Opinion/Editorial>
Published January 14, 2021
Justin Kerr is the publisher of the McKinley Park News.One of the many reasons to love the McKinley Park neighborhood of Chicago is the natural protection afforded against hatred and bigotry by living in a multicultural community. As McKinley Park is a majority-minority area, with over 50 percent Latino residents and a burgeoning Asian-American population, overt hatred dares not openly show its face here, much less support for traitor Donald Trump.
Still, though, racist and treasonous sentiment may fester in our wonderful neighborhood, even though it seems to be on the run here as in the rest of the country, as it should be. We are but a couple generations away from white folks being a minority, inevitable demographics joined with hopeful signs like waning attendance at circuses of hatred such as white nationalist Christian churches. However, Ive still noted Trump-style bigotry, treason and tolerance of sedition here in McKinley Park and fear the different types of harm it brings to our neighborhood.
I recall participating in the neighborhoods first On the Table grant discussion close to a decade ago. I, the host and other panelists were gobsmacked to hear the husband in an older couple rant about how great McKinley Park used to be, until the Mexicans moved in.
This sentiment lined right up with the disastrous 2004 down-zoning of 35th Street by then-11th Ward Alderman James Balcer, a move allegedly supported by racist white residents that resulted in over a decade of vacant properties and urban decay in what should be a bustling, walkable commercial stretch. Institutional racism the pernicious, quiet cousin of Trumps overt racist hatred devastates the economies of communities like McKinley Park.
Extremely distressing has been the past defacto support for Trump and his harmful policies as voiced in the Brighton Park-McKinley Park Life newspaper by an officer of the McKinley Park Civic Association. Our local civic leaders should be standing up for the United States, the rule of law and our right to live in a peaceful, pluralistic society. They should condemn the seditious, criminal politicians they previously stood behind.
Indeed, the McKinley Park Civic Association should consider expanding its role beyond that of a clubhouse for the neighborhoods rapidly decaying elderly, as our fraught times demand strong civic involvement and leadership. In the decade-plus Ive been attending association meetings, Ive yet to see a leadership election or concerted membership outreach. This organization has brought tremendous good to the neighborhood in the past and could do so again.
Creepy, subtle signifiers of support for Trump-style violence, racism and oppression occasionally pop up here in McKinley Park. The right-leaning administrators of some neighborhood Facebook groups have tolerated pro-Trump sentiment in the past, and one would hope theyd fully disown themselves from previous association with or support for this traitorous criminal.
Of course, our neighborhood must also suffer the occasional blue lives matter flag, which at this point is not a signifier of support for police, but a white power symbol denoting support for police oppression through violence. Its always been an abominable desecration of the good old Red, White and Blue that no patriot would display. Theres a reason why racists have co-opted this flag of black and blue: these are the colors of bruises left by police truncheons.
Deeply terrifying is the Trump support noted and currently tolerated within the Chicago Police Department, aptly personified by the sedition and treasonous support of violent government overthrow by John Catanzara, the head of Chicagos Fraternal Order of Police union (FOP). The fact that he remains a police officer and head of the union further ravages police-community relations, already so deeply damaged by the ongoing bad-faith actions of the FOP and the billion-dollar price tag of Chicagos police abuse lawsuit settlements.
However, I was recently encouraged to learn that the police union allows retired officers to vote for leadership, that Catanzara was narrowly elected, and that he relies on much of his support from racist retirees.
While living in and reporting on McKinley Park, I have never encountered anything but highly professional, appropriate, responsive and caring behavior from our 9th District police officers. I cannot imagine that any would dishonor themselves and the department much less endanger the community and their fellow officers by breaking their oaths and standing with the criminal traitors who are actively and openly engaging in violent overthrow of our government.
Indeed, its law-abiding cops to whom we will turn to protect us from the violence of Trump and his followers, asking officers to put their lives on the line against killers who have already attacked and slain police as part of their violent insurrection. The terrible and inaccurate defund the police slogan, a phrase useful for protest but not for progress, has little standing when our communities need protection from violent terrorists, even though significant reform at every level of policing is still clearly needed.
Although unsuccessful so far, Trumps and his supporters ongoing attempts to violently and criminally overthrow our democratically elected government is a clear and present danger to all of us, not only because criminal insurrection must be extinguished before it grows, but also because Trump supporters are now openly attacking citizens and officials, willing to kill for Trump, as he has asked them to do.
