The Lancaster County Democrat January 2021

Lancaster County Democratic Party Statement on Notes from the Chair - Janet Chung Failed Petition Effort Mayor Gaylor Baird and city council members It has been a very have provided exceptional leadership and made difficult few days for our difficult decisions during the pandemic. Mayor Gaylor country as we watch the Baird, council members Bowers, Meginnis, Raybould violence at the Capitol. Mayor and Ward have served with integrity. We’re glad to Gaylor Baird’s message on Jan. see the distraction from their important work come 6: The peaceful transition of to an end. power is fundamental to our Dr. Bob Rauner, Partnership for a Healthy democracy. These acts of Lincoln, provides data about masks “If the rest of the aggression at our nation's state had taken an approach like Lincoln’s, we would Capitol are antithetical to our values. I join leaders on have 674 fewer dead Nebraskans today.” We watched both sides of the aisle and at all levels of government leaders of smaller communities debate mask in calling for an end to the violence and for allowing mandates as they send their critically-ill residents to the final certification of the electoral college. Lincoln and Omaha hospitals. In August, the White People are questioning the lack of response House urged Governor to put mask by law enforcement. Were decisions made because of mandate in place.* Please contact Governor Ricketts to racial or political bias, or both? request a state-wide mask mandate and encourage Lancaster County Democratic Party’s distribution of federal funding to help people and platform calls for respect and inclusivity, freedom businesses. and justice for all. The Central Committee bylaws Lincoln was named 8th most caring city in include a requirement for bias training. We also America by Wallethub.com. We’ll get through this joined the City of Lincoln’s Together One Lincoln crisis together. Please continue masking, distancing, program as a community partner. washing hands as directed by public health officials. Join us for Implicit Bias Training, Tuesday, If you need help, see City of Lincoln’s COVID Jan. 19, 7 pm online with Dr. Colette M. Yellow Robe, resources page or download the MyLNK app. (Northern Cheyenne Tribe). Best, The time is now in our society, community, Janet Chung, Chair and Democratic Party to walk forward in bold steps to achieve racial justice, protect rights and fight for equality. This training provides an historical context to illuminate and inform our understanding about the current situation. The journey for the “healing of the When we learn how to work together soul” of America begins with candid conversations versus against each other things might that work through discomfort. This is an opportunity start getting better. for us to empower our leadership with practices to Author unlnown advance equity, diversity, inclusion and understanding. We walk together and share the duties to dismantle systemic racism and oppression. Reserve your seat at LancasterCountyDemocrats.org.

