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Black History Month BY James A. Johnson

AJ Woodson
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Black History Month BY James A. Johnson

“The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But Bends Toward Justice” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Race is still a problem in the 21st Century manifested economically, socially, educationally, and in many other ways. America’s long history of racial injustice has produced substantial differences between Black and white students in most measures of educational potential and performance.

Diversity inside higher education does not represent a national consensus. The use of race as a factor in college admissions is waning. The fact is that being “Black” in America places one at a substantial disadvantage in one’s life prospects. This is contrary to any basic notion of equality of opportunity or equal life chances. The disadvantage of African Americans is a legacy of explicit racism and discriminatory policies. Affirmative action is necessary because the negative effects of racism persist that affect minorities daily in their personal and professional lives.

The American Dream

With the election of President Obama in 2009, black millennials were encouraged in the belief of the American dream. This belief is based on that hard work will provide a seat at the table. But, the envisioned path of upward mobility is proving impassable. Persons of color are still grappling with the enduring legacy of institutional racism and systemic discrimination. Elite and ordinary whites have racially framed and organized American society to prevent access to real liberty and socioeconomic advancement for people of color. From the beginning, affluent white men have constituted almost all the top positions including the White House. Consider the action that had to be taken by the U. S. Supreme Court that whites automatically enjoy at birth:

1938 Missouri ex rel Gaines v Canada – Missouri violated the 14th Amendment & required to admit Lloyd Gaines to the Univ. of Missouri Law School.

1948 Shelley v. Kraemer – prohibits racially restrictive housing covenants.

1948 Sipuel v. Oklahoma – challenged the segregation policies at the Univ. of Oklahoma.

1950 Sweat v. Painter – challenged the separate but equal doctrine of racial segregation. Heman Sweat was admitted to the University of Texas Law School.

1950 McLaurin v. Oklahoma – public institutions of higher learning could not provide different treatment to a student solely because of race.

1954 Brown v. Board of Education – segregation in public schools is inherently unequal.

1964 Civil Rights Act – ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination.

1965 Voting Rights Act – signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

1967 Loving v. Virginia – laws prohibiting interracial marriage were unconstitutional.

1968 Fair Housing Act – signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Manipulation

The above cases are only a small number of legal actions in which persons of color had to fight for to secure basic and fundamental rights. This white birthright of privilege exists from the cradle to the grave – not so for African Americans. A majority of ordinary whites have allowed themselves to be adeptly manipulated by the elite. Powerful whites have assisted ordinary whites in thinking that persons of color are the reasons for their socioeconomic problems. Even women are oppressed by white male elites. The social cost of systemic racism and sexism are great and deep. Racial and gender subordination creates diminished creativity, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, and massive violations of fundamental human rights.

Notwithstanding that African Americans have experienced unprecedented success individually, including the election and reelection of a black president of the United States, the Supreme Court has significantly slowed the pace of racial progress. Beginning with the school case Milliken v Bradley, the busing of public-school students across district lines and the Univ. of California v Bakke outlawing specific racial quotas in college admissions.

My purpose in writing this article is to educate the reader on how America was built and operates. Education is still the key to upper mobility but education alone will not fully eliminate institutional racism and systemic discrimination.

Black Experience

The black experience in America in the face of egregious discrimination is based on a strong faith and hope. For example, the late Jake Gaither famed football coach at Florida A&M University, had a newspaper article that he saved from a black newspaper published around America’s entry into World War I. It expresses unshakable faith, hope, and patriotism that rings true to this very day:

“We go to make the world safe for Democracy. We are going in spite of discrimination and prejudice, we are going in spite of mob violence, we are going in spite of Jim Crowism, we have no bitterness, no hate is surging in our breasts, even though these injustices cry out to high heaven, our faith is steadfast, our hearts beat true. It is our hope that out of this awful struggle a true Democracy will rear its altar giving out shining hope and promise to the black man in America, a real Democracy that knows no creed nor color… a Democracy which shall fold its protecting mantle about the shoulders of all men.”

In 1952 Gaither addressed the black workforce of a wood pulp company:

“I want to talk to you not as Negroes but as American citizens who have a glorious past and a rich and fertile future in the development of this great country. This is your land. The country that you helped build and develop. The country that you must live and die to protect. You are somebody. You are an American. I love to think of my people fighting in the war of Revolution – giving birth to the greatest democracy the world has ever known. I like to think of my people following Teddy Roosevelt in the battle of San Juan Hill. I like to think of the part my people played in the War to Save the Union. I like to think how valiantly my people fought in the Argonne Forest of the First World War. I like to think of the courageous stand of my people in the Battle of the Bulge. I like to think of the glorious history the Negro has.” (Samuel G. Freeman, Breaking the Line, 2013 P.24-26)

African-American history is America’s history. The very fabric of our country has been formed by the outstanding contributions of African Americans in many fields.

