Thread by @JEFordNCTOY

So, in case you were wondering (or not) about my personal feelings on the RNC in CLT...it’s a no for me dawg. Lemme explain

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I’m a convert on this issue. I think calls for even-handedness are fair. And under virtually any other “normal” circumstance, I’d be game. I’m also not a partisan, so that part doesn’t bother me.

But no matter what your political stripes, you cannot pass off the current state of politics in the US as “normal”. This is why saying, “it’s only fair, since we hosted the DNC in 2012” is a false equivalency. It lacks a TON of nuance.

I really appreciate the takes about the potential economic boost and opportunities to open-up civil conversations across lines of difference, diversity, inclusion, etc. They show that Charlotteans have the right intentions. But, the law of unintended consequences is at play.

These positions, no matter how well-intentioned, fail to acknowledge our socio-political location in this moment. In short, we’re WAY past that point now. It’s less about partisanship and more about the fate of our democratic republic (at least as we understand it).

To naively push past this reality amounts to appeasement. A critical ingredient for facilitating terrible human behavior. We can’t be “Chamerlainian” in our adherence to niceties and agreeements.

The policy agenda of the current administration has a common theme in that it disproportionately targets people of color. From the DOJ, to ICE/deportations, to the travel ban, to the USDOE, etc. Nonwhite folks bear the brunt of these decisions. This is called white supremacy.

When I mentioned this last year, many in Charlotte recoiled at the notion. Turns out, a year later, this wasn’t such a bad take.
charlotteobserver.com/news/local/art…

Never mind that research has since confirmed this assertion. Set that aside for a second.

google.com/amp/s/psmag.co…

While Trump maybe the spokesperson for this agenda, he’s undeniably been enabled by many in the Republican Party. To focus things squarely on him and not the larger system of support misses the mark. It is this entity that we’d be hosting. One even many in GOP no longer recognize

Also, considering the guy who at the last convention led a ‘lock her up’ chant has since pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI

google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.…

Plus, the candidate’s personal attorney is under investigation and resigned from the RNC deputy finance chairmanship

google.com/amp/s/amp.busi…

Additionally, the party leadership itself admitting to tokening it’s first black chairman and throwing him under the bus.

google.com/amp/www.newswe…

The President’s own campaign chair is in jail awaiting trial for a host alleged financial crimes and witness tampering.

google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.…

Lastly, the candidate himself is under investigation and meeting with the Pres. of a country proven to have interfered with our electoral process. Despite this he’s contradicted the intelligence community. Neither him or the maj. party have taken steps to make our elections safer

As an aside, this image of the Charlotteville Unite the Right rally is burned in my mind. Authorities had to apprehend him AFTER the fact. This was a much smaller gathering than what we can expect.

https://twitter.com/acluva/status/901572207079555073?s=21

I think about all the vigilante violence that occurred that day. The fact #HeatherHeyer was killed. If not for @ShaunKing, a private citizen using his platform to wage a dox campaign, most of these criminals would not have been caught.

In this context, I think the hope of having some sort of discourse that transcends political opinions & builds ideological bridges rings hollow. The constitution of the country is at stake. No convention can fix that.

For all these reasons, and many others, my personal opinion is we should say #NoRNCinCLT. I’m not an elected and have no say. So, take it for what it’s worth.