Thread by @FreedomFriesInc

I was never a big fan of Sen Cory Booker, but next time he runs for president, he's going to be my first choice. This speech is so eloquent, so compelling, that it should be watched by every democracy-loving person in the world.

#BlackLivesMatter

That's the fullest version of Booker's speech I could find, so if you know of a longer version please link it below (and check first that someone hasn't done so already.)

There's also this excellent discussion:

Cory Booker's speech has motivated me to work even harder to speak up for, or offer support to, anyone treated differently bc they are Black, a POC, female, LGBTQ+, young, old, disabled, or part of any group visible or invisible that is marginalized by immutable characteristics.

I spent several years around people who are racist, deliberately, casually, or unknowingly.

At times I have been racist unknowingly. But bc I am open to receiving new info, I started a journey of realizing when and how I've been unknowingly racist or prejudiced against groups.

I'm female but at times have been unknowingly sexist toward other females... I could say this about virtually every group out there. People don't know what they don't know.

That's why it's super important to help educate and inform others. It's a lifelong journey.

I mention my experience as a (now moderate/centrist) conservative bc I happened to learn a lot of the ways the far right (which now includes almost every US Senator and Congressman or woman) are racist and influence others to be so. For them, there can be no excuse.

I found the conduct this week of Republicans toward Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be despicable and condemning of their characters and individual legacies.

Apparently, Mitch McConnell will vote against her on the Senate floor...

I could not see a single objective reason for Senators not to vote to confirm KJB, so I did a search for McConnell's disclosed "reasons":

cbsnews.com/news/ketanji-b…

They are ALL about policy issues that are not the purview of SCOTUS judges. The alleged bias in her child sex offending decisions record is spurious, of course.

I support increasing the number of SCOTUS judges, btw. It may be the ONLY way to try to save American democracy.

We live in dark times. The pandemic, Jan 6, the ongoing assault on long held voting rights, and Putin's dirty war against Ukraine and all of us, are just some of the current threats to American democracy, and world peace.

The situation is dire.

The Booker Speech can be a salve to the hearts and minds of so many people around the world. It's hard for me to express the value of it. You gotta watch or listen to it directly, at least once.

The global spread of far right ideology has only accelerated in recent years...

On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, former President Bush stated clearly that the 1/6 seditionists and al qaeda are #ChildrenOfTheSameFoulSpirit. Obviously, Putin and his closest supporters are part of that group too.

We have beaten fascist regimes before. We can do it again.

Seeing the outward expression of exemplary characters like KBJ and Cory Booker is a bright spot during these times.

He talked about love of country. I agree with him, that things will get better. The waiting, is the hardest part.

🇺🇸🕊️🌍