#pastor Robert Elwood

[whitesinhistory]

On June 23, 1903, a white mob of more than 4,000 people in Wilmington, Delaware, burned a Black man named George White to death before he could stand trial. Mr. White was arrested and accused of killing a young white woman. He adamantly denied any involvement in the crime but was denied the opportunity to defend himself in court. During the era of racial terror, many Black people were lynched after being accused of murder. The mere suggestion of Black-on-white violence could provoke mob violence and lynching. Here, despite Mr. White’s insistence that he was innocent, Wilmington residents were determined to lynch him without delay.  Within one week of Mr. White’s arrest, two lynch mobs attempted to abduct him from the workhouse where he was being held. White Wilmington residents talked openly about these lynching plans. In a sermon on June 21, local white pastor Robert Elwood urged white residents to exact swift public vengeance by lynching Mr. White. A lynch mob began forming the next day, and its members spent the next two days meticulously planning the public spectacle lynching that took place on June 23. Despite this public planning, in which mob members even shared their plans in advance with police officers, authorities charged with protecting Mr. White did not relocate him to a different jail or take any other measures to prevent the lynching. In the early morning hours of June 23, the lynch mob had grown to thousands and included people who had traveled from out of town to participate. The mob stormed the workhouse where Mr. White was being held and threatened to destroy every cell to get him unless authorities turned him over. Officers ultimately chose to protect the property of the jail rather than the life of a man they had a legal duty to protect; after leading the mob to his cell, the officers turned Mr. White over and “stood by to await the inevitable.”  The mob removed Mr. White from the jail and led him, chained, through a crowd of thousands to the pyre built outside the jail, where he was bound with rope and forced into the open flames. As Mr. White burned to death, the crowd of white men, women, and children there to participate in the lynching threw rocks at him and cheered.  After Mr. White was dead, members of the mob continued to shoot at his charred body, and lynching participants took pieces of his remains as “souvenirs”; a local white physician reportedly took Mr. White’s skull and right foot to display in the window of a local saloon. Though thousands of known residents were complicit in the lynching of George White, no one was ever held responsible. Mr. White is one of over 4,400 victims of racial terror lynching killed in the U.S., and more than 300 victims killed outside the states of the former Confederacy, between 1877 and 1950.  In 2019, the Delaware Social Justice Remembrance Coalition gathered with hundreds of community members to unveil a historical marker memorializing Mr. White. 

[the-record-obituaries]

Jan. 16, 2019: Obituaries

Franklin Delano Bell, age 85

Franklin Delano Bell, age 85, of Millers Creek, passed away Saturday, January 12, 2019, at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. He was born July 27, 1933 in Wilkes County to Clay H. and Grace McNeil Bell. Mr. Bell was a US Army Veteran and was previously employed with the United States Postal Service. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, Jerry Bell.

Surviving are his wife, Frances Childress Bell; daughters, Kimberly Johnson and husband Chris of North Wilkesboro, Donna Smith and husband Rev. Randy of Deep Gap; sister, Sara Sowers of Greensboro; eight grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren

Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 17, 2019, at Congo Pentecostal Holiness Church with Rev. Luke Pyles and Rev. Randy Smith officiating. Burial with military honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard Post 1142 will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Congo Pentecostal Holiness Church from 12:00 until 2:00 on Thursday, prior to the service. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Congo Pentecostal Holiness Church Building Fund, c/o Linda Huffman, 287  Cactus Lane, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.millerfuneralservice.com

 Evelyn Taylor, 90

Mrs. Evelyn Marie Steele Taylor, age 90, widow of Vernest Elwood Taylor, died Saturday, January 12, 2019 at her home.

           Funeral services were January 15,   at Cub Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Brian Sampson, Rev. Scotty Roten, and Rev. Virgil Woodie officiating.  Burial was in the church cemetery.  

           Mrs. Taylor was born on September 4, 1928 in Rocky Mount, VA to Ivey and Carrie Lou Minton Steele.  She was a secretary at Texaco Oil Company in North Wilkesboro as well as at other businesses. She enjoyed cooking, quilting, traveling and spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She was a member of Cub Creek Baptist Church.

           In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Vernest Taylor, and two brothers, Charles Robert (Bobby) Steele of Zionville and Ivey Steele, Jr. of Athens, GA.

           She is survived by one son, Edwin Taylor of the home; one daughter, Elizabeth (Susie) Harris of Wilkesboro; one granddaughter, Charly Harris of Wilkesboro; two great grandchildren, Tre` and Kassidy Lowe of Wilkesboro; a brother, Raymond Steele, and wife, Lulabelle, of Hiddenite; and several nieces and nephews.

           Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Cub Creek Baptist Church, P.O. Box 86, Wilkesboro NC 28697, or to the donor's choice.

 Mauvreen  Combs, 89

Mrs. Mauvreen Gentry Combs, age 89 of Wake Forest, formerly of Wilkes County, died Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Hillside Nursing and Rehabilitation in Wake Forest.

           Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at Pleasant Home Baptist Church in the Lomax community, with Rev. Danny Bauguess and Rev. Mike Ester officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

           Mrs. Combs was born March 19, 1929 in Wilkes County to Carmel and Vallie Sparks Gentry.  She was a member of Pleasant Home Baptist Church.

           Mrs. Combs was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roy Mastin Jack Combs; and three sisters, Jean Tucker, Inez Ester, and Sybil McCann.