“The South Has Something to Say.” So Letter to the Editor does Every Black Woman in America. By Pastor Janet Goodman Banks. The Citizens of the United States of America It is great to put the ridiculous Recall effort and the world will witness the swearing in ceremony behind us and to move on towards the elections in of President-Elect Joe Biden, and its first history the Spring. There will be more pressure from those making Black Female, Vice-President-Elect Kamala same people to change the existing makeup of the Harris on January 20, 2021. The two battled fiercely City Council. During this difficult time with the for the nomination. Neither, believed that they would pandemic and mask requirements it will be become a duo, but that they are. incumbent that we continue to sell what makes Note: “Had it not been for the Black Church Lincoln a great place to live and to push the positives. Ladies with the Pretty Church Hats,” then Vice It is now clear that the Lancaster Republican Party President Biden would not have been the Democratic really does not want to run on the issues or face nominee, and later clinched the 2020 presidential Democrats face to face but will continue to try and election. This election broke numerical and racial restrict with term limits recalls. It is extremely barriers regarding the Vice President-Elect and important that we monitor social media and correct people casting their votes. History was made. Why? the misinformation that is put there, both by accident Because “the south had something to say.” and intentionally. Everyone is entitled to their own Then, the country moved its attention to the opinion but not to alter the facts. state of Georgia where two U.S. Senate seats were up Thank you to all the local elected officials and for grabs. That within itself was exceptional. Usually, to the employees of Lincoln and Lancaster County it’s only one seat, not two. Top that off, with a Black Governments. I cannot think of a more difficult time Baptist Pastor, by the name of Raphael Warnock, in your careers and that more people have ever been from the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the "Monday Morning Quarterbacks." I appreciate all you late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. served, and the late have done and will do. I also want to offer a big thank Congressman John Lewis attended, running as a you to both our retiring Police and Fire Chiefs and to candidate for the U.S. Senate. The son of Pastors, and Carl Eskridge. We are a better place to live because of a mother who picked cotton. your efforts. The other candidate running as a Democrat I wish all of you a Happy New Year and hope was Jon Ossoff. He is the son of Jewish immigrants, you and your families stay safe and well. and someone who has been aiming to serve politically for the past ten years. He also ran for a seat Doug Emery in the U.S. Congress two years ago, but lost. Both men won because of the dedicated work of Stacey Abrams’ organization “Fair Fight,” LaTosha Brown’s organization “Black Voters Matters,” and Nse’ Ufot’s organization “The Georgia Project.” How, do you ask? “Because the south has something to say.” Also, because of the dedicated work and mobilization of Black Women across the country. Black Women continue to be a force and remain “the backbone” of the Democratic Party. The south spoke loud and clear in both elections. It behooves the Democratic Party to pay attention and look to black women. Honor and respect them. Begin, by listening to them, placing them in roles of leadership, support