My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

About the Author: James A. Johnson is an accomplished trial lawyer and an active member of the Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, and Federal Court Bars. Jim concentrates on serious Personal Injury, Insurance Coverage, Sports & Entertainment Law, and Federal Criminal Defense. He can be reached at www.JamesAJohnsonEsq.com

The article originally appeared in the February 15, 2020 issue of Black Westchester Newspaper.

Racist MAGA Money Funds George Latimer’s Campaign Against Jamaal Bowman

DAMON K JONES
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Racist MAGA Money Funds George Latimer’s Campaign Against Jamaal Bowman

County Executive George Latimer is running against Representative Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat from New York. It’s important to note that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s Political Action Committee (AIPAC PAC), a Republican-funded action committee, provides significant financial support to Latimer’s campaign. AIPAC has contributed over $600,000 to Latimer’s campaign, which makes up 42% of his total campaign contributions of $1.4 million as reported to the Federal Election Commission.

If a candidate receives more financial support from Republicans than Democrats, can they still be considered a Democratic candidate? I remember a similar situation when former Mayor Andre Wallace, a registered Democrat, took the Republican party’s endorsement to remain in the mayoral race. However, he was criticized by the Democratic leadership in Mount Vernon, who accused him of being an undercover Republican. Accused by many of the same Democrats that are now supporting Latimer or silent about his GOP financial campaign support!

In the current election, we see a similar scenario with George Latimer. He is receiving contributions from Republican sources and even hosting fundraisers with prominent Donald Trump MAGA donors. This should raise questions among Black Democrats, especially in Mount Vernon, traditionally a Democratic stronghold. It’s sad that in this day and age in politics, Black Democrats in Mount Vernon and the rest of Westchester County are not asking themselves how it is possible for a candidate backed by MAGA supporters to have the same interest for me and my community.

It’s worth noting that this situation may be reminiscent of past events, and some are concerned that a candidate funded by Republicans may sway the Democratic party. It’s a situation that some find surprising, considering the legacy of figures like the late Reginald Lafayette, the former Democratic Chairman, who is up above looking on with dismay at how easily Democrats are being attracted to a candidate with racist Republican financial backing.

AIPAC, which Republicans fund, is providing significant financial support as part of its strategy to spend over $100 million to influence elections and challenge progressive Black and Brown Democrats in the House of Representatives. These progressive representatives, often collectively known as “The Squad,” are known for their criticism of Israel’s actions concerning human rights abuses against Palestinians which has been supported by the International Court of Justice’s ruling.

Lets not forget AIPAC has a history of active involvement in campaign finance and has even established a super PAC called the United Democracy Project, which spent millions opposing progressive candidates during the 2022 election season. AIPAC faced criticism for endorsing over 100 Republicans who supported overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election during that time.

To emphasize once more, George Latimer has received campaign donations from an organization that supports attempts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. These endorsements have raised concerns about whether the Westchester Democratic Party has been influenced or infiltrated by Republicans.

Latimer’s campaign has also received contributions from various donors, including venture capitalists, private equity partners, attorneys, and consultants. Some notable contributors include political strategist Bradley Tusk, who donated the maximum allowable amount of $6,600; oil trader Shai Barnea, who contributed $5,000; and Michael Benn, a partner at the corporate law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, who donated $3,300. Black Democrats, Hello! He is not your candidate!

Why this has not raised concerns, especially within the Black Democratic community, as it appears that some voters may not be fully engaged despite the abundance of available information. Supporting a candidate who is backed by Republican funding is contradictory to the values and principles typically associated with the Democratic Party.

Furthermore, there’s added complexity to the situation as Latimer’s campaign also has donor support aligned with the MAGA movement. These donors aim to challenge and defeat Black and Brown Democratic candidates across the county who advocate for transparency and human rights for Black and Brown individuals, particularly in the Gaza conflict.

In this context, it is so unfortunate that Black Democrats in CD16 may inadvertently express self-hate, a lack of self-awareness, and a disconnect from their community by supporting a candidate who appears to be influenced by MAGA donors while wearing a Democratic facade.

