The Rev. Al Sharpton tackles the GOP's coded language in a blog entry at Huffington Post Black Voices, saying that it signals a desire for the party to throw America back to preintegration times. He says that is why the re-enactment of the seminal civil rights Selma-to-Montgomery, Ala., march this month is so important.
Last night, we watched Willard Mitt Romney give another lackluster speech following his victory in Arizona and extremely slim win in Michigan. Once again devoid of passion, it was as if he was reading someone else's words without any clear vision of what his platform would be in office. At the same time, you had Rick 'I don't believe in higher education' Santorum give his own speech as if he didn't lose yesterday. And whether it was Romney or Santorum speaking, it's important to note that neither mentioned the other by name last night, indicating therefore that they're in it for the long haul. The truth is, it really doesn't matter who becomes the eventual GOP nominee because all of the contenders and the Republican Party as a whole have proved that they would indeed like to take the country back — back to a time when systematic maneuvers suppressed the votes of people of color and the marginalized. While they try to regress us back, we must do something today for the sake of our collective future.
From March 4-9th, my organization, National Action Network, will partner with congressional leaders, activists and everyday citizens as we once again make the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. We will begin at the Edmund Pettus Bridge this Sunday, march at least 10 miles per day, stay in tents along Route 80, convene rallies and teach-ins along the way, and finally gather in front of the Alabama State Capitol on Friday, March 9th. After the state of Alabama passed the most draconian anti-immigration legislation, and at least 31 states now have voter ID laws on the books, we must take immediate action if we hope to preserve any notion of progress.
Read the Rev. Al Sharpton's entire blog entry at Huffington Post Black Voices.