NATION & WORLD FRIDAY,NOVEMBER 8, 2019 | NEWS |THE BALTIMORE SUN 7 Immigration opens ideological Reenactment to honor largest fault lines for 2020 Democrats slave rebellion in US history By Will Weissert By Rebecca Santana Associated Press Associated Press WASHINGTON — NEW ORLEANS — Bernie Sanders is adding Against the modern back- his support to acall by some drop of oil refineries, strip of his fellow presidential malls and gated communi- hopefuls for decriminaliz- ties, hundreds of reenac- ing illegal border crossings, tors will gather Friday in aproposal that’s further southeastern Louisiana to exposing deep ideological remember a time when divides in the Democratic slavery flourished as a primary and may prove blight on America and politically treacherous for some enslaved people the party in the general fought back. election. They plan to reenact the The Vermont senator re- KEREM YUCEL/GETTY-AFP largest slave rebellion in GERALD HERBERT/AP PHOTOS leased a detailed immigra- Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders sup- American history. Patricia Gorman fits Louis Ward in a period costume Oct. tion policy proposal on ports decriminalizing crossing the U.S. border. Dressed in period cos- 23 for Friday’s reenactment march in south Louisiana. Thursday, writing, “Un- tumes and holding ma- authorized presence in the could be a tough sell for often has been since the chetes or rifles they will to success. United States is a civil, not a Democrats after the pri- Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — march 26 miles over two “You can’t actually criminal, offense.” He mary when their nominee nor used to stoke racist days from the sugar planta- understand American soci- vowed to repeal existing will face voters who may fears for political gain like tion country along the Mis- ety if you don’t understand statutes that put “border disagree with President he said Trump has done. sissippi River to the New slavery, and you can’t crossings on par with other Donald Trump’s hard-line His advisers shrugged off Orleans suburbs. understand slavery if you forms of immigration viola- U.S.-Mexico border poli- concerns that decriminal- “I think it will be an don’t understand slave re- tions, such as overstaying a cies — he leads cheers of izing illegal border cross- amazing experience,” said Artist Dread Scott had the volts,” he said. visa.” “Finish the wall!” at his ings may make their cam- artist Dread Scott, who idea about eight years ago. The reenactment comes Massachusetts Sen. Eliz- rallies — but worry about paign, or those of other conceived of the project, at a time of heightened abeth Warren called in July moving too far in the other Democrats, seem soft on and whose works address plantations organized for racial tension in the United for repealing the criminal direction. immigration. racial injustice and oppres- months before launching States, following the elec- prohibition against cross- “The problem with de- Even as Trump, who has sion. their rebellion on Jan. 8, tion of President Donald ing the border illegally, criminalizing undocu- denied being racist, makes “Seeing hundreds of 1811. Over two days the Trump in 2016. promising in her own im- mented crossings is it ful- immigration a centerpiece black folk with machetes group grew to an estimated One of the most con- migration plan to “immedi- fills the Republican narra- of his reelection strategy, and muskets and sickles 200 to 500 people, accord- tentious episodes came in ately issue guidance to end tive that Democrats want however, it has largely been and sabers, flags flying, ing to Daniel Rasmussen’s August 2017 when hun- criminal prosecutions for open borders, and that will overshadowed in the chantingto traditional Afri- book “American Uprising: dreds of white nationalists simple administrative im- be an absolute killer for us Democratic primary by can drumming, is going be The Untold Story of Ameri- descended on Charlottes- migration violations.” in November,” said Colin other issues such as uni- an amazing moment. And ca’s Largest Slave Revolt.” ville, Virginia, to protest the South Bend, Indiana, May- Strother, a Texas Demo- versal health coverage peoplewould be like, ‘What Their goal was to march planned removal of a Con- or Pete Buttigieg has sug- cratic strategist who lived under “Medicare for All.” It am I looking at? This on New Orleans and estab- federate statue. One person gested he’d support making for years along the Rio was most championed by doesn’t make sense,’ ” he lish a free republic. The was killed when a white illegal border crossings civ- Grande. two White House hopefuls said. “It will be an area rebellion was inspired in nationalist plowed his car il offenses, but not in cases In Thursday’s plan, from Texas, one of whom where people can learn a part by the Haitian revolu- into a crowd of counter- in which “fraud is in- Sanders also promised to has already dropped out of lot and think a lot.” tion but conceived by peo- protesters. volved,” a potentially key use executive orders to halt the race and another who Reenactments have been ple born in Louisiana and Bob Snead, who heads caveat. Former Vice Presi- construction of the U.S.