If these Republican-funded groups can use the slogan “Community First” and encourage Republicans to switch their party affiliation to diminish the Black vote while being the main contributors supporting George Latimer’s campaign to challenge the first Black Congressman in CD16. In that case, we can counter with our own “Community First” approach and reject their influence.

Greenburgh Human Rights Committee Presents A Conversation with Author Sarah Bracey White

AJ Woodson
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Greenburgh Human Rights Committee Presents A Conversation with Author Sarah Bracey White

In Honor of Black History Month, the Greenburgh Human Rights Advisory Committee will present an intimate afternoon with Sarah Bracey White – poet, essayist, playwright, performer and highly published author. Sarah is also Greenburgh’s longtime Director of Arts and Culture. She has been honored with
many awards for her community service.

The title of her talk is One Writer’s Life: Meeting the Challenges Head On.

This special event will also offer participants an opportunity to view Imagez of Jazz, an exhibit by photographer Hubert Williams that displays images of jazz artists through the years.

The in-person event will take place at the Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Road, Elmsford, NY 10523 on Saturday, February 24th from 2:30 until 4 pm. The event is open to the public.

High-Stakes Legal Battle In Federal Court: President Biden Accused of Complicity in Gaza ‘Genocide’ Case”

DAMON K JONES
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High-Stakes Legal Battle In Federal Court: President Biden Accused of Complicity in Gaza ‘Genocide’ Case”

A federal court in California has initiated a civil case accusing United States President Joe Biden and other senior US officials of complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza. The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of various parties, alleges that Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin failed to prevent and were complicit in Israel’s actions, which the plaintiffs describe as a “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza.

FEDERAL CASE PDF

During the recent court proceedings, lawyers, activists, and organizers, including doctors in Gaza, presented information about the situation that Palestinians have been facing for nearly four months. Since the conflict began on October 7, over 26,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, following a Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in about 1,100 casualties in Israel.

The CCR is seeking a declaration from the court that the defendants violated their duty under customary international law to prevent Israel from committing genocide against the Palestinian people of Gaza. Additionally, the group is calling for the US to use its influence over Israel to end hostilities against Palestinians in Gaza.

The CCR argues that the US’s support for Israel, including providing weapons, violates the 1948 Genocide Convention. In response, lawyers representing the Biden administration are asserting a narrow legal argument, claiming that the court lacks the authority to rule on this matter. They cite the political doctrine, which concerns the separation of powers in the United States, suggesting that foreign policy, diplomacy, military activities, and relations with allies fall under the purview of the executive branch and are not subject to judicial action by other branches of the US government.

The judge in the case also appeared to question his authority, but he began the proceedings by acknowledging the difficult situation faced by Palestinians in Gaza. Additionally, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take measures to prevent acts that could be considered genocide in Gaza and do more to assist civilians. However, the ICJ did not call for a ceasefire, despite South Africa’s request for one when presenting the case to the court.

Joy-Ann Reid Is Coming To Westchester

AJ Woodson
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Joy-Ann Reid Is Coming To Westchester

Joy-Ann Reid, the host of MSNBC’s The ReidOut & New York Times bestselling author of ‘The Man Who Sold America,’ comes to Westchester’s Iona University in New Rochelle, Sunday, February 4th to discuss her new book that traces the extraordinary lives and legacy of civil rights icons Medgar and Myrlie Evers, situating Medgar Evers’s assassination as a catalyzing moment in American history.

Myrlie Louise Beasley met Medgar Evers on her first day of college. They fell in love at first sight, married just one year later, and Myrlie left school to focus on their growing family.

Medgar became the field secretary for the Mississippi branch of the NAACP, charged with beating back the most intractable and violent resistance to black voting rights in the country. Myrlie served as Medgar’s secretary and confidant, working hand in hand with him as they struggled against public accommodations and school segregation, lynching, violence, and sheer despair within their state’s “black belt.” They fought to desegregate the intractable University of Mississippi, organized picket lines and boycotts, despite repeated terroristic threats, including the 1962 firebombing of their home, where they lived with their three young children.

On June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers became the highest profile victim of Klan-related assassination of a black civil rights leader at that time; gunned down in the couple’s driveway in Jackson. In the wake of his tragic death, Myrlie carried on their civil rights legacy; writing a book about Medgar’s fight, trying to win a congressional seat, and becoming a leader of the NAACP in her own right.

