www.greenvilledemocrats.com “Like” us on Facebook “Greenville County Democratic Party” July 2016 A message from our Chair PARTY LEADERSHIP July 17, 2016 Kate Franch Last week in Dallas, President Obama candidates, Greenville County Chair spoke following yet another week of cast an Dexter L. Reaves tragedy. In his comments, he reiterated, informed 1st Vice Chair with a new set of words in yet another vote, and memorial service, “I see what’s possible seek candi- Grady Patterson when we recognize that we are one dates for 2nd Vice Chair American family, all deserving of equal future treatment.” I know that many of us are elections Whitney Wright asking when will those words no longer who will Kate Franch, GCDP Chair 3rd Vice Chair be an aspiration, but finally reflect the work for necessary reforms. everyday standard of American life? We will have two knowledgeable and Gaybriel Gibson Secretary Are the recent deaths of Alton connected speakers at the party breakfast Sterling, Philando Castile, and Dallas on July 23: Mr. John Mauldin, Chief Anita LeBold Police Officers Brent Thompson, Patrick Public Defender of the 13th Judicial Treasurer Zamarippa, Michael Krol, Lorne Ahrens, Court, and Mr. Jalen Elrod, Greenville and Michael Smith the long awaited County community organizer. They will Christopher Shipman tipping point? Will Americans finally share their perspectives on recent events State Executive commit to addressing the systemic and their respective visions of systems Committee Delegate racism that endures throughout our for ensuring fair and equal justice. In this Ingrid Erwin culture and all levels of society? Will issue of the Bray, we are including links State Executive there also be the long overdue movement to some resources in the event that you’d Committee Delegate to reform access to guns, the violence like more background information before and vitriol directed at so many through- the meeting. We hope you’ll join us for Roxanne Cordonier out the country, the unequal treatment what promises to be a stimulating discus- State Executive that pervades our criminal justice, sion. Committee Alternate educational, and economic systems . . . Also, we are planning a purely social and the many other critical issues facing event on Thursday, July 28 – a conven- Michael McCord State Executive us? tion watch party on the last night of the Committee Alternate As Democrats, our focus is on achiev- Democratic National Convention in ing progress through the political system Philadelphia. Hillary Clinton will make Jake Erwin that directs the governing system on history when she officially becomes the Voter Protection Chair which our country was founded. As we Democratic Party candidate for President know, the upcoming election will take and who better to celebrate with than The Greenville County place that will help determine at national, your fellow Greenville Democrats. We Democratic Party Man- state, and local levels whether the will cheer on our convention delegates, agement Team meets on questions we are asking will even be The Honorable Dick Riley and Candy the 2nd Tuesday of each actively addressed. As we prepare for Fletcher, as they cast votes on our behalf month at 5:30pm at November 8, we should learn as much as and eat, drink, and be merry together - Headquarters. Anyone possible about these issues so that we look for details in this issue and please may attend. can ask challenging questions of the mark your calendars! 1 Summary Injustice: A Look at Constitutional Deficiencies in ’s Summary Courts When a person is accused of a crime and faces loss of • The accused in these South Carolina courts are life or liberty as punishment, the U.S. Constitution rarely represented by lawyers. Many times they are guarantees that person the right to a lawyer even if he not even told of their right to have a lawyer, much or she cannot afford one. The U.S. Supreme Court less at the state’s expense. In the few courts observed affirmed this basic principle more than a half century where the accused were informed of their rights to a ago in Gideon v. Wainwright, and in subsequent cases lawyer and a trial, that advisement was often that expanded the right to misdemeanor prosecutions. conducted in a group or by video, with no individual Yet it is violated routinely every day in South Carolina inquiry into a particular defendant’s understanding of courts, where scores of people are convicted, these rights and what it meant to waive them. sentenced, and sometimes incarcerated, without having • Poor people accused of low-level offenses in these been represented by counsel. This paper documents the courts suffer disproportionately throughout the constitutional violations observed by attorneys with the process. Many judges offer a “choice” to defendants: National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers pay a fine or spend time in jail. If the accused cannot (NACDL) and the American Civil Liberties Union afford the fine, or the judge simply suspects the (ACLU) in 27 different courts throughout the state accused