<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"><base></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><base class=""><div class="Apple-Mail-URLShareUserContentTopClass"><br class=""></div><div class="Apple-Mail-URLShareWrapperClass" style="position: relative !important;"><blockquote type="cite" style="border-left-style: none; color: inherit; padding: inherit; margin: inherit;" class=""><div class=""><div class="original-url"><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/19/1403671/-A-Modest-Suggestion-for-Bernie-re-BLM" class="">http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/19/1403671/-A-Modest-Suggestion-for-Bernie-re-BLM</a><br class=""><br class=""></div><div id="article" role="article" style="-webkit-locale: en; border-bottom-width: 0px;" class="">
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<div class="page" style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><h1 class="title">A Modest Suggestion for Bernie re BLM. UPDATE: He Said Her Name!</h1><p class="">These are not times for happy words. Regardless of what one thinks of the BLM's actions, the one thing every decent human being can agree upon is that the pain is real, the threat is imminent, the status quo must change. Those protesting at NN are not seasoned, jaded activists doing their thing. No, they are angry and scared young men and women who KNOW the next time they or their loved ones simply walk down the street might be the last time they do so. They KNOW if that happens, life goes on for the rest of us and no cop will see the inside of a jail cell.</p><p class="">The sad, sickening and pathetic fact is that death is chasing -- hunting -- people in the streets because of the color of their skin. Their employment status, criminal record or lack there of, is not the factor resulting in the deaths of all these people. Their skin is. Whether they are polite to the men in blue, or say, "please" or "help me" or "I'm not resisting" buys them not one additional breath of life. Whether they wear a tie, drive a nice car, or are even a 12-year old child provides them no protection. Whether they submit, raise their hands, or run away does not inoculate them. The problem here is NOT one of economics first. It is NOT even at it's core the militarism of local police, because these cops -- even as weaponized as they are -- are not killing random white people except as an exception.</p><p class="">The issue IS systemic racism. First and last. Systemic racism are the book ends to the entire set of problems for black people. Indeed, making any progress on systemic racism will spill over to help Latinos and others. Racism is the fertile soil from which most hate is nurtured in America. </p><p class="">I've seen comments suggesting Bernie should give a major speech on race. I disagree. More soaring words are not going to help and I fear such would be cynically viewed. Even sincerity is not enough when even a young woman like Sandra Bland, on her way to new job, ends up murdered in the custody of cops and no one is held to account.</p><p class="">I have a modest suggestion for Senator Sanders. Every city you visit, have your advance people schedule a PRIVATE meeting with local black leaders and young activists. Visit local black churches, as they are cultural and spiritual anchors. Listen. Take inventory. Listen. Take notes.</p><p class="">As you yourself tell us frequently, "This is not about Bernie Sanders." This is about young black lives expressing their pain, their fear. Please just start there. Because #blacklivesmatter.</p><p class=""><a name="20150719132959" href="/story/2015/07/19/1403671/-A-Modest-Suggestion-for-Bernie-re-BLM#20150719132959" style="font-weight: bold;" class=""><b class="">1:29 PM PT</b></a>: He said her name. "When we look at things like Sandra Bland, we understand we want a nation where young black people are safe." #SayHerName.</p></div></div></div></blockquote></div></body></html>