           She is survived by two daughters, Gail Combs Uzzell of Raleigh, and Terry Combs Lopez and husband, Antonio, of  Freeport, Bahamas; one son, Reginald F. Combs and wife, Dianne, of Lewisville; five grandchildren, Chandler Minton Conklin and husband, Ronald Dean Conklin, Zachary W. Minton, Emily Combs Yeatts and husband, John, Edward F. Combs and wife, Laurel, and maria Isabella Lopez; six great-grandchildren, Ashley R Conklin, Shelby D. Conklin, John "Jack" Yeatts, Jr., Walter F. Yeatts, Clara P. Combs, and Madeline A. Combs; and one sister, Rebecca Gentry Cauthren and husband, Shelbie D. Cauthren, of Roaring River.

           In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pleasant Home Baptist Church, 162 Byrd Road, Roaring  River NC 28669.

 James Wilborn, 63

Mr. James Henry Wilborn, age 63 of North Wilkesboro, died Friday at Hospice of the Piedmont in Highpoint.

           Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Thursday, January 17, 2019 at New Damascus Baptist Church with Rev. Keith Knox, Rev. Brent Bailey, and Rev John A. Speaks officiating.  Burial will be in High View Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 1:00 prior to the service at the church.

           Mr. Wilborn was born January 7, 1956 in Wilkes County to Charles William and Cora Alice Barber Wilborn.  James began his career at Wilkes ADAP, Inc. on June 9, 1977. And he truly lived a full life!! He called ADAP - "school" but it was truly work.  James was a member of the yard/janitorial crew. he mastered over the years - using the riding mower - even loading it on the trailer, push mower, weed eater, and the leaf blower.  He also worked hard when the crew went out to rake leaves and stack logs. James also loved working with the janitorial crew. He would vacuum tirelessly - till the job was done. James loved to work - but he also loved earning money and going to the bank to cash his check.  This was his pattern for 42 years!!! He also loved gospel music and especially the song, "Oh Happy Day".

           Mr. Wilborn was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Rufus Wilborn; and two sisters, Wilma Calloway and Janice Eller.  

           He is survived by three sisters, Billie Cuffee and husband, Lonnie, of Wilkesboro, Cora Ellen Simpson and husband, Keith, of North Wilkesboro, and Melissa Richardson and husband, Danny, of North Wilkesboro; and four brothers, Spencer Wilborn and wife, Veronica, Lawrence Wilborn, Alvin Wilborn and wife, Norma, and Clyde Wilborn, all of North Wilkesboro.  He also held a special place in his heart for his nieces and nephews.

           Flowers will be accepted or memorials made to Wilkes ADAP, P.O.  Box 698, North Wilkesboro NC 28659.

  Joan  Porter, 79

Joan Huffman Porter, age 79, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. She was born June 22, 1939 in Wilkes County to James Wayne and Edith Beshears Huffman. She was a member of Welcome Home Baptist Church in North Wilkesboro. Ms. Porter was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Charlie Huffman.

           Surviving are her daughter, Sharri Porter and husband Stephan Lackey of North Wilkesboro; grandchildren, Jennifer Foster and husband Chad, Ryan Lackey all of North Wilkesboro; and brother, Jerry Huffman and wife Lydia of Boone.

           Funeral service was January 12,  at Miller Funeral Chapel with Rev. John Triplett officiating. Burial  was in Welcome Home Baptist Church Cemetery.  Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Care, PO Box 984, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or to Wake Forest Baptist Health & Hospice, 126 Executive Drive, Suite 110, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.

           Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

  Bill Wolfe, 84

Mr. Bill Turner Wolfe, age 84 of Ferguson, passed away Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at his home.

           Funeral services were January 11,  at Lewis Fork Baptist Church with Pastor Dwayne Andrews officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.  

           Mr. Wolfe was born January 20, 1934 in Wilkes County to Blaine James and Mary Ann Cardwell Wolfe. He was retired from Broyhill Furniture. Bill enjoyed coon hunting, working with his Honey Bees and being outside. He was a member of Elk Creek Baptist Church.

           He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife; Dorothy Marie Goforth Wolfe, an infant daughter; Sharon Kay Wolfe, a brother; Willie Wolfe, a sister; Hattie P. Wolfe and a granddaughter; Brittany Caudill.

           Mr. Wolfe is survived by five daughters; Sandra Wolfe Harless, Patty Wolfe, Susan Wolfe Ratliff and Janet Wolfe Milam all of Ferguson and April Wolfe Johnson and husband Scott of North Wilkesboro, a son; Billy Wolfe and wife Alicia of Ferguson, ten grandchildren; LeAnn Church, Jessica Younce, BJ Younce, Sydney Church, Brandon Sturgill, Miranda Carter, Kayla Burchette, Presley Caudill, Nathan Johnson and Hannah Johnson, thirteen great grandchildren; Mackenzie Berk, Skyler Kluttz, Gavin Gilbert, Trinity Absher, Hayden Absher, Jade Wolfe, Draken Wolfe, Cayden Wolfe, Ember Wolfe, Cody Burchette, Grayson Carter, Emma Caudill and William Caudill and three brothers; Willard Wolfe of Ferguson, JB Wolfe and wife Mary of TN and  Fred Wolfe of North Wilkesboro.

 Altha McNeil, 93

Mrs. Altha McNeil, age 93 affectionately known to her friends and family as "Granny" passed away after an extended illness on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.  A native of Wilkes County, NC, she and her first husband Charles Faw moved to Damascus, VA around 1947 to manage a Smithey's Department Store. She lived in Damascus until Charles died on July 1978.  She remarried her second husband Thomas McNeil in 1981. They moved to Maryland for a short period of time before they returned to Damascus. After Thomas died in 1996, she moved back to Wilkes County, NC where she lived in her childhood home until 2016.  With failing health she moved to Thomasville, NC to live with her daughter Judy until her death.