- may do so soon. astaple of Civil War herit- Africa, said Dr. Ibrahima the arts group Antenna dent Joe Biden also hasn’t Mexico border wall, put a In April, former Obama age in the South, where Seck, the director of re- that’s producing the rebel- fully backed decriminaliza- moratorium on all deporta- Housing Secretary Julian people don Confederate search at the Whitney lion reenactment with tion of illegal border cross- tions until current federal Castro became the first and Union uniforms and Plantation and a historical Scott, said that was a key ings, saying during a July policy can be audited and Democratic presidential stage mock battles. But this adviser to the reenactment. turning point. Some ques- presidential debate, “If you allow people seeking U.S. hopeful to release a com- effort seeks to illustrate the Most were field hands tioned whether the re- cross the border illegally, asylum to remain in the prehensive immigration struggle over slavery that who toiled in hot, wet and enactment should even go you should be able to be country while their claims plan and to support making came to be the heart of that humid conditions that con- on, but Snead said there sent back. It’s a crime.” are processed rather than crossing theborder illegally war. tributed to their 13% yearly was also a strong feeling The issue illustrates an- being sent to Mexico or acivil rather than criminal Scott first envisioned it death rate, he said. that the project was more other important fault line elsewhere. And he vowed offense. But Castro is wind- about eight years ago. He’d Scott said the project important than ever. between relative moder- to break up the Department ing down his presence in wanted to stage a slave sprung from his interest in Organizers have taken ates like Biden and of Homeland Security. the key early state of New rebellion reenactment — how people liberate them- precautions. They’ll have Buttigieg and those White Sanders said he was tak- Hampshire and isn’t likely maybe Nat Turner’s 1831 selves and in slavery’s con- law enforcement and pri- House candidates willing ing back an issue that to qualify for the debate uprising in Virginia — but tinuing effects on America vate security, and reen- to openly embrace prog- should be about humani- later this month in Georgia, then a colleague told him today. He was also in- actors are advised not to ressive values like Sanders tarianism and not be raising questions about about the uprising in Loui- trigued to learn about the engage with anyone along and Warren. Still, grappling viewed through the na- how much longer he can siana. little-known rebellion’s the route who might harass with full decriminalization tional security prism it continue. Slaves across a stretch of goals and how close it came them. An Open Letter to SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul Dear Commissioner Saul, Surelyanadministration that has preached about the We are the employees whoserve 63 million Social virtues of the private sector would not drive its own Security recipients everyday in 1,200 field offices, agencies backward? teleservice centers, payment service centers, hearing offices, regional offices, and at headquarters in Baltimore. We are averageAmericans,called to We call on Congress to hold hearings serve our fellowcitizens and provide keyresources on SSA under your leadership and to America’smost vulnerable populations. Ye t reopen our contract. recent actions, under your leadership, have made it clear that the Social Security Administration is not invested in its employees. As aresult, our work As these changes continue to harmthe productivity will suffer. of SSA employees, Americans whorelyonour service The Trump administration has onlysought to will begin to takenote. The American people need vilify the federal workforce and prevent us from aSocial Security Administration that is dedicated to doing the people’swork. Our colleagues in other providing the best customer service possible, and for agencies face abrupt relocation across the country, that reason we call on Congress to hold hearings on see their research attacked,and lose employeerights SSA under your leadership and reopen our contract. on adailybasis. At SSA, youleveraged hostile Yo uinsist on casting blame on federal employees, but executive orders to force our union to accept an youforget that we come to work everyday to serve unfair employeecontract. Last week, SSA revoked the American people. As the late Elijah Cummings telework, asuccessful policydating back to 2013. once said,“federal employees come to government This abrupt action forced 12,000 employees to to feed their souls, to help other people, to maketheir scramble for childcare and elder care, driving down livesbetter.” We need your fullest supporttoprovide their productivity and increasing stress.