their run for offices, pay them as consultants within the party, and on campaigns. Together, we can “Build the party” and “Build back better.” I would like to end by saying, “Oh happy Day.” Letter to the Editor By Jim Johnson One of the more colorful characters that I learned about in my days as a UNL math major was mathematical logician Kurt Gödel. One story about Gödel has sprung to mind recently. The story is based somewhat on hearsay, not widely put into print until 30 or 40 years after the event, and may be inaccurate in some details. But true or false, it's plausible, all the more so given certain events of the last week. In 1947, Gödel was preparing to become a US citizen. In studying for his citizenship test, Gödel as a logician didn't want to just memorize facts and dates; he had to understand why this country was the way it was. He became especially interested in the US Constitution. He had guidance from his Princeton colleagues Oskar Morgenstern and Albert Einstein. How much lower can they go? Betcha you never thought As the story goes, Gödel really got into you'd wish Curtis and Hruska were back. studying the Constitution; Morgenstern remembers Gödel having concerns that there would be questions on the citizenship test about arcane matters of constitutional law. Morgenstern tried to reassure him, telling him that the questions on the exam would be formal and easily answered, but Gödel insisted on working for a deep understand the Constitution. After deep study, Gödel informed Morgenstern that he had found some logical contradictions in the Constitution, which could make it possible for someone to legally become a dictator and set up a Fascist regime. Morgenstern tried to reassure Gödel that even if such a thing were logically possible it wouldn’t happen. Morgenstern and Einstein were especially concerned that Gödel might bring it up with the immigration judge, who might not take kindly to such talk. Time passed; exam date came. Morgenstern and Einstein gave Gödel a ride to Trenton for the test. Witnesses were normally not allowed in the room with the immigration candidate, but Einstein being Einstein, the judge allowed them to stay with their friend. As Morgenstern remembered it, the judge asked Gödel where he was from; Gödel said "Austria." The judge asked what kind of government Austria had; Gödel said that it had been a republic but later became a dictatorship. The judge commented "That could never happen in this country." This set Gödel off; he said he could prove it. Morgenstern and Einstein were horrified, but the judge was clever enough to change the subject. Let’s hope that Gödel doesn’t turn out to have been about 65 years ahead of his time. Message from Mary Harding of the projects at our Sheldon Station site. It is Corporate secretary and Director, important to NPPD, Norris and Monolith that such Subdivision 1, Public Power projects are sited where they are welcomed by the local communities. District NPPD Mary Harding is serving her fourth term on the board of Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD). Although often confused with Natural Resources Districts (NRD), PPDs generate and distribute electricity in Nebraska. Nebraska is the only 100% public power state in the nation, and voters have a voice in selecting directors for both wholesale and retail PPDs. In Lancaster County, voters in named precincts (Buda, Stockton, etc.) can vote for the NPPD Board, which is your wholesale provider. Norris PPD is the retail provider of electricity outside of Lincoln, Waverly and Bennet city limits.