           Altha "Granny" was preceded in death by her parents; Odell and Ella Moore, a brother, Paul Moore, an infant brother, Howard, her first husband, Charles Faw and her second husband, Thomas McNeil.  Altha is survived by her children; Judy Butler (Roger) of Thomasville, NC and Eddie Faw (Ann) of Burnsville, NC. She is also survived by her four granddaughters; Christi Bryant of Abingdon, VA, Shana Holcombe of Myrtle Beach, SC, Kimberly Greene (Steve) of Cary, NC, and Jennifer Guilfoil (John) of Harrisburg, NC, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter and a brother; Jack Moore of Yadkinville, NC, a sister; Georgia Faw of North Wilkesboro.

           Altha loved her family and was proud to host a semi-annual family get together where she included family and friends from all facets of her life.  She was a warm loving person who never met a stranger and always a had a smile and a positive attitude. And most importantly she loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

           Funeral services was January 15,  at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel, 270 Armory Road, North Wilkesboro, NC  with Rev. Jonah Parker and Mr. Sid Crunk officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. prior to the service at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Calloway Cemetery in West Jefferson, NC.

           In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Drive, Highpoint, NC 27262.

           The family wishes to thank Hospice for their care of Granny with a special thank you to her nurse Rachel and the Chaplain Chris and Social Worker Kat.

  Patsy  Johnson, 83

Mrs. Patsy Mae Johnson, age 83 of Wilkesboro passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist-Wilkes Medical Center.

           Funeral services were  January 11,   at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with Rev. Ken Boaz officiating.  Burial was in Oak Forest Baptist Church Cemetery.  

           Mrs. Johnson was born October 29, 1935 in Wilkes County to Fred Gales and Minnie Church Gales.  She was a member of Oak Forest Baptist Church.

           In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband; Rex Edwin Johnson, one son; Rex Allen Johnson, two sisters; Doshie Anderson and Trilby Johnson and one brother; Carlie Gales.

           She is survived by one daughter: Ginger J. Barker, one son; Mark E. Johnson and wife JoAnn all of Wilkesboro; eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

           Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Wake Forest Care At-Home Hospice, 126 Executive Drive, Suite 110, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.

Carol  Kennedy, 74

Carol Johnson Kennedy, age 74, of Hays, passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at her home, surrounded by her husband, children and family. Mrs. Kennedy was born December 22, 1944 in Wilkes County to Rev. Lester and Eulala Church Johnson. She was preceded in death by her parents; and seven siblings.

           Surviving are her husband, Johnny D. Kennedy; her children, Karen Shumate and husband Gene of McGrady, Jon Kennedy and wife Tera of Hays, Wendy Porter and husband Brian of North Wilkesboro, Hank Kennedy and husband Brent Ridenour of Kernersville; brothers, Allen Johnson of North Wilkesboro, Dale Johnson of Roanoke, Virginia, Claude Johnson of Hays; sister, Carrie Billings of Traphill; grandchildren, Rusty Shumate, Kendall Shumate, Michelle Porter, Troy Porter; great grandchildren, Kayden Morgan, Kamryn Scott, Keria Hayes and Sydney Ellis.

           Funeral service was January 11,   at Miller Funeral Chapel with Rev. David Key and Carlton Johnson officiating. Burial was in the Kennedy Family Cemetery.  

           In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 688  North Bridge Street, Elkin, NC 28621. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Steven Anderson, 66

Mr. Steven Jack Anderson, age 66 of Boomer passed away Monday, January 7, 2019 at his home.

           A graveside service with full Fire Fighters Honors was January 10,   at Scenic Memorial Gardens with Dr. Chris Hefner, Rev. Robert Duncan, and Rev. Gary Watson officiating.  

           Mr. Anderson was born April 3, 1952 in Caldwell County to Doris June Anderson.  He worked for Lowes' Companies, Inc. and was a member of Wilkesboro Baptist Church and the Ferguson Volunteer Fire Department.

           In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by a brother, Jerry Wayne Anderson.

           He is survived by his wife; Joyce Adams Anderson of the home, his son and daughter-in-law; Steven Patrick and Andrea Watson Anderson of Deep Gap, one grandson; Jackson Garrett Anderson of Deep Gap;  nephews   Captain Jerry Wayne Anderson, Phillip W. Smith, Eric F. Smith, Douglas A. Smith,

Norman Adams, 76

Mr. Norman Adams, age 76 of Winston-Salem, passed away Sunday, January 6, 2019 at his home.

Mr. Adams, a retired Personnel Director of the Fulton County Human Services Department, served his country proudly as a veteran of the US Armed Forces. He also earned an Associate of Science degree at Essex County College, a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Southwest University, and a Bachelor of Arts at Jersey City State College. Mr. Adams will be remembered as an avid civil and social activist and educator. He was awarded for his involvement with Volunteering in Service to America by US Vice President Hubert Humphrey and served on the Forsyth Board of Elections.

Memorial services with Military Honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1142 will be held 3:00 PM Sunday, January 13, 2019 at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with Rev. John Speaks, Pastor V.C. Crawford, and Kenneth Turner officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 PM prior to the service at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.

Mr. Adams was born August 3, 1942 in Wilkes County to Donald and Frances Glenn Adams.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother: Harry Adams.