In this groundbreaking and thrilling account of two heroes of the civil rights movement, Joy-Ann Reid uses Medgar and Myrlie’s relationship as a lens through which to explore the on-the-ground work that went into winning basic rights for Black Americans, and the repercussions that still resonate today. 

Westchester Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, in partnership with Iona Univesity – Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging presents- An Afternoon with MSNBC Host and New York Times Best Selling Joy-Ann Reid.

Book: “Medgar & Myrlie: Medgar Evers and Love Story That Awakened America“

by Joy-Ann Reid

General Admission Ticket: Includes a copy of the book with an autographed book plate.

VIP Ticket: Includes the VIP Reception and includes a copy of the book with an autographed book plate

Additional Books: If you’re attending, you can buy additional books.

**You must attend the event to receive your book(s). No books will be mailed. **

To get your ticket click here

PBP Radio Episode 386 – The Attempted GOP Takeover Of Westchester Democratic Party

AJ Woodson
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PBP Radio Episode 386 – The Attempted GOP Takeover Of Westchester Democratic Party

On the 2024 Season Premiere of People Before Politics Radio, hosts Damon K. Jones and AJ Woodson are back with that ‘Real Talk For The Community’ with special guest co-host Shane Osinloye discussing the intentional influx of Republican funding to disrupt the political landscape by encouraging Republicans to switch their party affiliation to Democratic, with the expressed intention to unseat the incumbent—the first Black Congressman in New York Congressional District 16—Jamaal Bowman.

Feel free to join this important conversation and leave your feedback and thoughts in the comment section below.

Check out the Prelude to the Show Editorial, which includes all the links and websites discussed on the show so you can see them for yourself. To see the entire Rev W. Franklyn Richardson interview, click here

As always, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube

Gaza’s Healthcare Crisis: Israel’s Targeting of Hospitals Sparks Humanitarian Alarm

DAMON K JONES
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Gaza’s Healthcare Crisis: Israel’s Targeting of Hospitals Sparks Humanitarian Alarm

Since the start of Israel’s military operation in Gaza on October 7th, the conflict has resulted in the tragic loss of over 25,000 Palestinian lives, with an alarming 70 percent of the casualties being women and children. A particularly distressing dimension of this ongoing conflict has been Israel’s deliberate targeting of hospitals and medical infrastructure, further worsening the already dire state of Gaza’s healthcare system, which has endured a 16-year blockade.

On a significant note, Israel encircled and bombarded Al-Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital, over several days before launching a raid on the facility. Israel claimed the presence of a Hamas command center under Al-Shifa, a claim that Hamas vehemently denied. In the week leading up to this incident, Al-Shifa was already in a “catastrophic” state. Heavy fighting was ongoing in the vicinity, medical supplies were in short supply, utilities had been disrupted, and medical staff were compelled to work under candlelight, conducting surgeries without anesthesia.

What’s particularly distressing is that Israel gave just a one-hour notice for over 2,300 patients, medical personnel, and Palestinians who had sought shelter at Al-Shifa to evacuate before the assault. Given the circumstances, it was practically impossible to ensure the safety of all these vulnerable individuals within such a short timeframe.

As a result of Israeli attacks and power shortages, 26 out of 35 hospitals in Gaza are now non-functional. Only 9 hospitals and 18 clinics remain operational, but their capacity is severely limited. The hospitals in northern Gaza, where the conflict has been most intense, have ceased to function entirely.

It is worth noting that Israel has carried out 164 documented attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since October 7th. Hospitals, clinics, and ambulances have all been damaged or destroyed due to shelling and airstrikes. Importantly, targeting medical facilities constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law, regardless of Israel’s allegations that Hamas is using them. Hospitals are considered protected civilian structures under international law.

The collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system is a result of years of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade and the recent deliberate targeting by Israel’s military. The international community has been criticized for failing to exert pressure on Israel to comply with its legal obligations or suspend relations. Ultimately, an end to this devastating assault on civilians will only come when those responsible face genuine accountability for their serious breaches of international law. The denial of Palestinians’ right to medical care is a distressing consequence of the ongoing bombardment of Gaza.

World Court Orders Israel to Prevent Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza

DAMON K JONES
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World Court Orders Israel to Prevent Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently ordered Israel to take several provisional measures in response to a case brought by South Africa alleging Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The measures aim to protect Palestinians from further harm while the case proceeds.

Specifically, the ICJ ordered Israel to:

  • Refrain from acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention
  • Prevent and punish direct calls encouraging genocide
  • Take immediate steps to ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza
  • Preserve evidence related to allegations of genocide
  • Report back in one month on compliance

Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, welcomed the ruling as an important reminder that international law has a crucial role in preventing genocide and protecting victims. She said the decision sends a message that the world is watching what’s happening in Gaza and will not stay silent.