Message from Luke Peterson

Happy New Year, Neighbors!

I am sure I wasn’t the only one who eagerly looked forward to the end of 2020, but more On Monday, January 4, NPPD announced a importantly to see the day where the Impeached new collaboration between NPPD, Monolith Materials Moron is finally out of the White House! However, I and Norris Public Power District. Monolith, a do appreciate how President-Elect Joe Biden won manufacturer of carbon black, is in the final planning Georgia not once but more like three times. Let’s stages of a significant expansion project in Hallam. hope these last couple of days under Trump go Commercial operation of this expansion is expected quickly and uneventfully. I need to add that even the to begin no later than Dec. 31, 2025. President of the United States of America has huge Monolith is committed to achieving an policy implications for the environment, water and environmental and sustainability goal that includes land conservancy and resource development. I am so offsetting its approximately two million megawatt- happy to see President-Elect Joe Biden pick New hours of annual energy use with the same amount of Mexico Representative Deb Haaland to be the next renewable energy generation. To support meeting Interior Secretary because she will bring a this goal, NPPD has signed a Letter of Intent to bring perspective that isn’t derived from the Oil and Gas additional renewable energy resources into our Industry, like where the current Interior Secretary generation mix, while protecting other customers came from. from any cost shifts which may result. I need to apologize once more for my lapse in NPPD will begin to solicit bids for the project terms of submitting an article for the Lancaster through a request for proposals for new wind and/or County Democratic Newsletter. The last time I wrote solar generation, and possibly complementary to you I mentioned that I was potentially exposed to energy storage in March. As the retail utility serving the coronavirus at work but haven’t disclosed the the area, Norris PPD will deliver 100% of the results of my test. (It came back negative.) Since I live electricity to the plants. with a compromised immune system, rest assured These projects will provide short and long- that I have pestered my doctor enough about Covid to term benefits to the communities in which they are know that the earliest I could get the vaccine is in constructed and will allow NPPD to move forward April. Till then, please protect yourself and your toward goals of decarbonizing our generation of loved ones by wearing a face mask. We’re not out of electricity. the woods yet and given our Gubernatorial Because this project is progressing quickly, leadership, there are some tough days ahead in the it’s likely the renewable energy used to meet pandemic, but the end is near. I hope you plan on Monolith’s sustainability goal will come from a mix of vaccinating yourself, I know I will because I trust the solar and wind projects which are already in science behind the vaccine and I trust my doctor. planning stages, or under development in the state. Since the last time I wrote to you about the Monolith has expressed interest in projects sited near Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, a lot Hallam, and I personally favor looking at siting some has happened. Most notably is the passing of our dear colleague and neighbor, Director Mike DeKalb and are a clear example of the diverse viewpoints the the appointment of his successor. Director DeKalb Board has). was one of the first members of the Board to have Now the other bit of information I would like reached out and congratulated me in 2018 after I to share is that January is an important month for the won my seat and that impression left upon me lasts Lower Platte South NRD because it marks the start of to this day. My deepest condolences go to his wife new sub committee assignments and for new and family. Mike was a true gentleman and a Executive Officers for the Board of Directors. We committed Director for the Board of the Lower Platte come together as a body and “caucus” among South Natural Resources District. He is missed but his ourselves about who wants to serve on which memory lives on. subcommittee for the upcoming year, and we get to Mike’s passing caused a vacancy on the board select our new Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman Ruth called for the appointment and the Delegate to the statewide association of process to occur. Six individuals in sub district 3 NRD’s through an internal nominations process. applied and all six candidates for recommendation Those executive offices, plus the previous years’ could verily serve on the Board of Directors. Chair (serving in a capacity of “ex-officio”) make up Ultimately the Executive sub committee chose Mike the Executive subcommittee. I am pleased to share DeKalb’s general election opponent in the 2020 that I was nominated to be the “Delegate” to the election cycle, Ken Vogel, to be nominated and Nebraska Association of NRD’s. What that really brought to the full board for consideration. I did have means is I would get to attend more meetings this some questions about the process and in order to coming year and become better acquainted with a facilitate discussion, I nominated another interested statewide perspective towards land conservancy and candidate who reached out to me for her water policy but to be the “Delegate” also means to consideration, Melissa Baker. The main concern I had have a vote in our Executive subcommittee. At our was the invitation sent to previous filed candidates in next monthly meeting, on January 20th, the Board that sub district to apply for the vacancy but come to will take a vote on whether I get to serve in such a find out it is within the by-laws of the Lower Platte capacity or not. It is my hope and honor that could South NRD to send those inquiries to apply. I will not happen. None of this would have been possible go against the previous Board’s decision to enshrine without the support of the Lancaster County that language for vacancies, nor will I be amending it Democrats back in 2018. Thank you! because history has proven that when a vacancy occurs, not many interested individuals have applied Thanks again neighbors! Be well, stay safe, in years past. In fact, this recent vacancy experienced and please wear your face mask! Happy New Year! the largest number of people who expressed interest in applying. Luke Peterson The other factor is that the Executive LPSNRD Board Member subcommittee made their recommendation and it’s Subdistrict 7 difficult to change the direction of discussion and consideration by the time the full board of Directors come together at our monthly meetings. Ken Vogel did receive unanimous support from the Board of Directors, but his appointment is for a two-year term due to state statute for vacancies and appointments. It is important to note that elections for NRDs are on a “nonpartisan” ballot for the Primary and General Elections, therefore there’s not really any partisan politics to behold while on the NRD. Instead, the votes we cast are generally towards the best interest of our local Natural Resources District and for our community. That’s not to be confused with having no difference in opinion, because there are 21 different opinions on the Board about certain controversial topics (water permits and conservation easements