He is survived by a sister: Gyllie Edge of Maryland; one son: Dwayne Adams; one nephew: Brian Adams and two nieces: Tianna Adams and Meanna Adams; one great nephew and two great nieces; fiance' Eva Johnson King.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Online condolences may be made at www.reinssturdivant.com.

  Edward Ray Osborne, age 66

Edward Ray Osborne, age 66, of Millers Creek, passed away Saturday at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. He was born February 15, 1952 in Wilkes County to Roscoe Brantley and Maudie Williams Osborne. Mr. Osborne was a member of Cricket Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Joan Adams.

Surviving are his wife, Pam Miller Osborne; daughter, Amanda Hopkins and husband Matthew of Wilkesboro; granddaughters, Elsa Hopkins and Greta Hopkins; sisters, Ethel Sheets and husband Carl of Millers Creek, Claire O. Donaldson, Velma Sturgill both of North Wilkesboro; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at Cricket Baptist Church with Rev. Randall Millsaps, Rev. Burl Jones and Rev. Gary Benesh officiating. Burial will follow in Mtn. Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Cricket Baptist Church from 12:00 until 1:00 on Wednesday, prior to the service. Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.millerfuneralservice.com

  Kayla Melissa Dubuque, age 25

Kayla Melissa Dubuque, age 25, of North Wilkesboro, passed away, Sunday, January 6, 2019. She was born March 29, 1993 in Wilkes County to Kyle Dubuque and Kimberly Sheppard. Kayla enjoyed spending times with her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Kristal Gale Dubuque.

She is survived by her father and step mother, Kyle and Charlene Dubuque of North Wilkesboro; her mother, Kimberly Sheppard Young of Wilkesboro; brothers, Jamie Anderson, Joshua Evan Dubuque both of Elizabethton, Tennessee; sister, Kimberly Nicole Dubuque of North Wilkesboro, brothers, James Wyatt, William Wyatt both of North Wilkesboro, William Hairston of Wilkesboro.

Memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m. Friday, January 11, 2019 at Miller Funeral Chapel with Pastor Lane Roark officiating. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.millerfuneralservice.com

[orendrasingh]

