By Ralph E. Moore, Jr.
Racism raging while at war
The horrors of the war in Ukraine duly noted, I’m sure many Americans are greatly concerned about the racially discriminatory treatment of Africans and East Indians attempting to leave Ukraine for their safety and security.
It is not a “rumor” but widely re-reported in the media that persons of color were refused transportation from Ukraine at the border. It is to my understanding that these persons of color were either disallowed from leaving war-torn Ukraine or told to walk for miles while barred from trains or buses out of the country and to safety.
It is both sad and disappointing but unsurprising. Racism is an old-age, worldwide sickness that can show up any time or anywhere.
Some of us are also greatly distressed by the news that WNBA basketball star, Brittney Griner, has been detained in Russia on what appears to be relatively minor drug and paraphernalia (cannabis oil and vape pens) charges.
Hard-nosed Russian officials claim she could face ten years in prison and held Griner an extended period of time before announcing her arrest to the public. A major WNBA star, Griner is a young, African-American woman, who is openly gay. Just those two facts alone rankle some Russians sensibilities.
Let us pray and do what we can to advocate for fair treatment of persons of color in the midst of this ugly, ungodly Putin war. This too should be of great concern to us all as the Ukrainian people are being savaged and killed, displaced and conscripted to defend themselves from a clearly crazed Russian president. But racial justice and fairness from both sides of the conflict are in order.
Update on redistricting in Baltimore County for Fair Voting Rights sake:
Earlier this March, Judge Griggsby heard from all the lawyers involved about what the next steps are in order to move the Baltimore County redistricting map case forward.
The County came to the hearing asking the Court to approve its map, but Judge Griggsby declined to do that. Instead, she said that concerns had been raised about the map by the plaintiffs, the community, elected officials and civil rights organizations. She has not yet had time to fully review the issues about the map’s viability as a remedy.
Griggsby set a new evidentiary hearing for March 21, at 2:00 p.m., where she heard from witnesses and from counsel about the County’s proposed plan and the alternative plan submitted by the plaintiffs to the Court.
Among the witnesses the judge asked to be present for the hearing were Bill Cooper, Matt Barreto, James Gimpel, and Julian Jones. Both sides had until March 17 at 5:00 p.m. to submit additional briefs and analyses.
The struggle for voting rights and fair representation continues.
As expected, the hearing was conducted via zoom, and a public access line was available.
Anthony Fugett, a citizen-plaintiff who is looking for a fairer Baltimore County districts map and more representatives of color among the seven county districts, gets the last word:
“Why do Baltimore County council members think it’s okay for White voters, who constitute only half of the County’s population, to continue to control six out of seven council seats?
Why are they drafting their maps in secret and filing them in the middle of the night? It’s insulting that, in 2022, the current council thinks that the County’s 32 percent of Black voters and 48 percent of residents of color should only be allowed to be a majority in one district and allowed to have some “influence” over a presumably White council member in a second district.
To the Chair of the Council, who has been quoted saying, ‘We’re within the judge’s orders until 11:59,’ that is the definition of stonewalling. Voters in Baltimore County deserve good faith, transparency, and a truly representational democracy.”
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