The P of Indivisibility

By Suzanne Jouvenat

Most all of us know the Pledge of Allegiance. What meaning does it hold? Or better yet, does it hold meaning today?

As we begin this 2021, still battling the pandemic, and now more than ever, the virulent threats to the very foundations of democracy, I propose the American family seek value in the symbolism of this oath’s treasured words.

The pledge was written about 27 years after the Civil War by a Baptist minister’s son, Francis Bellamy. He taught at Rochester University and was asked to write a new salute to the flag for a patriotic program for school children to recite in unison.

Changes have occurred. In 1954, after the ravages of WW II, the words, “under God” were signed into law by President (General) Dwight Eisenhower.

Regardless of its history or one’s memories of recitations, whether you wish to honor the words, the history of lives given to preserve the right to say it or see the Pledge as symbolic of our Nation, pause to renew your patriotism. The intent of “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” feels especially “sacred” at this time in our history.

May we, as the American family, internalize the concept of “indivisible” and instill life into this unifying virtue as it promises we are incapable of being divided. Our Pledge requires a commitment, a conviction and an ability to speak truth with facts as we strive forward with humility and pride.

Legislative Preview — Ricketts’ Radical years. Nebraska schools don’t have a spending Agenda problem; the state has a funding problem. A tired excuse by Ricketts and friends to continue By Dennis Crawford underfunding public education.” Ricketts’ plan to cut school funding is a “solution” in search of a problem. State Senator said it best in a tweet. “Governor Ricketts’ economic development plan for Nebraska: Gut public education on Friday. Build a new prison on Monday. And he lectures schools and teachers to tighten their belts. We already have spending limits on schools; it’s called the local school board. I don’t think local governments need Pete Ricketts micromanaging their budgets and priorities.” Lurking in the background is a radical tax scheme hatched by a corporate front group which Rising star Adam Morfeld has led the opposition to Ricketts calls themselves Blueprint Nebraska. This right-wing and is running for Lancaster County Attorney in 2022. group wants to double down on Nebraska’s failed trickle down policies by funding what they call a The last legislative session was marked by “significant reduction or the elimination of individual acrimony and the largest (and unfunded) property tax and corporate income taxes” with a huge increase in cut in state history. This risky tax scheme will most sales taxes. As I’ve discussed here before, Nebraska’s likely cause cuts in services like education and health super wealthy are already lightly taxed and Nebraska care, which are essential to a vibrant economy. corporations already grab $200 to $300 million per The November elections which followed this year in corporate welfare. legislative session resulted in the Republicans picking The non-partisan Open Sky think tank blasted up two seats—which was a bit of a setback for this proposal. Open Sky executive director Renee Fry Governor Ricketts. In the session that begins on contended that “most of the financial benefits of any January 6, there will be 32 Republicans and 17 income tax cuts would flow to high earners, leaving Democrats. That leaves the billionaire governor at most Nebraskans with a net tax increase. This is a tax least one seat shy of a filibuster proof super majority. cut for wealthy families that low- and middle-income Ricketts has already laid out his agenda for families would pay for,” she said. the new session. He would like even more property In addition to the usual bills that would tax cuts and would like to spend $230 million on a comfort the already comfortable, there will be new prison. What’s more, Ricketts has indicated he progressive legislation introduced by both wants to pay for this extreme agenda by cutting Democratic and Republican senators. Republican spending on education. Senator John McCollister will introduce bills that Opposition to Ricketts’ legislative program would end gerrymandering, take aggressive action on is already forming up. Nebraska ACLU executive climate change, establish ranked choice voting, reform director Danielle Conrad has said building any new parole, establish gun purchase waiting periods, and prison would only add to current problems while expand SNAP benefit eligibility. Unfortunately, these costing taxpayers millions. “I cannot understand why bills stand little prospect of passing. the department would want to embrace a business Engraved over the entrance to Nebraska’s model that depends on locking up more and more of state capitol are the words, “The salvation of the state our Nebraska neighbors. Nebraska is struggling to is watchfulness in the citizen.” Those words have adequately staff the facilities we already have.” never been more relevant. I would urge all of you to Similarly, there will be vigorous opposition to contact your state senators and let your views be any cuts in education. Stand for Schools, a non-profit known. In addition to that, we have crucial city working to support public education in Nebraska, elections in Lincoln and Omaha this year. A good tweeted, “Public schools already work under levy result in those elections could lay the foundation for a limits and spending limits. Ricketts is making the case successful 2022 election cycle. Now let’s leave it all property taxes are too high because of school out on the field! spending—which is totally false. They are high because of decades of underinvestment by the state. According to the state’s own funding formula, public schools have only been fully funded in 4 of the last 17 Ricketts’ Attempt to Buy the Republican race in southeast Nebraska. As of October 19, the Nebraska GOP had contributed Legislature Failed — Again $112,188.71 to Slama. In addition, Ricketts had by Dennis Crawford personally contributed $20,000.00 to her campaign and the Nebraska GOP spent $27,704.91 opposing

Janet Palmtag. This was a truly strange series of investments in a race in which a Republican was going to win. Ricketts’ heavy-handed interventions in these races turned out be a bit of a mixed bag. Jen

Day pulled off the upset of the cycle by knocking off Andrew LaGrone. At the same time, and held their seats and fended off the right-wing challenge. Moreover, Eliot Bostar held