will not be able to pay the fine, that person during several weeks between December 2014 and will be sentenced to jail merely because she is poor. July 2015. In short, this report demonstrates that summary courts In South Carolina, the bulk of criminal cases are in South Carolina often fail to inform defendants of the low-level offenses heard in municipal and magistrate right to counsel, refuse to provide counsel to the poor courts, collectively referred to as summary courts. at all stages of the criminal process, and force defen- Towns are not required to have municipal courts; each dants who cannot afford to pay fines to instead serve town chooses whether to establish such a court. time in essentially a debtor’s prison. These are uncon- Because these courts are money makers, through the scionable and unacceptable practices that cause signifi- generation of fines and fees from defendants, many cant harm and must be remedied. These abuses towns have created them. Across the state, there are masquerading as “justice” are a corruption of the legal more than 400 magistrate and municipal courts. In process and an embarrassment to the people of South 2013, South Carolina municipalities netted over $20 Carolina. Unfortunately, the many constitutional million in assessed fines from municipal courts. violations documented in this paper may be merely the • In many of these courts, not a single lawyer is tip of the iceberg of injustices being committed against involved in the entire criminal proceeding. Munici- people in South Carolina. pal and magistrate judges are not required to be The denial of fundamental constitutional rights in lawyers, the police frequently function as the pros- South Carolina’s summary courts urgently calls for ecutor, and defense attorneys are scarce. Despite the comprehensive study and real solutions. Accordingly, absence of lawyers — and the constitutional require- additional investigation is underway to systematically ment that defendants be provided a lawyer — gather data from magistrate and municipal courts in individuals in these courts face criminal charges that several counties across the state. The study will exam- carry serious consequences, including jail time. ine the procedures used in municipal and magistrate • Lack of counsel is also prevalent prior to trial in courts to understand the degree to which the court South Carolina, at the stage where defendants are procedures comply with constitutional requirements. A legally presumed to be innocent. Accused individuals second report detailing the findings of that research is are not provided counsel during bond hearings, when forthcoming later in 2016. the judge determines whether someone will be held 2016 – A report from the National Association of in jail following arrest. Poor people who cannot Criminal Defense Lawyers, afford to pay even a modest bond amount end up the ACLU, and the ACLU of South Carolina imprisoned in jail until their cases are adjudicated. As a result, many people often serve the maximum See Citizens Review of Police Review: possible sentence prior to being found guilty or, as in Approaches & Implementation on pages 4, 5 & 7 some cases, not guilty. 2 Food, drink, and TVs provided 901 Anderson Road Upcoming Meetings Confirmed for Thursday’s DNCC Greenville 29601 & Events 2016 schedule: (Details below) Theme: Stronger Together (More September 30, 2016 (Friday) July 23, 2016 (Saturday) 8:30am details below) GCDP Breakfast Meeting 2016 SCDP Jefferson Jackson Dinner Pleasant Valley Connections August 08, 2016 (Monday) 12:15pm and Dem. Women Monthly Meeting 510 Old Augusta Road October 1, 2016 (Saturday) Southern Fried Green Tomatoes Greenville, SC 29605 (Details below) John Spratt Issues Conference 1175 Woods Crossing Road Columbia Metropolitan Convention July 28, 2016 (Thursday) 7:00pm Greenville, SC 29615 (Details Center until below) The SCDP is reserving a block of Convention Watch Party approximately 75 hotel rooms in the Pleasant Valley Connections August 13, 2016 (Saturday) 8:30 - 10:30am vicinity of the Convention Center. 510 Old Augusta Road NAACP Greenville Branch Life Greenville, SC 29605 Watch the website scdp.org for Membership Prayer Breakfast Cost = $10 at the door information. Fuller Normal Industrial Institute GCDP July Breakfast Meeting GCDW August Meeting Join us for an insightful look at the problems of and Former governor of South Carolina, Richard (Dick) reforms needed in the criminal justice system from the Riley will be the guest speaker for the August 8 perspective of two Greenvillians on the front lines: meeting of Democratic Women of Greenville. Gover- •John Mauldin, Chief Public Defender, 13th Judicial Circuit nor Riley is a delegate to the National Democratic •Jalen Elrod, Greenville County Community Organizer Convention. As always, biscuits, doughnuts, fruit, coffee, and juice A buffet dinner is available for $15.00. Reservations will be served; donations welcome! are strongly encouraged and can be made by calling 232-5531 or [email protected] Convention Watch Party NAACP Prayer Breakfast Join your fellow Greenville Democrats in celebrating The NAACP Greenville Branch Life Membership the making of history. . .the nomination of and accep- Prayer Breakfast is on Saturday, August 13, from 8:30 tance by Hillary Clinton as the first female candidate - 10:30am at the Fuller Normal Industrial Institute, for President! 901 Anderson Road, Greenville 29601. Headliners: Hillary Clinton & Chelsea Clinton This annual fundraiser recognizes and honors the RSVP (so that we’ll have plenty of food!) by Tuesday, steadfast commitment of Life members of the Branch. July 26: | [email protected] OR Tickets for the breakfast are $15 - contact Kate Franch 864-232-5531 at 919-417-6406 if you'd like to attend.

