Small Alabama Editor Advocates for the Klan to Lynch Democrats
We have here further evidence that the forth Civil War has begun. In this case it was tapped out by editor Goodloe Sutton. Writing such as this makes the rational, open minded, decent socialist in me glad that I have a .357 magnum. Still, though, the context of this is important. The paper serves the town of Linden, Alabama, which is about one hundred miles southwest of Birmingham. This paper’s circulation has shrunk from 7000 at one time to less than half of that. The time period for this decline was not given.
Editor Goodloe Sutton
I cannot say that that Sutton’s 2019 message advocating murder and white supremacy surprises me much. We have what is clearly a white supremacist in the White House, one who is not shy about hiring people who sympathize with the 16th Street Church bombing, the murder of Medgar Evers, the 1980s activities of WAR, and anything associated with Steve Bannon or Roger Stone. Although Trump’s base seems to be ever diminishing, it obviously still has a large group of lemmings, all longing to ignore him shooting someone on 5th Avenue.
I would be gratified to know if there were any letters protesting Sutton’s suggestion. He doesn’t sound like the sort of editor worried about presenting opposing views to his racist, knuckle-dragging, if there are any publicly-held opposing opinions. Anybody who publicly takes such a murderously hateful position is most likely in a town where Klan activity is common, if not obligatory. Decent people are discouraged from speaking up where cross burnings are as common as pizza delivery.
What angers me is the shameless way that this terrorist is so sure that his rhetoric will be accepted. Sure, there was indignant outrage:
Probably the best report I have seen, from the LA Times.
These articles quote other journalists and politicians who have demanded Sutton’s resignation, and a very reasonable interpretation of his suggestion as a direct threat. Believe it or not, Sutton was up for a Pulitzer some years ago for investigative journalism, suggesting that the LA Times reporter was thorough in describing not just Sutton’s slobbering hate but his journalistic integrity and skill. Herein lies yet another complication to this country’s race problem; racist trogs can simultaneously have decent qualities. We’ll get to that another time.
Imagine, though, what would happen if similar threats were made by dissenters from the still mostly white men who run this country? I checked out several quotation websites, looking for quotations from the Black Panther Party, Malcolm X, and Reverend Jeremiah Wright, just as examples.
Reverend Jeremiah Wright Quotes
Not once did I see suggestions from these dissenters that ‘white men should be hanged from trees,’ or that ‘Republicans should be burned alive,’ or whatever. This is true despite the fact that during the lifetimes of all of these people, random black people as well as dissenters were killed, beaten, and harassed by white Klansmen and/or police. Black Panther leader Fred Hampton himself was killed by police authorities as he lay sleeping. Wiki for Fred Hampton
Sure, there were predictions that violence directed at them will result in violence against whites. But the kind of across-the-board, arbitrary mass murder that Sutton prescribes was never advocated by these outraged men.
What we are left with is the final refuge of the bigots trying to get back to the world of Burma Shave signs, Father Knows Best TV shows, Lawrence Welk on the radio, and White Hegemony. Their refuge is violence towards all of those who are different in any way. These bigots believe violence will bring back those familiar days before Civil Rights.
Images of the Good Old Inoffensive Days.
What set Sutton off against the so called “socialist-communists?” Who knows? Maybe it was the prominence of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her “Green New Deal.” Maybe it was Andrew McCabe’s tenacity at saying what Trump supporters don’t want to hear? Maybe it’s that no decent person can defend locking up 15,000 refugee kids away from their parents, and Democratic lynchings are a way to avoid this issue? I can guess all day and still not run out of options
These holdouts for White Hegemony remind me of the Hiroo Onda and Teruo Nokamura, the last members of the Imperial Japanese Army who continued to hold out against the allies on remote Pacific islands, until 1974, even though the war had been over since 1945. Like them, white hegers “either adamantly (doubt) the veracity of the formal surrender due to dogmatic militaristic principles, or simply (are) not aware of it…”
White hegers will continue to hold out, working to solidify the U.S. apartheid system, so that it is even more like that of former South Africa. At all costs, they will try to maintain their privilege.
Correction to Mr. Sutton. The Klan has already ridden. Decent people need to ride.
One last question: Mr. Sutton, have you ever heard of Nat Turner?
Update: Sutton Steps Down He mentions that after stepping down, he’ll have the freedom to “drink beer and chase women,” reiterating that he has the class of a full roach motel.
Bittersweet Abattoir 