the Democratic seat in south Lincoln that was vacated by Senator Bolz. On the minus side for Democrats, Ricketts’ incompetence has allowed the was taken out by a heavily funded Ricketts’ Pandemic to spiral out of control in Nebraska. challenger and Republicans replaced The magic number for Governor Pete and . Ricketts and his followers in the legislature is 33. Overall, the Republicans picked up a net two That is the number of votes necessary to end a legislative seats. That means there will be 32 filibuster. In the last legislative session, there were Republicans and 17 Democrats in 2021–22. What 30 Republicans, 18 Democrats and . that means is that Ricketts and his followers in the Moreover, there were usually a handful of moderate GOP are at least two votes shy of a filibuster proof Republicans that Ricketts couldn’t depend upon to majority. I would expect Senator John McCollister— help him jam through his extreme and regressive and some other moderate Republicans—to side with agenda. the Democrats. Ricketts’ goal in election 2020 was to buy a The billionaire governor’s massive filibuster proof legislature to rubber stamp his investments in the 2020 election cycle really didn’t agenda. The playing field certainly gave Ricketts change very much. I would expect there to be that opportunity. Senators Carol Blood, Lynne Walz another bitter session and more gridlock in 2021– and Dan Quick were all up for re-election in 22. Republican leaning districts. Those were in Sarpy In the next session there will be proposals County, Dodge County and Hall County, involving social justice and prison reform. respectively. Unfortunately, those bills will go nowhere. Other At the same time, there were three open hot button issues will be redistricting, property seats in GOP leaning districts where the incumbent taxes and a radical proposal from Blueprint Democratic senator had been termed out. Those Nebraska to fund a tax cut for the rich by raising outgoing Senators were Katz Bolz in south Lincoln, sales taxes on the middle class and the poor. Rick Kolowski in Millard, and Sue Crawford in The unicameral elections were a bit of a Sarpy County. disappointment. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. In Another battleground was in a red leaning any event, we maintained enough votes to block the district in Sarpy County in which challenger kind of radical tax changes envisioned by the likes of took on Ricketts appointed incumbent Andrew Ricketts and Blueprint Nebraska. Senator Adam LaGrone. This race represented the best pickup Morfeld once told me that Democratic senators opportunity for the Democrats. don’t get enough credit for stopping bad legislation. The billionaire governor and his family did I want to thank everybody who ran for office everything they could to purchase a rubber stamp this year and/or contributed in some way to a unicameral. Pete Ricketts and his family spent campaign. I’ve run for office before so I’m familiar approximately $1 million in an attempt to buy a with the sacrifices made by our candidates. supine legislative body. This manifested itself in a We can take a little time off now, but our blizzard of vicious and deceptive mailers targeting work is never done. We are in the current the Democrats in these battlegrounds. predicament because millions of Democrats stayed Interestingly enough, Ricketts made a huge home or voted third party in 2010, 2014 and 2016. investment to elect —a Ricketts We can’t make that mistake again. We must remain appointed incumbent—in a nasty Republican versus energized. When Democrats vote, Democrats win! Clarifying “government schools” beginning to our time. We could learn a foreign versus “public/common schools” language and study world history. Some early and late literature, of course, and we could learn an By Bob Haller instrument or perform a play. And, of course, we A few months ago, the Governor provoked a learned and practiced the basics of political life. bunch of people who wrote letters to the Lincoln We also recognized that the “common” Journal Star and Omaha World Herald complaining schools were compulsory, free and universal (for “all about his using the phrase “government schools” persons between the ages of five and twenty-one”). instead of “public schools” or some other identifier in They define the life of us all for twelve or more years. common use for Nebraska’s school system. The letter They make us join company with all of our writers (and the Governor) were surely aware that neighborhood age-mates. And with adjustments— Trump used the phrase “failing government schools” buses, meals, after school programs, and of course a in his State of the Union Message, and that the Chrome—to try to make school truly “free.” And advocates for indirect government financial support demonstrating every day that education belongs to for “Charter,” “Private” and “Parochial” schools (“are all citizens and permanent residents of all colors, you there Betsy DeVos?”) are fond of the phrase as faiths and national origins, and that compulsory well. It is supposed to mean that the “government” is schools must protect and promote the dignity of all incompetent and so its schools are incompetent as who are forced to attend them—no bullying or abuse. well. This is a way of saying that our Constitution But the Governor claimed he did not use the grants us education as a human right. If you don’t phrase with a derogative intent. His spokesperson, believe that, take a look at Article 26 of the Universal Taylor Gage, defended it with this logic: “Schools that Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and you will receive their funding from taxes collected by state see that it might well have been based on our state’s and local government entities are by definition units Constitution. And recognize that, as a Human Right, of government. Hence, the reference to them as the value of school lies in the learning that happens ‘government schools’ is accurate.” We don’t know at every day, in cooperation with peers, freedom of what school Mr. Gage learned this principle, but we discovery and expression, and being a person your can expect him and the