’s trip to Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Atlanta. I told you that we went with about 100 folks ranging in age from 5 to 90. And, we were joined by students from George Washington University and from Birmingham.
MLK Weekend, 2017. Selma to Atlanta to Home
I am continuing my recollections of the jam-packed Martin Luther King weekend. This is the third and final component that details the impressions from our trip to Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Atlanta. Monday, I provided background and our Montgomery meanderings. Yesterday, we spoke about our first 15 hours or so in Selma.
Continue reading MLK Weekend, 2017. Selma to Atlanta to Home