White lynch mobs in America murdered at least 4,467 people between 1883 and 1941, hanging, burning, dismembering, garroting and blowtorching their victims. Their violence was widespread but not indiscriminate: About 3,300 of the lynched were black, according to the most recent count by sociologists Charles Seguin and David Rigby. The remaining dead were white, Mexican, of Mexican descent, Native American, Chinese or Japanese. Such numbers, based on verifiable newspaper reports, represent a minimum. The full human toll of racial lynching may remain ever beyond reach.Religion was no barrier for these white murderers, as I’ve discovered in my research on Christianity and lynch mobs in the Reconstruction-era South. White preachers incited racial violence, joined the Ku Klux Klan and lynched black people. Sometimes, the victim was a pastor. Buttressing white supremacyWhen considering American racial terror, the first question to answer is not how a lynch mob could kill a man of the cloth but why white lynch mobs killed at all. The typical answer from Southern apologists was that only black men who raped white women were targeted. In this view, lynching was “popular justice” – the response of an aggrieved community to a heinous crime.Journalists like Ida B. Wells and early sociologists like Monroe Work saw through that smokescreen, finding that only about 20% to 25% of lynching victims were alleged rapists. About 3% were women. Some were children. Black people were lynched for murder or assault, or on suspicion that they committed those crimes. They could also be lynched for looking at a white woman or for bumping the shoulder of a white woman. Some were killed for being near or related to someone accused of the aforementioned offenses.Identifying the dead is supremely difficult work. As sociologists Amy Kate Bailey and Stewart Tolnay argue persuasively in their 2015 book “Lynched,” very little is known about lynching victims beyond their gender and race. But by cross-referencing news reports with census data, scholars and civil rights organizations are uncovering more details.One might expect that mobs seeking to destabilize the black community would focus on the successful and the influential – people like preachers or prominent business owners. Instead, lynching disproportionately targeted lower-status black people – individuals society would not protect, like the agricultural worker Sam Hose of Georgia and men like Henry Smith, a Texas handyman accused of raping and killing a three-year-old girl. The rope and the pyre snuffed out primarily the socially marginal: the unemployed, the unmarried, the precarious – often not the prominent – who expressed any discontentment with racial caste.That’s because lynching was a form of social control. By killing workers with few connections who could be economically replaced – and doing so in brutal, public ways that struck terror into black communities – lynching kept white supremacy on track. Fight from the front linesSo black ministers weren’t often lynching victims, but they could be targeted if they got in the way. I.T. Burgess, a preacher in Putnam County, Florida, was hanged in 1894 after being accused of planning to instigate a revolt, according to a May 30, 1894, story in the Atlanta Constitution newspaper. Later that year, in December, the Constitution also reported, Lucius Turner, a preacher near West Point, Georgia, was shot by two brothers for apparently writing an insulting note to their sister. Ida B. Wells wrote in her 1895 editorial “A Red Record” about Reverend King, a minister in Paris, Texas, who was beaten with a Winchester Rifle and placed on a train out of town. His offense, he said, was being the only person in Lamar County to speak against the horrific 1893 lynching of the handyman Henry Smith. In each of these cases, the victim’s profession was ancillary to their lynching. But preaching was not incidental to black pastors’ resistance to lynching. My dissertation research shows black pastors across the U.S. spoke out against racial violence during its worst period, despite the clear danger that it put them in. Many, like the Washington, D.C., Presbyterian pastor Francis Grimke, preached to their congregations about racial violence. Grimke argued for comprehensive anti-racist education as a way to undermine the narratives that led to lynching.Other pastors wrote furiously about anti-black violence. Charles Price Jones, the founder of the Church of God (Holiness) in Mississippi, for example, wrote poetry affirming the African heritage of black Americans. Sutton Griggs, a black Baptist pastor from Texas, wrote novels that were, in reality, thinly veiled political treatises. Pastors wrote articles against lynching in their own denominational newspapers. By any means necessarySome white pastors decried racial terror, too. But others used the pulpit to instigate violence. On June 21, 1903, the white pastor of Olivet Presbyterian church in Delaware used his religious leadership to incite a lynching. Preaching to a crowd of 3,000 gathered in downtown Wilmington, Reverend Robert A. Elwood urged the jury in the trial of George White – a black farm laborer accused of raping and killing a 17-year-old white girl, Helen Bishop – to pronounce White guilty speedily. Otherwise, Elwood continued, according to a June 23, 1903 New York Times article, White should be lynched. He cited the Biblical text 1 Corinthians 5:13, which orders Christians to “expel the wicked person from among you.” “The responsibility for lynching would be yours for delaying the execution of the law,” Elwood thundered, exhorting the jury.George White was dragged out of jail the next day, bound and burned alive in front of 2,000 people. The following Sunday, a black pastor named Montrose W. Thornton discussed the week’s barbarities with his own congregation in Wilmington. He urged self-defense.“There is but one part left for the persecuted negro when charged with crime and when innocent. Be a law unto yourself,” he told his parishioners. “Die in your tracks, perhaps drinking the blood of your pursuer.” Newspapers around the country denounced both sermons. An editorial in the Washington Star said both pastors had “contributed to the worst passions of the mob.”By inciting lynching and advocating for self defense, the editors judged, Elwood and Thornton had “brought the pulpit into disrepute.” [You’re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation’s authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend.]This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.Read more: * Lynching memorial shows women were victims, too * Maryland has created a truth commission on lynchings – can it deliver? * An editor and his newspaper helped build white supremacy in GeorgiaMalcolm Brian Foley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.]] George Floyd protests aren't just anti-racist – they are anti-authoritarianThe massive protests that erupted across the United States – and beyond – after the police killing of George Floyd are billed as anti-racist mobilizations, and that they are. Demonstrators are denouncing police violence in minority communities and demanding that officers who abuse their power be held accountable. But I see something more in this wave of American protests, too. As a sociologist specializing in Latin America’s human rights movements and policing, I see a pro-democracy movement of the sort much common south of the border. The Latin Americanization of United StatesNormally, U.S. protests have little in common with Latin America’s. Demonstrations in the U.S. are usually characterized by pragmatic, specific goals like protecting abortion access or defending gun rights. They reflect, for the most part, an enduring faith in the constitution and democratic progress. American protests are rarely nationwide, and even more rarely persist for weeks.Latin America protests, on the other hand, are often sustained movements with ambitious goals. They seek regime change or an entirely new constitutional order. Take Venezuela, for example. There, millions have been protesting the autocratic President Nicolás Maduro for years, despite brutal suppression by police and the military – though the opposition has not yet succeeded in ousting him. Even Chile, a relatively stable democracy, in 2019 faced massive anti-inequality demonstrations demanding, among other things, that the country rewrite its dictatorship-era constitution.Today’s U.S. demonstrations call to mind this kind of Latin American anti-authoritarian movement. Americans’ famed faith in democracy has been eroding under Trump, a leader who, as a recent article in the Journal of Democracy noted, is “increasingly willing to break down institutional safeguards and disregard the rights of critics and minorities.” There is growing concern that voter suppression, especially targeting minority voters, will undermine the 2020 election. An ongoing study by sociologist Dana Fisher from the University of Maryland found that of hundreds of protesters in multiple cities, “people participating in the recent protests are extremely dissatisfied with the state of democracy.” Just 4% of respondents said they were “satisfied with democracy,” the author reported.And these demonstrations are spreading across the country, say protest researchers Lara Putnam, Jeremy Pressman and Erica Chenoweth – including into small, largely white towns with deeply conservative politics. In terms of nationwide participation, they have eclipsed the women’s marches of January 2017. Undemocratic tendenciesFor Latin Americans, much about the United States has become familiar since Trump took office that January. We recognize the strongman president, the politicizing of democratic institutions like the Justice Department, the open political corruption, partisanship on the Supreme Court and the president’s reverence for military leaders. As if to complete the Latin Americanization of this once archetypal democracy, Trump even deployed troops to suppress civilian protesters – something that’s almost never done in the United States.Washington has historically had few qualms, however, about using its military to influence Latin American politics and society. From the 1960s through the 1980s, authoritarian military governments ruled Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and beyond, with overt and covert U.S. support.Democracy retook Latin America by the last quarter of the 20th century, but the region’s recovery from authoritarianism is far from finished. My research on civil-military relations is part of a large body of academic literature showing that military forces remain a latent presence behind Latin America’s democratically elected governments. The scholar Cynthia Enloe calls this the “ideology of militarism.”From Nicaragua to Venezuela and Bolivia, many elected governments in the region have devolved into essentially authoritarian regimes. Their populist leaders use quasi-constitutional methods like plebiscites, voter suppression and constitutional amendments to strengthen their power. These undemocratic tendencies explain Latin America’s regular, sustained waves of massive anti-authoritarian protests. In a similar way, Trump’s undemocratic tendencies explain some of the energy driving these young, multiracial crowds on American streets today. According to University of Maryland researcher Dana Fischer, 45% of white protesters surveyed said Trump motivated them to march, compared to 32% of black people. Police violencePolice brutality is another underlying shared feature between American and Latin American protest movements.As Black Americans have long recognized, police brutality is an instrument of authoritarian repression. In some Latin American countries, police routinely execute those they determine to be gang members, drug traffickers or common criminals and face no consequences. We call it police vigilantism.Brazil is home to one of the world’s most lethal police forces. Last year, police in the state of Rio de Janeiro killed a record 1,810 people. The victims are predominantly young black and brown men from poor neighborhoods. In comparison, local police in the United States – which has about 100 million more people than Brazil – killed 1,004 people nationwide in 2019, according to a Washington Post analysis. Half of them were people of color aged 18 to 44. Most were male. The raw numbers may be lower, but I’m struck by the similarity of the victims and the rationale behind the killings – as well as the impunity that usually follows police shootings.I believe it is the overlap of continued police violence with the broader authoritarian creep in the U.S. that explains this unusual mass protest movement. Millions of Americans are taking to the streets for the same reasons as their Latin American counterparts – to fight for their lives, and for their democracy.[You’re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation’s authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend.]This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.Read more: * Latest legal hurdle to removing Confederate statues in Virginia: The wishes of their long-dead white donors * Marcus Rashford, Black Lives Matter and a British premier who is out of his leagueLilian Bobea a mandate holder at the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2vmMEak