Governor to start referring to peers will recognize years later in the yearbook the “government Supreme Court” or “the government photo. Penitentiary” or the” Government University of Nebraska.” And enter into the grammar teaching in our schools that you can “accurately” use government (noun) in the adjective position before any “unit of government.” The letter writers, however, missed the larger possibility that the Governor, in using the phrase, may have violated his oath of office. The Nebraska Constitution VII-1 reads: “The Legislature shall provide for the free instruction in the common schools of this sate of all persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years.” The Governor, at his inauguration swore that he “will support and defend . . . the Constitution of the State of Nebraska,” and “bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” The Constitution is the electorate’s mandate for its legislative representatives and therefore for its Governor, to do its will. He is not allowed to substitute “government” schools for “common” schools. Those who put “common schools” into our Constitution had a specific curriculum in mind—one which we who went to public schools would be familiar with. We learned math up to algebra and did physics and botany to the point of doing experiments. We did World and American history, some geography, and the history of the world from Commentary January 2021 community. That is why the labor-hater and race- By John Kretzschmar baiter is virtually always a twin-headed creature The American Labor Movement does its best spewing anti-Negro epithets from one mouth and work when it advocates for both economic and social anti-labor propaganda for the other mouth. I dream justice. Why? Because labor rights are inseparable of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property from civil and human rights! widely distributed; a dream of a land where men will Why do I say that? Well, let’s look at not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to organized labor’s first mission statement given by the few.” Samuel Gompers, back at the end of the Gilded Age: Limiting the right of labor unions to organize "What do we want? More schoolhouses and less jails; the unorganized takes many forms, one important more books and less arsenals; more learning, less example was the passage of the 1947 Taft-Hartley crime; more leisure, less greed; more justice, less Amendments to the 1935 National Labor Relations revenge; in fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate Act. It is important to note that the GOP was in our better natures." control of both houses of Congress at the time, and That statement advocates for creating a they were able to override President Truman’s veto political economy where all who sell their of that legislation. intelligence, experience, and strength to an employer Taft-Hartley restricted the right of unions to to earn a living have a fair shot at the American strike; outlawed closed shops where all who are Dream. Protesting segregation, fighting against represented by the union are required to join the sexual harassment, and registering people to vote are union representing them; ended secondary boycotts integral parts of that first mission statement. of irresponsible employers; created “right to work for The 1963 March for Jobs and Freedom was a less;” and opened the door to purging progressive joint effort between organized labor and Civil Rights unions from the protections of the NLRA. organizations, led by the first black member of the With the merger of the AFL and CIO in 1955, AFL-CIO Executive Committee, A. Philip Randolph. the new organization’s founding documents Both organizations were working to help create a contained the following: “The merged federation nation “with liberty and justice for all,” and we are shall constitutionally recognize the right of all still working to actualize that vision. workers, without regard to race, creed, color or Here’s some of what Randolph said on the national origin to share in the full benefits of trade steps of the Lincoln Memorial that day: “We are the union organization in the merged federation.” And advanced guard of a massive, moral revolution for they did so by creating a Civil Rights Department jobs and freedom. This revolution reverberates demonstrating its commitment to creating a society throughout the land touching every city, every town, whereas Gompers said over a half century earlier all and every village where black men are segregated, should have the opportunity to “cultivate their better oppressed and exploited. But this civil rights natures.” revolution is not confined to the Negro, nor is it And that commitment remains at the heart of confined to civil rights for our white allies know that the labor movement as we move into a new year. they cannot be free while we are not. “And we know that we have no future in a society in which six million black and white people are unemployed and millions more live in poverty. Nor is the goal of our civil rights revolution merely the passage of civil rights legislation. Yes, we want all public accommodations open to all citizens, but those accommodations will mean little to those who cannot afford to use them.” Moreover, the forces standing against such a grand vision oppose both the labor and Civil Rights movements as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made clear in a speech in 1961 addressing an AFL-CIO convention, “Our needs are identical with labor's needs—decent wages, fair working conditions, livable housing, old age security, health and welfare measures, conditions in which families can grow, have education for their children and respect in the

Holiday Party The Lancaster County Democratic Party held our annual Holiday Party on December 15, 2020. We heard from elected officials, and some of the candidates for the spring elections. Following the speeches, we had a scavenger hunt, a silent auction, and lots of chit-chat via Zoom. ‘Twas fun and merry, but we’re looking forward to being able to all meet in person for the 2021 holiday season!

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