It will only take a single unhinged Trump supporter to kill dozens of our neighborhoods families, whether through easily obtained firearms and ammunition, deadly bombs, or other tools of terrorists. Violent attacks like this are exactly what are now being planned and promoted online by Trump supporters, with Trumps stated and complicit support.
Here in McKinley Park, I would rather live with a house full of Latin Counts on one side of me and a house full of Satans Disciples on the other than a single Trump supporter in the entire neighborhood, for criminal street gang members have more honor and present less danger than a hate-filled Trump terrorist.
Any business or organization that tolerates Trump support not only directly endangers its employees and customers, it opens itself up to massive liability by knowingly providing harbor to criminal sedition and likely violence. Any enterprise that provides direct support to Trump insurrectionists or the criminal Trump organization should have its corporate charter revoked and its officers and board of directors arrested, investigated and prosecuted for material support of terrorism.
Although I am a non-violent individual who believes in and follows the rule of law, were the methods of Trumps supporters applied to themselves, they would be burned alive in their homes. Despite the horrors of war, I am proud of my grandfathers and my great-uncles service in World War II and the staining of my ancestors' hands with the blood of Nazis, who pursued the same violent path of racism, oppression and betrayal that Trump supporters now proudly march down.
I believe that I and other good Americans vastly outnumber these rapidly fading traitors and weekend cosplay bigots, and were we to need to directly protect ourselves and our country, we would do so successfully and decisively.
As it stands, Trump support must be expunged from the McKinley Park neighborhood and our broader society. Those who encounter Trump support, but dont take action against it, are complicit in the harm that their silence enables. Those who ask for understanding or sympathy for Trump supporters are, literally, terrorist sympathizers. Those who remain faithful to Trump are dangerous traitors to the United States and a direct threat to the McKinley Park neighborhood of Chicago.
Originally posted here:
Diversity is Our Strength and Our Protection - McKinley Park News
- Jackboot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- The US Government's Oppression of the Poor, Homeless [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- The US Government's Oppression of the Poor, Homeless [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2016]
- Protection, Oppression, and Liberty: How Much Government? [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- Oppression How Is it Defined in Women s History? [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2016]
- Liberalism and Conservatism - Regis University [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2016]
- American Patriot Friends Network APFN [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2016]
- Government news, articles and information: [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2016]
- Opinion: While true oppression exists, hypocrisy of some women is clear - Shelby Township Source Newspapers [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- A Modern Choice on Life - Harvard Political Review [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- FG yet to address our forefathers' fear of oppression NAIG ... - Vanguard [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Understanding Information Oppression in the Era of Trump - MediaFile [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Angolans Bravery Broke Down Chains of Colonial Oppression - Minister - AllAfrica.com [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Centrelink bogus debts: How far can the vulnerable be pushed before they break? - Independent Australia [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Joe's View: Privacy, where next? - Digital Health [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Bill passage would rename Columbus Day, honor Native Americans in Nevada - Las Vegas Review-Journal [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- EFCC is an instrument for political oppression Ozekhome - Naija247news [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Collin Nji: The first African to win Google's CodeIn Challenge - Pulse ... - Pulse Nigeria [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Open Letter to NFL Players Traveling to Israel on a Trip Organized by Netanyahu's Government - The Nation. [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Turkey's HDP Women's Assembly issues feminist call-to-arms against 'one man rule' - Left Foot Forward [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Education Expert: Betsy DeVos Should Address Local Control Before School Choice - Breitbart News [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Student leader says 'black-on-black crime is not a thing,' wants to censor those who say it is - The College Fix [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- LETTER: Evangelical Lutheran Church respond to political cartoon - The Dickinson Press [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Israeli Knesset 'legalizes' robbery of Palestinian land - Liberation [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Organize to defeat Trump's Muslim ban - Fight Back! Newspaper [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Do we have a legitimate government? - Altoona Mirror [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Anti-Trump Swedish Government Accused of Hypocrisy for Kowtowing to Iran - Heat Street [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Israeli government awards the Israel Prize to 96-year-old retired Olympic gymnast and Holocaust survivor gnes Keleti. - Jewish Chronicle [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Russ Boehm: This year, it's tough being a Boulder County Democrat - Longmont Times-Call [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Anti-Castro Cuban-American lawmakers see a champion in Trump - The Ledger [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Sweden's 'Feminist' Government Defends Veiling in Iran After Attacking Trump - Breitbart News [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Do