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, 3 tweets, 1 min read
DC was the 1st territory in the United States to free the enslaved.

It’s where Black Americans fled the tyranny of slavery & towards greater freedom, to DC. Yet today it’s where 2nd class citizenship reigns, and the right to vote is denied.

It’s time to recognize DC statehood.
The right is pushing back on this. To clarify in 280 chars, DC was the first area where enslaved people were freed by the US government.

It was enacted by the Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862.

wtop.com/dc/2019/04/the…
(Certain localities and municipalities did pursue abolition earlier, but none were federally recognized.)
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More from @AOC see all

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
@AOC
I know the term “prison abolition” is breaking some people’s brains. The right is already freaking out.

Yet the US incarcerates more than anywhere in the world.

We have more than enough room to close many of our prisons and explore just alternatives to incarceration.

/1
First of all, many people in jailed or in prison don’t belong there at all.

Whether it’s punitive sentencing for marijuana possession or jailing people for their poverty & letting the rich free through systems like cash bail, we wrongly incarcerate far, far too many people.

/2
Secondly, our prison & jail system is so large bc we use them as de facto mental hospitals, homeless shelters, & detox centers instead of *actually* investing in... mental health, housing, edu, & rehab.

If we invested meaningfully, what do you think would happen to crime?

/3
Read 4 tweets
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
@AOC
This idea of “I know the guy, there’s no way he beats his wife” as the way we keep guns out of the hands of abusers is ridiculous.

Any person who has been abused, assaulted, etc knows that abusers often present as “upstanding.”

There’s no way you’d know. That’s why it’s common.
Rapists can have Ivy League degrees. Abusers can look like “good dads” or have high incomes or “great jobs.”

Good appearances are often a cover for abusers. In fact, many abusers RELY on their public reputation to intimidate partners from leaving (ex: “no one will believe you.”)
Domestic abusers can be master manipulators. Plus, domestic abuse is a HUGE indicator for gun violence.

That’s why “vouching for friend” isn’t a substitute for a background check.

You wouldn’t lend a car to someone w/o a license.Why lend a gun to someone w/o a background check?
Read 3 tweets
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
@AOC
Virtually every policy Trump pursues works to steal public money & personally enrich himself & his friends.

💰Gutting National Monuments pays ➡️ Fossil Fuel CEOs
💰Border concentration camps pay ➡️ Private Prison CEOs
💰Betsy DeVos pays ➡️ loan sharks

It’s always about the con.
Since corruption isn’t popular policy, racism works as the cover for the con. That’s why addressing racism isn’t a “distraction” - it’s key to understanding the hustle against working people.

Culturally, racism is used as the unspoken cudgel against pro-working class policy. /2
For example:

By rallying support for super racist immigration policies, (Muslim Ban, concentration camps,etc), supporters look the other way at the billions of public dollars going to private prison CEOs - who then kick some that 💰 back to Trump (ex. his inaugural committee)
/3
Read 5 tweets

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@40_Ronda
Americans are once again allowing the Republican and Democrat party divide us over race, when in fact race is not the issue! Please look at the foreign policies these woman support, and the policies they do not support! This is not about race & we must address the real issues!
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I ask for Americans to please look at the human policies these woman are addressing. I ask Americans to actually research the US Foreign Policy that causes massive Refugees and Endless War.
I ask Americans to look at who is funding the election campaigns of their representatives. I ask Americans to question why we are continously at war, when it does not benefit the United States! I ask Americans to research the foreign influence that controls US policy!
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Clint Smith
@ClintSmithIII
Today I'm thinking about the "Double V" campaign during World War II & how black Americans were fighting both fascism abroad & racism at home. A letter written by James G. Thompson, published in the Pittsburgh Courier on January 31, 1942 is what started it all. Here's an excerpt:
"...Being an American of dark complexion and some 26 years, these questions flash through my mind: "Should I sacrifice my life to live half American?" "Will things be better for the next generation in the peace to follow?" Would it be demanding too much to demand..."
"...full citizenship rights in exchange for the sacrificing of my life. Is the kind of America I know worth defending? Will America be a true & pure democracy after this war? Will colored Americans suffer still the indignities that have been heaped upon them in the past?..."
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The Intercessor 🇺🇸⭐⭐⭐🇺🇸
@Justice4allCQ
Blessed heavenly Father,

thank you for your loving ways and desires. You are truly wonderful.

Lord, we as a nation have grieved you through many sins.
We come before you #united as your people and humbly ask forgiveness as we are turning away from and are exposing the evil in our country.
Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. You are our God and we are your people in this country you have given us. These United States of America. One nation under you Lord.
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The Strategy Bin
@StrategyBin
06/01/2019 - 78 years ago today, the longest-serving #UnitedStates #President, #Franklin D. #Roosevelt (#FDR) addressed the 77th #Congress with his "#Four #Freedoms" speech with the intent to shift #US #foreign #policy from that of #neutrality to #interventionist.
#FDR promoted the idea that the people of the world, in all nations, shared entitlement to four freedoms: that of the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want and the freedom from fear.
#FDR is arguably one of the most 'successful' #US Presidents. Some would argue that on the basis of his numerous social policies such as 'the New Deal'. Others, however, would argue that his role during the second world war was more prevalent to his success & everlasting legacy.
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Joseph Stalin
@StalinIsBack
1/8 My favorite #quote by #JosephStalin, which explains the scientific, #DialecticalMaterialist explanation of true freedom in material reality, not just as an abstract ideal. #StalinIsBack #StalinLives #JVStalin #Stalin #StalinQuote #StalinQuotes #Truth #MELS #MarxismLeninism
2/8 Having an #objective, #rational, #ScientificSocialist, #Dialectical, & #Materialist viewpoint allows us to accurately see & evaluate & analyze #Truth & #Reality as they truly materially exist in this universe.
3/8 An idealistic, dogmatic viewpoint, which capitalists have, however, makes one irrational enough to 'see' freedom where freedom stays trapped on a piece of paper while people are oppressed in their actual lived lives.
Read 578 tweets
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#PoorPeoplesCampaign
@billyjoecain
At dinner, I learned more about corruption + racism built into society by our masters. A book we discussed (Zinn) was used as part of this "Left" resource's bibliography. I had to share. [A thread]

@BlackSocialists - thoughts on this resource?

historyisaweapon.com/indextrue.html
It very simply lays out the case that we are all being controlled. It covers hidden history of the United States including their (and, due to the systems created by our masters, our) racism. 

#racism #systemicracism #history
If you haven't been in school for a while (or are in a terrible school), some of the words might trip you up. Dictionary.com and Wikipedia.org are two good resources to help you.
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