A Manifesto Tone to Lewis Communications This Week
From labeling Republicans "fascists" to laying out a direct how-to for Leftists, it's been a big week for 'the Commish'
It was a hard week for me too, Davante. I agreed with you about something, which is a bitter pill to swallow despite believing in the content of my statement: the Tennessee legislature has handed a ‘W’ to the Democrat Party, who’ll play up TN3 as intensely as they play up J6 and sundry other conjured “threats to democracy.”
The legislature had options that would not have made such caricatured racial martyr figures so easy to exploit by Democrat Party drivers and shakers, like Kamala Harris and locally, Davante Lewis:
Let’s not be fooled that what we saw in Tennessee can’t happen in Louisiana. Remember Clay Schexnayer had the live feed shut off while the Louisiana Black Caucus spoke about the inactions of the body on redistricting. Let’s not forget his actions.
Is it 1963 or 2023?
As a young Black official, I can’t express the rage & pain I feel right now from what happened today in Tennessee. No matter how hard we work or what “respectability” rules we follow - we are always still seen as less than a human in America. Lord knows we are tired… ways tired.
Tennessee, the birthplace of the KKK, Fascist Republican Party put three elected Democratic Representatives up for a vote for expulsion for speaking up on gun violence. Two Black members expelled, the one white member didn’t not get expelled. Racism still lives and is growing!
Call their asses out! They aren’t upset about decorum, they are upset Black people dare not show the decorum they want.
The New York Times lays it out, predicting the 3 will return quite triumphantly into the legislative body… very well could be:
“Instead of sidelining the Democratic lawmakers, the expulsions have sparked outrage and galvanized national support within their party, and the two young Black lawmakers are poised to return to the state legislature — as soon as next week.”
Lewis concisely lays out the Party agenda:
I worry that nonprofit policy think tanks are going to render themselves useless if they don’t shake their fear of lobbying. Facts and data do not move elected officials. We have to start mobilizing and organizing people if we actually want policy change.
Also, you can’t advocate for public policy while ignoring democracy issues. Wages, healthcare, tax policy, etc. can only pass if the system is built to allow policy progression. Voting rights, redistricting & the courts should be central to your work if you care about impact.
Mr. Lewis will be growing ever-more assertive in his Progressive messaging. He’s taking the party by storm; we must take heed.