Shelter # 5 Lakehurst Street

3 that the chief or sheriff approve or reject the Citizen Review of Police Review: findings. Approaches & Implementation — Type 3: Complainants may appeal findings established by the police department to citizens, who The publication Citizen Review of Police: Approaches review them and then recommend their own findings & Implementation (by Peter Finn, National Institute of to the chief or sheriff. Justice, US Department of Justice, March 2001) — Type 4: An auditor investigates the describes citizen oversight procedures in nine US cities process by which the police or sheriff’s with the goal of enabling audiences to benefit from the department accepts and investigates experiences of communities that have already complaints and reports on the established oversight procedures: process’ thoroughness and fairness. “The demand for citizen • Oversight bodies can also: oversight first occurred in — Recommend changes in depart- the 1950s and 1960s ment policies and procedures and as a result of the civil suggest improvements in train- rights movement and ing. the perception in many — Arrange for mediation. quarters that law enforce- — Assist the police or ment responded to racial sheriff’s department to unrest with excessive force. develop or operate an early Many of these early review warning system for procedures were short lived. identifying problem Citizen review revived in the officers. early 1970s as urban African- • If they wish to Americans gained more political implement citizen power and as more white political review, to make an leaders came to see the need for informed decision improved police accountability. Most about which type oversight procedures have come into of oversight existence after a high-profile case of procedure to adopt alleged police misconduct (usually a jurisdictions need to exam- shooting or other physical force incident), ine trade-offs inherent in choosing a often involving white officers and minority model: Most features of every model have suspects. Racial or ethnic allegations of drawbacks as well as benefits. discrimination are often at the heart of move- • Citizen oversight has the potential to benefit many ments to introduce citizen oversight. groups. By 2000, citizen review has become more wide- • Complainants have reported feeling: spread than ever before in the . As of — “Validated” when their allegations are early 1998, there were more than 90 citizen review sustained—or merely appreciated having an opportu- procedures. Almost 80 percent of the largest cities had nity to be heard by an independent third party. some form of citizen review. However, only a small — Gratified they are able to address an officer fraction of law enforcement agencies in the country directly. had citizen oversight.” — Satisfied the process appears to help hold police Following are some of the findings: and sheriff’s departments accountable. OVERVIEW OF CITIZEN OVERSIGHT • Police administrators have said that oversight can: • While there is no single model of citizen oversight, — Improve their relationship and image with the most systems fall into one of four types: community. — Type 1: Citizens investigate allegations of police — Increase public understanding of the nature of misconduct and recommend findings to the chief or police work. sheriff. — Promote the goals of community policing. — Type 2: Police officers investigate allegations and — Improve the quality of the department’s internal develop findings; citizens review and recommend investigations. Continued on Page 5 4 Citizen Review of Police Review: Approaches & Implementation - continued — Reassure a skeptical public that the department and sheriff’s departments and unions, and citizen already investigates citizen complaints thoroughly groups and activists. and fairly. OTHER OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES — Help subject officers feel vindicated. • Citizen oversight bodies can undertake three other — Help discourage misconduct. important responsibilities in addition to investigat- — Improve the department’s policies and proce- ing, reviewing, or auditing complaints. dures. • Oversight bodies can recommend policy and proce- • Elected and appointed officials have indicated that dure changes as well as training improvements. oversight: — Many experts regard this policy review function — Demonstrates their concern for police conduct to as the most important responsibility citizen oversight constituents. bodies can undertake because it can improve services — Can reduce the number, success rates, and award throughout an entire department, not just among amounts of civil suits against the city or county. selected officers. • Members of the community at large have suggested — Many police administrators report that oversight that oversight has helped to: bodies have made valuable policy and training — Reassure the community that appropriate disci- recommendations that they have implemented. pline is being handed out for misconduct. • Oversight bodies can make mediation available to — Discourage police misconduct. selected complainants. Minneapolis and Rochester — Increase their understanding of police behavior. make extensive use of formal mediation using • There are serious limitations to what citizen review trained mediators to conduct the sessions. Mediation an accomplish. To be most effective, citizen over- can potentially benefit: sight must complement other internal and external — Complainants, many of whom are only interested mechanisms for police accountability. in being able to express their concerns to the officer. LIMITATIONS TO CITIZEN OVERSIGHT — Subject officers, who can learn how their behav- 1. Citizen oversight cannot by itself ensure police ior can affect the public and can avoid having the accountability. Jurisdictions need to implement complaint included in their files. other internal and external mechanisms to achieve — The community at large, as citizens improve their this goal. understanding of police operations. 2. The effectiveness of citizen oversight depends — Oversight bodies, which are spared the need to enormously on the talent, fairness, and personalities investigate and conduct hearings for these com- of the principal individuals involved. plaints. 3. Oversight bodies have limited authority; they do not Mediation can have disadvantages and has limitations. impose discipline or dictate department policies or For example, use-of-force cases are not suitable for procedures. mediation. 4. The findings some oversight bodies make, or the • Some oversight bodies assist police and sheriff’s investigations they conduct, have no influence on departments to set up or maintain an early warning some police managers. system to keep track of complaints against officers 5. Oversight bodies typically fail to hold department who may need supervisory counseling or retraining. supervisors responsible for line officers’ behavior. POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF MEDIATION TO 6. Some complainants who lose their cases express CITIZENS AND POLICE disappointment with the oversight process. Citizens may: 7. When long delays occur between filing a complaint 1. Be encouraged to file complaints. and its resolution, complainants become frustrated 2. Gain the satisfaction of talking directly with the and disillusioned—even when they win the case. officer. 8. Some complainants and a small minority of other 3. Gain a better understanding of police work and why individuals will not be satisfied with the actions of the officer acted in a specific manner. police officers and deputy sheriffs no matter what 4. Learn why some officers are not always courteous. the oversight body does. 5. Feel more satisfaction than if a hearing results in an 9. Oversight procedures in some jurisdictions have exonerated, unfounded, or not sustained finding. exacerbated tensions among local officials, police Continued on Page 7 5 Meet Sharon Thomas The Greenville County Sharon Thomas is the new volunteer coordinator for Democratic Party Headquarters the party. She will connect 1300-J E. Washington Street, anyone wanting to volun- Greenville 29607 teer (e.g., assist at the 864-232-5531 office or with a campaign, [email protected] register voters, help with Open 9 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday GCDP events, work at the Office Volunteers (be sure to thank them for making polls or as a poll watcher or this all possible): election day volunteer at Sharon Cherry Karen Hahn the office, etc.) with the Ann Funderburk Scarlett Jones right contact. She can be Stephanie King Jessie Wofford reached by calling or Stan Crowe Felicia Pepper emailing Headquarters or Saleem Shabazz calling her directly at (757) Services: and 620-6068. • The Fedalei Campaign will run its Greenville County operations for the office for the November Nadia Land-Greene 2016 election cycle from the GCDP office. Nadia Land-Greene is our • Campaign materials - Christale Spain, Executive Political Action Coordina- Director of the South Carolina Democratic Party, tor. She will help coordi- announced at the Democratic Women luncheon that nate campaign canvas, there will be a Coordinated Campaign working phone bank, and related with/for candidates this election cycle. This will election events, voter hopefully ensure a steady supply of bumper stick- registration drives, and ers, yard signs, and other GOTV materials. We