we have a legitimate government? - Williamsport Sun-Gazette [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- U. Mass Students Plot Strike Against 'Oppression' of Migrants - Breitbart News [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- As I See It: The perils facing the Constitution - Corvallis Gazette Times [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Us & Them: Love, the Ayatollah & Revolution - West Virginia Public Broadcasting [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Ethiopian Athlete Who Made Anti-government Gesture in Rio Reunites With Family - Voice of America [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Mottley: Tax clearance certificate an 'instrument of oppression' - Loop Barbados [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Sweden's 'feminist' government criticized for wearing headscarves in Iran - Washington Post [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Christophobia: A Global Perspective - FrontPage Magazine [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- Fox News' Todd Starnes Redefines 'The Deplorables' - Forward [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- Turkey purge: dark cloud of oppression hangs over country's universities - Times Higher Education (THE) (blog) [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- The New Gambia: What's on and off the aid agenda - Devex [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Christophobia: a Global Perspective - AINA (press release) [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- AzaadiFreedom from Indian Oppression - Economic and Political Weekly [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Iraqi forces advance on Islamic State-held western Mosul - McClatchy Washington Bureau [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2017]
- UC San Diego Students Protest Visit by 'Oppressive and Offensive' Dalai Lama - Heat Street [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- We must all stand with Tibet The McGill Daily - The McGill Daily (blog) [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere - Royal Gazette [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Elders share experiences with oppression from their youth - B.C. Catholic Newspaper [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- In Trump's America, Christian proselytizing is another form of oppression - LGBTQ Nation [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Amnesty report reveals excessive oppression in Kashmir - Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Grass-roots leaders join call for 'disrupting' oppression that hurts many - Catholic News Service [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Governor Treen brought sunshine to Louisiana governmental conservatism - Bayoubuzz [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- I want an international probe into failed Turkey coup Fethullah Glen - Citifmonline [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- On finding freedom from oppression, fear - Davisclipper [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Lateral Oppression Hurts Us All - The Lakota Country Times [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Disobedience Checks Unjust Laws - The Oberlin Review [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Cycles and Oppression - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Opinion: The Relevance of Orwell's 1984 - Emertainment Monthly (registration) (blog) [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- McAuliffe vetoes bill to disclose refugee records - WRIC [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Another Jewish cemetery desecrated; what will the President say? Isn't the government supposed to help? - San Diego Jewish World [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Transport groups hold nationwide transport strike to protest government's PUV modernization program - CNN Philippines [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Monitoring group documents Turkey-backed profiling in Netherlands - Turkey Purge [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- The Sin of 'Just Doing Our Job' - Sojourners [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- What should we see in the ashes of the Standing Rock protest camp? - Liberation [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Opinion: Focusing on religious oppression in China misses the big ... - CNN [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Nepalese Student Suskihanna Gurung Portrays Chinese Oppression Through Photography - Study Breaks [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- ISIS Threatens China In New Video Showing Chinese Jihadists - Vocativ [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Focusing on religious oppression in China misses the big picture - Gant Daily [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Donegal Travellers Project welcomes government recognition of Traveller ethnicity - Donegal Now [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- This Is Why The Youth Is Picking Up Arms In Kashmir - Youth Ki Awaaz [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- Saudi Arabia: Music video and government initiatives split society - Freemuse [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- From Latin America to South Africa: it's time for effective solidarity towards Palestine - The Daily Vox (blog) [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Articles: Islam, the Veil, and Oppression - American Thinker - American Thinker [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Focusing on religious oppression in China misses the big picture - CNN [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Public needs to help get government back on track - Fairfield Daily Republic [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal Hearings On Myanmar Crimes Against Rohingya & Kachin - The Chicago Monitor [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2017]
- Oppression in the Land of the Free: A Muslim Leader Speaks Out ... - teleSUR English [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2017]
- The Readers' Forum: Monday letters - Winston-Salem Journal [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- How America Became a Colonial Ruler in Its Own Cities - Vanity Fair [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]