However, Callamard stressed that while an important step, the ICJ ruling alone cannot end the death and devastation occurring in Gaza. An immediate ceasefire by all parties remains essential. Although the Court did not order a ceasefire, implementing one would be the most effective way to fulfill the ordered measures and alleviate civilian suffering.

The stakes are incredibly high, as the Court signaled that the very survival of Palestinians in Gaza is at risk. All states now must ensure Israel complies. World leaders, including from the US, UK, Germany and EU, must demonstrate respect for this legally binding decision and do everything possible to uphold the obligation to prevent genocide.

In addition to compliance with the ICJ’s order, states should take further steps like imposing a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and Palestinian armed groups. The potential for genocide underscores the need for unified, effective pressure to stop the violence against civilians in Gaza.

NY State Comptroller: Mount Vernon School District Under Significant Fiscal Stress

DAMON K JONES
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NY State Comptroller: Mount Vernon School District Under Significant Fiscal Stress

In a recent report by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, it was revealed that sixteen school districts in the state have been designated as experiencing varying levels of fiscal stress for the school year ending June 30, 2023. This marks a slight increase from the previous year when 14 districts were in fiscal stress. However, the current numbers remain significantly lower than the 33 districts that faced fiscal stress in 2019.

The reduction in the number of school districts facing fiscal stress can be attributed to increased temporary federal aid and growth in state aid. These financial injections provided much-needed support to schools grappling with the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The number of districts designated in fiscal stress remains low after significant increases to both federal and state aid over the past few years,” commented Comptroller DiNapoli. “Although federal relief packages and state aid provided much-needed assistance, school officials should remain diligent and closely monitor their financial condition in the current and future budget cycles as one-time federal funds are depleted and state aid is uncertain.”

To mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic, the federal government passed three major multiyear grants of aid, while New York State substantially increased ongoing state aid in the 2022-23 school year. Furthermore, the state committed to fully funding Foundation Aid for school districts by the 2023-24 school year. As a result, total state aid reported by school districts (excluding New York City and the Big Four) increased from $15.1 billion in the 2021-22 school year to $16.7 billion in 2022-23, representing a noteworthy increase of $1.6 billion, or 10.1%.

Comptroller DiNapoli’s Fiscal Stress Monitoring System is designed to identify budgetary solvency issues faced by school districts, counties, cities, towns, and villages. This system assesses various factors, including year-end fund balances, operating deficits and surpluses, cash positions, and reliance on short-term debt for cash flow. The resulting fiscal stress score determines the severity of financial stress, with higher scores indicating more significant challenges.

In the recent assessment, three school districts were found to be in “significant fiscal stress,” the highest category. These districts include the Amityville Union Free School District and New Suffolk Common School District, both located in Suffolk County, as well as the Mount Vernon School District in Westchester County. Additionally, the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District in Albany County was designated as being in “moderate fiscal stress,” while twelve other districts were labeled as “susceptible to fiscal stress.”

Despite the overall positive trend in reducing fiscal stress among New York State school districts, the report highlights the importance of continued vigilance and prudent financial management as the effects of one-time federal funds wane and state aid remains uncertain in future budget cycles.

Prelude To Sunday’s Show Addressing the Attempted GOP Coup Of The Westchester Democratic Party

AJ Woodson
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Prelude To Sunday’s Show Addressing the Attempted GOP Coup Of The Westchester Democratic Party

Well, over the past few weeks, I have sat back and read all the news, coverage, and online opinions of the CD16 Race and it may have been noticed that my voice has been visibly absent. I recently had surgery and have been home recovering. Yes, I am okay. I am still in a little pain but I can no longer sit back silently. It’s time for some Real Talk!!!

My partner, Damon K. Jones, has picked up the pen in my absence and released a series of articles on various aspects of what’s going on. Please feel free to click on his name and play catch-up if you need to.

We will be addressing all of this on Sunday’s show—our season premiere, if you will—but I must say this is bigger than supporting Congressman Jamaal Bowman for re-election. This is about big interest groups, superPACs, and MAGA Republicans influencing the results of a Democratic primary.

Groups like AIPAC – The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which many are arguing isn’t a PAC but an organization. They would be right but two things can be true at the same time. AIPAC created a super PAC – the AIPAC Political Action Committee, which touts itself as the largest Pro-Isreal Pac in America on its website. They just leave that part out in their arguement, like Latimer, was recruited by AIPAC as part of the group’s $100 million campaign against progressive Israel critics.

