George Floyd 6 Years Later. Redistricting War in The South. Talarico Senate Campaign
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The George Floyd Justice and Policing Act is being reintroduced to challenge Republican opposition to police reform and qualified immunity.
- ❖Southern states like Alabama, Florida, Missouri, and South Carolina are engaging in aggressive racial gerrymandering to dilute Black voting power, often enabled by Supreme Court rulings.
- ❖The Florida Legislative Black Caucus criticized Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz for running in a historically Black district, calling it 'performative allyship.'
- ❖The NAACP launched an 'Out-of-Bounds' campaign, urging Black athletes to boycott public universities in states actively suppressing Black votes, advocating for economic withdrawal.
- ❖Historical examples, such as the children's march and the Mississippi State flag change, demonstrate the power of youth and collective action in civil rights movements.
- ❖Low voter turnout among 18-39 year olds (9% in Georgia primary) is a critical weakness in the fight to protect Black political power.
- ❖Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver and Jim Clyburn are committed to fighting gerrymandering, emphasizing the loss of seniority and resources for states if Black representatives are removed.
- ❖California gubernatorial candidate Javier Becerra focuses on addressing the affordability crisis, spurring affordable housing, and ensuring tech companies contribute to community infrastructure.
Insights
1Reintroducing the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act to Force Accountability
Congressman Glenn Ivy is reintroducing the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act, despite Republican control of Congress, to keep the issue of police accountability on the national agenda. The goal is to force Republicans to publicly state their positions on police reform, qualified immunity, and the Department of Justice's handling of evidence in police shootings. The act aims to address systemic issues that led to George Floyd's death, which are still prevalent.
Congressman Glenn Ivy is reintroducing the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act (). It passed the House when Democrats had control but died in the Senate (). The issues that led to George Floyd's death are 'still here' (). The Department of Justice has been withholding evidence in other shootings (). The reintroduction aims to force Republicans to be 'on record' in their opposition (). Qualified immunity remains a 'biggest block' ().
2Widespread Racial Gerrymandering and Supreme Court's Role
Across Southern states like Alabama, Florida, Missouri, and South Carolina, Republican-led efforts are actively redrawing congressional maps to dilute Black voting power. The Supreme Court's decision in `Louisiana v. Clay` is seen as a significant setback, gutting Voting Rights Act protections and enabling these gerrymandering tactics. This leads to a reduction in Black representation and a loss of federal resources that would otherwise flow to Black communities.
Alabama is back in federal court defending a congressional map ruled unconstitutional for discriminating against Black voters (). The Supreme Court's `Louisiana v. Clay` decision 'gutted the Voting Rights Act protections' (). Republicans aim to reduce Alabama's Black congressional seats from two to one (). Congressman Emanuel Cleaver's Missouri seat was gerrymandered, extending it into rural areas to dilute his vote (, ). Congressman Jim Clyburn notes his district, 45% Black, is being targeted, while a new district is 75% white (, ). He compares current Supreme Court decisions to Dred Scott and Plessy v. Ferguson, calling it 'Jim Crow 2.0' (, ).
3NAACP's 'Out-of-Bounds' Campaign and Economic Withdrawal
The NAACP has launched an 'Out-of-Bounds' campaign, urging Black athletes to boycott public universities in eight Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas) due to their anti-Black legislative agendas. This initiative aims to leverage the economic power of collegiate sports to pressure lawmakers, drawing parallels to historical civil rights movements where economic boycotts and youth activism were pivotal in achieving social change.
The NAACP is targeting public universities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas (). Roland Martin highlights the 'secure the bag' generation's lack of principles () and cites the Mississippi State player who refused to play under the Confederate flag, leading to its change in 10 days (, ). Michael Eric Dyson emphasizes that the NAACP encourages athletes to consider HBCUs and calls on fans/alumni to redirect dollars, framing it as 'economic withdrawal' (, ). Matt Manning suggests going to *independent* HBCUs to avoid funneling money back to state systems ().
4The Imperative of Massive Black Voter Turnout
To counter the current attacks on Black political power, a massive increase in Black voter turnout is essential, with a minimum target of 70% of eligible Black voters. The host and guests criticize the low engagement of younger demographics (18-39 year olds, who represented only 9% of turnout in the Georgia primary) and highlight that older generations are disproportionately carrying the burden of political participation. Historical examples demonstrate that high turnout can force political change and hold complacent politicians accountable.
Roland Martin states the minimum Black voter turnout should be 70% of eligible voters (, ). Congressman Cleaver's children advised him to change his online presence to reach younger voters, as 18-39 year olds will 'pick the next member of Congress' (, ). In the Georgia primary, 18-39 year olds represented only 9% of the total turnout, while 65+ and 50-64 age groups dominated (, ). Jim Clyburn recounts Newt Gingrich's downfall after he stated 'our people will vote and their people won't' ().
Bottom Line
The strategy of renaming legislation like the 'George Floyd Justice and Policing Act' to 'Law and Order Justice and Policing Act' and including white victims of police violence, supported by police organizations, could be a powerful tactic to gain Republican support and overcome political stalemates.
This approach reframes the issue from a purely racial justice concern to a broader 'law and order' problem affecting all communities, potentially disarming Republican opposition and appealing to their stated values, while also highlighting police support for the bill.