are community events for the attempting to get Hillary for America items now. GCDP. • Democratic Women of Greenville County Lending Library: An extensive library of books covering political history, campaigns, analysis, biography, etc. is available for loan at no charge. Drop by to find something interesting and provocative to read. Be sure to sign out your selection(s) in the library notebook and make note when you return the GCDP Volunteer Needs book(s). • Back-up office volunteer • Copies of past newsletters and local, state, and • Preparation of office mailings national • Voter registration drives Democratic Party news and information, as well as • Campaign volunteers GCDP and DWGC records. • Poll workers (November) • Poll watchers (November) • Spanish speakers for voter registration, campaign, and election Thanks to Our Contributors! needs The Greenville County Democratic Party wishes to express its gratitude to its recent donors. These include Yellow Dog Training will be provided for all roles. pledges. Please contact the GCDP office: ([email protected] or Albert L. Blackwell Bill and Linda Hardman 864-232-5531) or Sharon Thomas, Volunteer Charles and Sharon Cherry Carla B. Rood Coordinator, (757-620-6068) if you are Mary Louise King-Taylor interested. 6 Citizen Review of Police Review: Approaches & Implementation - continued Police officers may: sity. Permitting current or former police officers or 1. Learn how their words, behaviors, and attitudes can sheriff’s deputies to serve is controversial. unwittingly affect the public. — The process of selecting board members can 2. Avoid having a complaint included in their files if involve public hearings, private interviews, and word mediation is successful. of mouth. 3. Reduce the negative image some citizens have about — Training for board members can include lectures, officers. materials review (e.g., department policies and 4. Gain an understanding of why the complainant acted procedures), attending a citizens’ academy, ride- the way he or she did. alongs, and training as mediators. STAFFING • Some oversight systems involve the use of paid • Citizen oversight bodies most commonly need three investigators. types of staff: volunteer board members, professional — Investigators need to be able to handle the poten- investigators, and an executive director. tial stress of interviewing sometimes angry com- • Talented and fair staff are essential for any oversight plainants and hostile officers. procedure to be effective. — Many jurisdictions try to hire investigators with a • Because they may have no formal credentials, select- law enforcement background. ing board members is especially tricky. — Senior staff train new investigators. Novices also — Before recruiting board members, jurisdictions learn on the job. should establish the specific responsibilities they • Along with the police chief or sheriff, the executive expect the board to assume. Then jurisdictions need director or auditor will have the greatest influence to decide how large their board will be, members’ on whether the oversight system achieves its objec- terms of office, and their honoraria, if any. tives. Most jurisdictions make considerable use of — A common selection criterion is to include diver- word of mouth to find the most qualified individual.

Books We Love A Fighting Chance by Elizabeth Warren By Roxanne Cordonier had a heart attack and was disabled against a barrage of dirty tricks and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth for the rest of his life. Her family media storms. Warren and former Senator Hillary lost their home and their car but The epilogue of the book neatly Clinton recently appeared on the stayed afloat thanks to sums it up, “No one is stump together and the world dared her mother’s job asking for a handout. to dream that two dynamic women answering the phone All we want is a would run for President and Vice at Sears. All of these country where every- President of the United States. I’m a hard times left their one pays a fair share, long time admirer of Senator mark on Senator a country where we Warren. I recall seeing her on Warren and when she build opportunities television as an expert in personal talks about sticking up for all of us; a country bankruptcy law when she was a for the little guy and where everyone plays professor at Harvard Law. She was Main Street she means by the same rules and articulate, sincere and the essence of her people. She writes everyone is held authenticity. All of these qualities of her decision to run accountable. And we shine through in her book “A Fight- for the Senate and her have begun to fight ing Chance.” turbulent 2012 race for it. I believe in us. I The autobiography details against incumbent believe in what we Elizabeth’s early life growing up Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown. can do together, in what we will do poor with crooked teeth and glasses Warren ran a brilliant focused together. All we need is a fighting in Oklahoma City. Warren’s father campaign and she held her ground chance.”