[mmckenzieport]

By Melissa McKenzie

The July City Council calendars are out, and one thing is still clear: previous months have not been edited to reflect missed meetings. There continues to be no mention of Peter Hillan, Banner Public Affairs, and, given the City’s recent rent battle with the 49ers, no mention of Sam Singer, the City’s contracted public affairs consultant, less one introductory meeting between the communications professional and Mayor Lisa Gillmor back in February. However, there are still plenty of Council Member meetings to note in July.

The Mayor began her month by attending the annual 4th of July picnic at Central Park and followed it with an introductory meeting on July 5 with Emily DeRuy of the San Jose Mercury News.

On July 6, Gillmor recorded a meeting with Cupertino’s Mayor Darcy Paul, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies CEO Dirk Ahlborn and Related lobbyist Jude Barry about “hyperloop opportunities.”  The hyperloop project, first reported earlier this month, will ideally travel from San Jose’s Diridon Station to DeAnza College with the bulk of track barreling down Stevens Creek Boulevard through the Santa Clara/San Jose border.

Barry’s involvement in this project remains unknown. In the past year, he had meetings about transportation with Council Member Teresa O’Neill (Mar. 7 of this year and Sept. 29 and Aug. 18 of last) and Vice Mayor Kathy Watanabe (Apr. 5, but recorded as “transpiration”). But his most recent lobbyist report, dated July 12, lists Related as his only client.

Gillmor also had a meet and greet introduction with Santa Clara University’s Vice President of Finance and Administration Michael Crowley and Assistant Vice President of University Operations Chris Shay on July 12, and on the 17th, met with Watanabe, O’Neill, Assembly Member Kansen Chu and Chu’s field representative Simeone Chien regarding “legislation, state budget and district issues.” Additionally, the Mayor met with resident Vicky Field and Westgate Church’s Local Compassion Pastor Finny Abraham about volunteer opportunities.

The Mayor had a single developer meeting in July. On July 24, she met with John Hyjer, first vice president of investments with Equity Residential regarding 3131 Homestead Road, the site of the Laguna Clara Apartments, where the developer hopes to build a four-story, 585-unit urban-infill project to replace the current 86 unit complex.

Her last two meetings of interest occurred on July 27 when Gillmor had a meeting about City Place with Santa Clara and San Benito Counties Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Director David Bini and Steve Flores, business manager for United Association of Journeymen Local 393  and a second meeting with Rudolph and Sletten’s John Elwood and Lou Mariani and Linda Lecca of Mariani’s Inn and Restaurant. Elwood is listed as being with Mariani’s — not with his employer, a developer.

The Vice Mayor spent the first two weeks of the month attending public events and meetings, as well as the funeral for former Mayor and Council Member Larry Marsalli and she provided an interview about the Chamber of Commerce to David Louie of KGO-TV.

On July 13, Watanabe, along with O’Neill, met with Prometheus’ Executive Vice President and Partner of Development Jon Moss and Development Director Marilyn Ponte regarding 575 Benton Street, a 355 apartment complex that includes eight live-work units, 650 parking spaces, 1,601 square feet of office space, 346 square feet for a pet spa, 1,528 square feet of bike amenity space, three private courtyards and one public courtyard, 19,985 square feet of retail space, 2,364 square feet of potential commercial space and an amenity roof deck with 4,341 square feet of club room and a fitness center.

Five days later, on July 18, Watanabe met with John Hirokawa regarding his candidacy for Santa Clara County Sheriff and two days later had a meeting with Karina Dominguez about her candidacy for Milpitas City Council.

On July 25, Watanabe met with residents Lavell Souza, John Lesnick, Jamie Brick, Hung Le and Kevin Park about the 1530-1540 Pomeroy Ave. project, a proposed development of eight two-story townhomes to replace two single-family homes and miscellaneous small outbuildings. One day later, she met with Hunter Properties’ Director of Development Josh Rupert and Chairman of the Board Edward Storm about the Gateway Crossing project, a mixed-use development of 1,600 apartments, a 182,000-square-foot full-service hotel and 15,000 square feet of ancillary retail, surface and structured parking facilities, public and private streets, neighborhood park and open space at 1205 Coleman Ave.