Then there is The District Pac, a Westchester-based political action committee that handed out cards at a rally at the shopping center on the Scarsdale/New Rochelle border on Thursday evening. The cards say Defeat Bowman (in bold letters) and Make The Switch. They are encouraging Republicans to register as Democrats and vote against Bowman in the June Democratic Primary. While the AIPAC PAC is threatening to spend $100 million to unseat every member of The Squad (including Jamaal Bowman), The District PAC is much less subtle; they are boldly trying to circumvent the political process in a MAGA GOP takeover of the Democratic Primary.

Instead of working to change the law and fight for Open Primaries like Black Westchester has been doing for the past ten years, they are blatantly attempting to sabotage and cumulatively undermine the electoral process. These bold PACs aren’t even trying to hide their actions; they have created websites and business cards spelling out their intentions, counting on Democrats to focus on all the anti-semitism noise and being guilted into standing with Isreal against the evil terrorist Hamas, that they don’t see their control of their party slipping from their fingertips in real-time.

This would not be the first time Republicans tried to take over another political party in Westchester County using similar tactics. In October 2013, the Westchester Independence Party filed a suit against former CE Rob Astorino and other defendants, alleging that Astorino and his campaign attempted to win the party’s nomination by coercing dozens of staff members, political associates, friends, and family members to switch their party affiliation to the Independence Party. Eight months later, in June of 2014, State Supreme Court Justice Robert DiBella ordered the removal of 3,700 Republican names from the rolls of Westchester County’s Independence Party after complaints from the party chairman that they were allies of the former Republican gubernatorial candidate and improperly changed affiliations to ensure he’d be re-elected as county executive.

They are at it again, Jonathan Harris, a member of a New Rochelle synagogue, sent out an email urging the synagogue’s Republican members to change parties before the primary so that they can vote for Latimer.

“If you are a registered Republican voter, you are not eligible to vote in the all-important Democratic primary,” says Harris’s email, a copy of which was obtained by The Intercept. “It is critically important that if you are a registered Republican, at least for this election you should re-register as a Democrat so you can vote in the primary (against Bowman).” 

Now that the MAGA GOP has revealed their plans, what are the Democrats going to do about it? I have seen some diehard Dems post comments like ‘you can’t blame Latimer for their actions.’ Latimer is even seeking to draw attention away from his Israel stance. Instead, he has billed himself as a progressive. The only problem is progressives don’t take money from MAGA GOP super PACs to unseat other Democrats, or maybe the definition of progressive has changed in 2024!

Other Dems have commented on Facebook, ‘I never heard of these organizations before,’ like that makes them any less threatening to the electrical process. Others are singing choruses of ‘Bowman did this or didn’t do that,’ etc. I guess it’s okay if MAGA GOP influences the primary election to raise money and infiltrate the Westchester Democratic Party, as long as it gets the outcome you want.

In addition, the Teach Coalition plans to spend a substantial $1.6 million to remove Congressman Jamaal Bowman from his position. This organization operates in seven states and is actively involved in a campaign centered on Westchester County, which has been covered by Lohud. Damon also sounded the alarm of a MAGA GOP takeover or coup of the Westchester Democratic Party last week. I saw many Democrats laugh in response to his editorial and throw shade on Bowman. I repeat this is much bigger than Bowman’s re-election bid

Damon also wrote about wealthy GOP donor Alex Dubitsky, a supporter of former President Trump, hosting a fundraiser for Democrat George Latimer’s challenge of Rep. Bowman in the Democratic primary. This fundraiser, where guests could pay up to $6,600 per person, has sparked controversy due to Dubitsky’s substantial donations to Trump and the Republican National Committee.

I have to question where Westchester County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Suzanne Berger stands on this carefully orchestrated coup of the Westchester Democratic Party. While Black Westchester has often been critical of former Democratic Chair Reginald Lafayette, I doubt he would sit still for this attempted takeover if he were still chair of the party. Would we even be in this position under Reggie? Would Latimer even run to challenge Bowman, if Reggie was still alive and in charge, I do not think so.

In my Laurence Fishburne, School Daze voice it’s time for the Dems to WAKE UP!

Tune in this Sunday, January 28th at 6PM to Black Westchester present The People Before Politics Radio Show, where Damon & I and a few guests will be discussing this extensively!

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