7 2016 Election - November 8 Ballot Greenville County (anticipated)

U.S. Senate District 2: o District 24: Rep. Bruce Bannister (R) o Thomas Dixon (D) o District 25: o Sen. Tim Scott (R) Rep. Leola Robinson-Simpson (D) o Bill Bledsoe (L) & (C) Tony Boyce (I) o Jim Hinkle (A) o District 27: Rep. Garry Smith (R) o Rebel Michael Scarborough (A) o District 28: Rep. Eric Bedingfield (R) U.S. House of Representatives o District 35: Rep. Bill Chumley (R) o Congressional District 3: o District 36: Rep. Rita Allison (R) Hosea Cleveland (D) Greenville County Rep. Jeff Duncan (R) o Clerk of Court: Paul Wickensimer (R) o Congressional District 4: o Coroner: B. Parks Evans, Jr. Chris Felalei (D) o Register of Deeds: Tim Nanney (R) Rep. Trey Gowdy (R) o Sheriff: William (Will) Lewis (R) Michael Chandler (C) o County Council District 18: Mike Barnes (R) o District 05: Sen. District 20: Councilor Sid Cates (R) o District 06: District 21: (R) • Rick Roberts (R) Roy Magnuson (C) • Bill Michaud (L) o District 07: District 22: Councilor Bob Taylor (R) Sen. Karl Allen (D) District 24: Glen Robinson (R) • Councilor Liz Seman (R) o District 08: Sen. • John Langville (C) o District 09: Sen. (R) District 25: Ennis Fant (D) o District 12: (R) District 27: Councilor Butch Kirven (R) o District 13: Sen. (R) Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees: Not yet South Carolina House of Representatives filed, but these seats will be on the ballot: o District 10: o Trustee Joy Grayson, Dist 17 Anna Brown (D) o Trustee Debi Bush, Dist 19 Rep. Joshua Putnam (R) o Trustee Danna Rohleder, Dist 21 o District 16: o Trustee Glenda Morrison-Fair, Dist 23 Brandon Greene (D) o Trustee Kenneth Baxter, Dist 25 Mark Willis (R) o Trustee Crystal Ball-O’Connor, Dist 27 o District 17: Rep. (R) o District 18: Rep. (R) (D) = Democratic Party o District 19: Rep. (R) (R) = Republican Party o District 20: Rep. Dan Hamilton (R) (A) = American Party o District 21: Rep. Phyllis Henderson (R) (C) = Constitution Party o District 22: Jason Elliott (R) (I) = Independence Party o District 23: Rep. (D) (L) = Libertarian Party

8 S ate News & Events SCDP Chair statement on Republican support of Donald Trump

Columbia, SC – South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jaime Harrison held a press conference today calling on Republican elected officials to with- draw their support for Donald Trump’s candidacy. Below are his opening remarks, as prepared for delivery: Thank you all for coming today. A little more than a month from now, the Republican Party will officially nominate Donald Trump as their candidate for President of the United Jaime Harrison, SCDP Chair at press conference on June 8. States. It has been obvious since very early in this presidential Senator Tim Scott—a historic figure, being the first campaign that Donald Trump is a racist, bigot, xeno- African American U.S. Senator from the South since phobe, and misogynist who plays footsie with the Reconstruction—correctly called Trump’s recent world’s worst regimes and advocates committing war bigoted comments on federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel’s crimes. Here is a small sample of his Trump’s greatest integrity “racially toxic.” But apparently, you can say hits right here—it was hard to narrow it down to a list of racially toxic things and still have Tim Scott’s support six. for President, because Trump still does. I don’t care if you are a Democrat, Republican or Congressman correctly said this week whatever—to say these types of remarks and then that Donald Trump has “said some crazy stuff” and that constantly defend them is disqualifying for a presiden- his bigoted comments on Judge Curiel are “contrary to tial candidate. Period. If Donald Trump were to become 200 years of tradition in the United States” and “the President, our country as we know it would be in peril, opposite of what the American experiment is all about.” and global stability would be at risk. But Congressman Sanford apparently thinks Many South Carolina Republicans agree with me, and un-American rhetoric is acceptable for an American several have voiced their concerns publicly. Yet with the President, because he is still supporting Trump. exception of Senator , they are support- Congressman Joe Wilson is supporting