The Vice Mayor ended her month by meeting with resident Hazel Abalgado about community issues on July 28 and Council District 2 Candidate Nancy Biagiani about her campaign on the same day.

O’Neill’s July began with her monthly resident Q&A on July 1, which she followed with a call a day later with resident Alycia Burgoon about the catchall “city issues.” She, too, recorded a meeting with Rupert and Storm about the Gateway Crossing project on July 11 and attended Marsalli’s funeral on July 13.

Later that day, she attended the 575 Benton Street project meeting with Watanabe before sitting down with Santa Clara Unified School District Board (SCUSD) of Trustees candidate Vickie Fairchild, Santa Clara Unified Parents (SCUP) treasurer Peta Roberts and educator Tiffany Anderson about SCUSD issues and the upcoming board elections this November.

Schools continued to hold a presence on O’Neill’s calendar with the Council Member meeting with former president and board member of the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Josephine Lucey and Santa Cruz County Office of Educators Area 4 Trustee Rose Filicetti on July 16 regarding “public schools issues.”

O’Neill also attended the July 18, 18 and 20 trail on the Ladonna Yumori Katu et. al. v. the City of Santa Clara, or the voting rights lawsuit that resulted in eliminating citywide Council voting for districted council seats and a citywide mayor election process.

On July 24, O’Neill met with Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Nick Kaspar about the Convention-Visitors Bureau and had a conference call with Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)’s Deputy Director Dennis Radcliffe and Caroline Gonot about the Berryessa Extension.

Finally, O’Neill ended her month with four resident meetings: Nancy Biagini about her candidacy for Council Seat 2, Mayuri Restaurant owner Sam Kumar regarding “city issues,” Raj Chahal about his candidacy for Council Seat 2 and Luis Lecanda regarding board and commission openings.

Council Member Debi Davis kept a light July calendar mostly filled with public events and meetings. However, she did have a meeting with Moss and Ponte on July 16 regarding the 575 Benton Street project, as well as sitting down with residents Rich Bonito and Howard Myers about Mariani’s Inn and Restaurant on July 18 and meeting with lobbyist Cynthia James about Great America on July 26.

In addition to attending Marsalli’s funeral, Council Member Pat Kolstad had a phone call with Ray Hashimoto, principal of HMH Engineering, about an unnamed new development on July 11 and notched a meeting with Rupert and Storm about Gateway Crossing on July 16.

Council Member Patricia Mahan only had public meetings and events listed on her July calendar.

While meetings have not been added to Council Calendars to reflect previous errors and many meetings go unrecorded completely, the Council Calendars give some insight to the vast amount of time Santa Clara’s elected officials spend meeting with lobbyists and developers about pending and proposed projects within the City.  View all Council Member calendars at http://santaclaraca.gov/government/public-calendars-of-certain-city-officials.

Read our coverage of June’s here.

[welcometomy20s]

May 8, 2018

Article of The Day

Four states, Forty one districts... let’s get right down to it.

IN-01(NW - Gary, Michigan, Lowell): Incumbent - Peter Visclosky (Dem). Challenger - Probably Mark Leyva, who ran in 2014 and lost. PVI:D+8

IN-02(North - South Bend, Plymouth, Wabash): Incumbent - Jackie Walorski (Rep), baby parts and Voter IDs. Challenger - Mel Hall, election geek. PVI:R+11

IN-03(North - Waterloo, Fort Wayne, Decatur): Incumbent -Jim Banks (Rep). Challenger - Courtney Tritch, former marketing exec. PVI:R+18

IN-04(Central - Bloomsburg, West Lafayette, Delphi): Incumbent - Todd Rokita (Rep) NOT RUNNING Replacement - Jim Baird, has no left arm. Challenger - Tobi Beck, Vet and tech security person. PVI:R+17

IN-05(Nine County - Carmel, Elwood, Gas City): Incumbent - Susan Brooks (Rep). Challenger - Dee Thornton, exec and basketball player PVI:R+9

IN-06(Cent/South - Munie, Greenfield, Osgood): Incumbent - Luke Messer (Rep) NOT RUNNING Replacement - Greg Pence, it’s Mike Pence’s big brother! Challenger - Jeannine Lake, someone from Muncie. PVI:R+18

IN-07(Nine County - Indianapolis, Speedway, Cumberland): Incumbent - Andre Carson (Dem), he’s cool. Challenger - Wayne Harmon. PVI:D+11

IN-08(SW - Terre Haute, Washington, Evansville): Incumbent - Larry Bucshon (Rep), a heart surgeon. Challenger - William Tanoos. PVI:R+15

IN-09(South - Bloomington, Salem, Croydon): Incumbent - Trey Hollingsworth, who’s from out of state. Challenger - Liz Watson, who worked in House Committee for Education and Workforce, apparently PVI:R+13

NC-01(Coast - Durham, Roanoke Rapids, Greenville): Incumbent - G.K. Butterfield (Dem). Challenger - Roger Allison, some guy. PVI:D+17

NC-02(Piedmont - Wake Forest, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina): Incumbent - George Holding (Rep). Challenger - Linda Coleman. PVI:R+7

NC-03(Coast - Kitty Hawk, Columbia, New Bern): Incumbent - Walter Jones (Rep), renegade... held off primary challenge. NO CHALLENGERS PVI: R+12

NC-04(Piedmont - Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill): Incumbent - David Price (Dem), Iraq war opponent. Challenger - Steve Loor, PVI:D+17