Advocacy groups and legislators could explore rebranding civil rights-oriented legislation with broader, more 'conservative-friendly' language and actively seek endorsements from law enforcement organizations and diverse victim groups to build bipartisan coalitions.
The 'performative allyship' of some Democratic politicians, particularly those running in historically Black districts without prior dialogue with Black community leaders, can be strategically exposed by Black political caucuses to mobilize voters and highlight a lack of genuine commitment.
This exposure can galvanize Black voters to support candidates who demonstrate authentic engagement and prioritize community needs, rather than those perceived as opportunistic, thereby strengthening Black political agency.
Black political organizations should proactively establish clear expectations for candidates seeking to represent Black-majority districts, demanding direct engagement and accountability, and be prepared to publicly challenge those who fall short, using such instances as educational moments for the electorate.
To maximize the impact of the NAACP's 'Out-of-Bounds' campaign, a critical nuance is to direct boycotting athletes not just to any HBCU, but specifically to *independent* HBCUs, to prevent state-funded HBCUs from inadvertently funneling money back into the same state systems being protested.
This refined strategy ensures that the economic leverage of the boycott is fully directed away from the problematic state systems, maximizing financial pressure and strengthening truly independent Black institutions.
The NAACP and supporting organizations should clarify and promote this distinction, providing resources and guidance to athletes and their families on identifying and choosing independent HBCUs for their collegiate careers, thereby optimizing the campaign's economic and political impact.
Lessons
- Prioritize voter registration and mobilization efforts, especially targeting 18-39 year olds, to achieve a minimum 70% Black voter turnout in all elections.
- Support and amplify campaigns like the NAACP's 'Out-of-Bounds' initiative, encouraging economic withdrawal from institutions in states actively suppressing Black votes.
- Demand accountability from elected officials and judicial bodies regarding racial gerrymandering and police reform, using public pressure and legal challenges to fight for fair representation and justice.
Mobilizing Black Political Power Against Systemic Attacks
**Educate and Inform:** Disseminate information about racial gerrymandering tactics, the impact of Supreme Court decisions, and the importance of local and national elections on civil rights.
**Targeted Voter Engagement:** Implement robust voter registration drives and 'get out the vote' campaigns specifically aimed at younger Black demographics (18-39), leveraging online platforms and community organizing.
**Strategic Economic Action:** Support economic withdrawal campaigns, such as the NAACP's 'Out-of-Bounds' initiative, by redirecting consumer spending, athletic talent, and donor funds away from institutions in states with anti-Black legislative agendas.
**Hold Politicians Accountable:** Demand direct dialogue and genuine commitment from all political candidates, especially those seeking to represent Black-majority districts, and publicly challenge instances of 'performative allyship.'
**Advocate for Legislative Change:** Support the reintroduction of critical legislation like the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act and advocate for federal protections against voter dilution, even in the face of strong opposition.
Notable Moments
The host highlights the historical impact of a single Mississippi State football player's refusal to play under the Confederate flag, which led to the flag's change in just 10 days.
This moment serves as powerful evidence that individual and collective action, even from young people, can quickly force significant political and social change, underscoring the potential impact of the NAACP's athletic boycott campaign.
Congressman Clyburn compares current Supreme Court decisions on voting rights (Citizens United, Shelby v. Holder, Louisiana v. Clay) to historical rulings like Dred Scott and Plessy v. Ferguson, labeling them 'Jim Crow 2.0.'
This comparison underscores the severity and historical context of the current attacks on Black political power, framing them not as isolated incidents but as a continuation of systemic efforts to disenfranchise and marginalize Black communities.
The Florida Legislative Black Caucus issues a strong statement condemning Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's decision to run in a historically Black district without prior consultation, calling it 'disheartening' and 'performative allyship.'
This incident reveals internal Democratic Party tensions regarding racial representation and highlights the importance of genuine engagement and respect for Black community leaders, rather than perceived opportunistic political maneuvering.
Quotes
"Anybody who was watching what was I what ICE was doing in Minneapolis saw that is still alive and and uh doing horrible things there as well."
"If the black vote doesn't matter, if black political power is irrelevant, why are these people working so hard to break up uh black districts? Why are they working so hard to reduce the power of the black vote?"
"This is more than a political issue. It is a pressing voting rights and civil rights issue. The residents of District 20 deserve transparency, engagement, and a genuine commitment to listening."
"What I think people are losing in this whole argument is that many of the players that NAACP is talking about are also being recruited by USC, UCLA, Big 10 schools, other schools across the country. So, they're not saying don't play, they're saying don't play for these particular schools."
"I think it comes down to the moral question. What is it worth? What is your individual, you know, ascension worth as it in respect to your entire um, you know, uh, people, right? And I think you're right. I think 18, 19 year olds should be imbued with the sense of responsibility to their people to choose what is best for the people even more so than themselves."
"This really is uh a a moment um that requires fighters. Uh what we are seeing is the largest attack on black political power uh since reconstruction."
"When you make a decision as you do in Citizen United and equate a corporation with a human being, what you've just done is uh dilute the impact of individuals uh that make up the government. We the people."
"Our minimum number has to be 70% of eligible black voters. Uh, we have to have that type of massive turnout to beat back this antilack agenda and Republicans represent on the state on the state level as well as on the national level."
"I don't take criticism too well from people who tell me they measure their support by how many hits they get on social media. I ask the question all the time. Are those people following you or are they trolling you?"
Q&A
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