Trump, and just ing this hate-mongering huckster to be the leader of the last month he said that Trump’s faction would help the free world. Republicans grow as a party. Last week, Governor Nikki Haley correctly warned that Congressman doesn’t seem to be Donald Trump’s rhetoric could lead to violent tragedy, bothered by Trump’s recent bigoted attack on our which we sadly know too well in South Carolina. But federal judiciary. He dismissively told a reporter that he yet somehow she still thinks Trump should be President hadn’t gotten any calls about it. of the United States. Continued on Page 10, See TRUMP 9 TRUMP - Continued from Page 7 and the future of all our children, Republican leaders must withdraw their support for Donald Trump for Congressman Trey Gowdy defended his support for President. We must send a message, in blue states and Trump by comparing the Republican primary electorate red states alike, that Donald Trump is not what America to a jury whose verdict he was bound by. But nothing is about and that he will not get anywhere near the could be further from the truth: Congressman Gowdy is White House. an American voter who has a responsibility to his I close with this poem, a famous one written by a country, not his party. He cannot shirk this responsibility German pastor Martin Niemöller during World War II. by hiding behind his party. The recent attacks on the diverse populations in this The comments in support of Trump by Congressman nation forced this powerful poem back to my mind. Jeff Duncan, I think, were the most illuminating. He “First they came for the Socialists, I did not speak out— said, “I don’t want to serve in Congress under another Because I was not a socialist. Democratic president.” Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not Look, I get where Congressman Duncan is coming speak out— from: I have honest, deeply-held policy disagreements Because I was not a Trade Unionist. with my Republican friends. And normally I would Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— support a Democrat, even an imperfect Democrat, over Because I was not a Jew. a Republican for President because a Democrat in office Then they came for me—and there was no one left to would be more likely to advance the policies I favor. speak for me.” But this election isn’t about Republican policies versus The questions I have for all of our leaders, Democrats Democratic policies. The danger of Donald Trump goes and Republicans, are: What do we stand for? Who will way beyond policy. He is a threat to what America we stand with? What will we fight for? But most stands for to our own citizens and to our allies through- importantly, when will we speak out? out the world. We are one nation, under God, indivis- Our greatest strength as a nation is our diversity. We ible, with liberty and justice for all. Trump is a threat to have seen the evil of racism and bigotry here in South that. And that is more important and more fundamental Carolina, and we have the scars to prove it. Democrats than any disagreements we have as Democrats and and Republicans in this state have an obligation to shed Republicans. It is even more important than winning or the party labels and do what is in the best interest of this losing one presidential election. nation. I welcome our state’s Republican leaders in engaging I am happy to take whatever questions you may have. Democrats in a vigorous, issues-based debate on all of Written by Matthew Ellison · Categorized: Highlights, Press the down-ballot races. But for the health of our republic Releases

Minnesota

‘ We Are One American Family’ President ; Dallas, Texas; July 12, 2016

Texas Louisiana

The Bray is published by the Greenville County Democratic Party, 1300-J Washington St., Greenville, SC 29607/232-5531, Kate Franch, chair; Roxanne Cordonier, editor; Linda F. Neely, formatting & printing; Karen Hahn, distribution. Know someone who would like to receive The Bray? It is available by email or traditional mail. Call HQ or contact [email protected]. Please mail contributions to party headquar- ters. If your financial contribution to the GCDP is over $100, please indicate profession or retired (required by SC Ethics Commission). Thank you.

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