NC-05(Mountain/Piedmont - Boone, Wilkesboro, Winston-Salem): Incumbent - Virginia Foxx (Rep), just bizarre. Challenger - DD Adams, who was in Winston-Salem city council and lobby in state capitol. PVI:R+10

NC-06(Piedmont - Yanceyville, Burlington, Sanford): Incumbent - Mark Walker (Rep), former pastor. Challenger - Ryan Watts. PVI:R+9

NC-07(Coast - Whiteville, Wilmington, Goldsboro): Incumbent - David Rouzer (Rep). Challenger - Kyle Horton, looks like a physician. PVI:R+9

NC-08(Piedmont - Fayetteville, Troy, Concord): Incumbent - Richard Hudson (Rep), birther. Challenger -Frank McNeill, from Indivisible... PVI:R+8

NC-09(Piedmont/Coast - Monroe, Laurinburg, Elizabethtown): Incumbent - Robert Pittenger (Rep). LOST PRIMARY! Replacement - Mark Harris, revenge from 2016... Challenger - Dan McCready, solar energy guy. PVI:R+8

NC-10(Mountains - Asheville, Forest City, Gastonia): Incumbent - Patrick McHenry (Rep). Challenger - David Brown, computer consultant. PVI:R+12

NC-11(Mountains - Sylva, Marshall, Morganton): Incumbent - Mark Meadows (Rep), quite far-right. Challenger - Phillip Price, business owner. PVI:R+14

NC-12(Piedmont - Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius): Incumbent - Alma Adams (Dem). Challenger - Paul Wright, former judge. PVI:D+18

NC-13(Piedmont - Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury): Incumbent - Ted Budd (Rep), gun range owner. Challenger - Kathy Manning, lawyer. PVI:R+6

OH-01(SW - Cincinnati, Sycamore, Lebanon): Incumbent - Steve Chabot (Rep). Challenger - Aftab Pureval, rising star immigrant lawyer. PVI:R+5

OH-02(SW -Batavia, Hillsboro, Piketon): Incumbent - Brad Wenstrup (Rep) , low key... Challenger - Jill Schiller, ex-White House staffer. PVI:R+9

OH-03(Mid - Columbus, Whitehall, Minerva Park): Incumbent - Joyce Beatty (Dem). Challenger - Jim Burgess, Tea party person. PVI:D+19

OH-04(NW - Lima, Marion, Norwalk): Incumbent - Jim Jordan (Rep), former wrestler? Challenger - Janet Garrett, retired Oberlin teacher. PVI:R+14

OH-05(NW - Bowling Green, Ottawa, Defiance): Incumbent - Bob Latta (Rep). Challenger - Michael Galbraith, investment manager. PVI:R+11

OH-06(SE - Salem, Steubenville, Marietta): Incumbent - Bill Johnson (Rep). Challenger - Shawna Roberts, why can’t I find good information... PVI:R+16

OH-07(NW/NE/Mid - Avon, Ashland, Canton): Incumbent - Bob Gibbs (Rep). Challenger - Ken Harbaugh, who is Navy vet.... figures. PVI:R+12

OH-08(SW - Hamilton, Greenville, Springfield): Incumbent - Warren Davidson (R), it was Boehner's old seat. Challenger - Vanessa Enoch. PVI:R+17

OH-09(NW/NE - Toledo, Sandusky, Avon Lake): Incumbent - Marcy Kaptur (Dem). Challenger - Steven Kraus, he was convicted of theft?! PVI:D+14

OH-10(SW - Dayton, Centerville, Washington Court House): Incumbent - Mike Turner (Rep). Challenger - Theresa Gasper, businesswoman. PVI:R+4

OH-11(NE - Cleveland, Richfield, Akron): Incumbent - Marcia Fudge (Dem), she’s pretty cool. Challenger - Probably Beverly Goldstein. PVI:D+32

OH-12(Mid - Mansfield, Delaware, Zanesville): Incumbent - Pat Tiberi (Rep) NOT RUNNING Replacement - Probably Troy Balderson. Challenger - Danny O’Connor, Franklin County recorder and very capable person. PVI:R+7

OH-13(NE - Cuyahoga Falls, Alliance, Youngstown): Incumbent - Tim Ryan (Dem), who ran for speaker, remember? Challenger - Chris DePizzo. PVI:D+7

OH-14(NE - Twinsburg, Mentor, Ashtabula): Incumbent - David Joyce (Rep). Challenger - Betsy Rader, civil rights lawyer and also capable. PVI:R+5

OH-15(SW/SE - Wilmington, Circleville, Athens): Incumbent - Steve Stivers (Rep), part of NRCC? Challenger - Rick Neal, also businessman. PVI:R+7

OH-16(NE - Strongsville, Wooster, Green): Incumbent - Jim Renacci (Rep) NOT RUNNING Replacement- Anthony Gonzalez, a football star? Challenger - Susan Moran Palmer, health care professional, presumably. PVI:R+8

WV-01(Parkersburg, Morgantown, Parsons): Incumbent - David McKinley (Rep), has a sweet mustache. Challenger - Kendra Fershee. PVI:R+19

WV-02(Charleston, Elkins, Romney): Incumbent - Alex Mooney (Rep), former legislator for... Maryland? Challenger - Talley Sergent. PVI:R+17

WV-03(Beckley, Craigsville, White Sulphur Springs): Incumbent - Evan Jenkins (Rep) NOT RUNNING Replacement - Carol Miller. Challenger - Richard Ojeda, an absolute maverick who’s making national headlines. PVI:R+23

That’s all the districts, pretty eventful and satisfying primary night.