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This July Fourth, for the 245th time, America will celebrate independence from British rule. But after President Joe Biden signed into law Juneteenth as a federal holiday, Americans are also forced to take a closer look at what this July Fourth represents.

More than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and two months after the end of the Civil War, enslaved African Americans in Texas found out they were free on June 19, 1865. The day has since been christened Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day.

With two wildly different yet celebratory liberation narratives about independence, Americans must reconcile her founding ideals with their spotty lived reality.

Frederick Douglass called America out on its hypocrisy more than a century and a half ago, in his 1852 speech, What, to the slave, is the Fourth of July? In it, Douglass stated that a country in the throes of slavery must close its yawning gap between the principles of the United States and the violence and trauma this country inflicted on Black people. His words still resonate today.

What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence. ... I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us, wrote Douglass. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.

Yet despite the unequal treatment of African Americans in the United States, Black patriotism shines across the pages of U.S. history. African Americans fought in a segregated military in every war defending this country until 1948. Crispus Attucks, a brother of African and Native American ancestry from Framingham, was the first martyr for Americas independence in the American Revolution. Prince Estabrook, an enslaved man from Lexington and a Black Minuteman, was wounded in the Revolutions first battle.

Enslaved Africans who fought for the British, called Black Loyalists, were ensured their freedom after the war. Enslaved Africans who fought for the United States, sadly, were not.

But Black patriotism has been exhibited not just on the battlefields of Americas wars but also in demands for equality in her streets and arenas. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, for example, began to protest police brutality against Black Americans and other forms of social injustice by taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016.

His actions were condemned as polarizing, un-American and unpatriotic. Former President Donald Trump stoked the flames, criticizing Kaepernick and his allies and labeling them as anti-the American flag, cops and the military.

In response came an outpouring of defense, celebrating Black Americans history of protest. Former Attorney General Eric Holder tweeted with a photo of Martin Luther King, Jr., down on his left knee in Selma, Ala, in 1965. Holder added, Taking a knee is not without precedent, Mr. President. Those who dared to protest have helped bring positive change. As King said in his Montgomery Bus Boycott speech on December 5, 1955, The great glory of American democracy is the right to protest for right.

The controversy of taking a knee during the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner, America's beloved national anthem, brought heightened attention to the songs racist history. Francis Scott Key, who penned the lyrics, supported slavery and came from an influential plantation family in Maryland. The songs third verse, no longer sung after the Civil War, included the lyrics, No refuge could save the hireling and slave/From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.

When patriotism is narrowly defined, it can only be accepted and exhibited within the constraints of its own nations intolerance.

Acts of patriotism and protest, however, have yet to accomplish ultimate goals of equality and freedom from oppression. In depicting the mangling grip of white supremacist domestic terrorism on Black lives, Malcolm X in 1965 said, Thats not a chip on my shoulder. Thats your foot on my neck. Last year, the world saw a 9 minute and 29 second video of former Minnesota Police officer Derek Chauvins murder of George Floyd with his knee on Floyds neck. Floyd handcuffed, lying face down, saying, I cant breathe, went limp. Chauvin was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison last week. The ongoing struggle against police brutality persists.

This Fourth of July, people will once again sing The Star-Spangled Banner. They will once again recite the Pledge of Allegiance, reenact the Continental Congress of 1776 and watch reproductions of the rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air. America will showcase her indomitable spirit of bravery and patriotism through this ongoing pandemic.

This Fourth, however, will be different from the previous ones. Juneteenth can no longer stand to the side of Americas celebration of independence. The newly recognized federal holiday should encourage Americans to reconsider and expand their ideas of patriotism, what loving ones country looks like. It highlights how Juneteenth and Black liberation is inextricably linked to America's core values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans.

More here:
What, In Light Of Juneteenth, Is The Fourth Of July? - wgbh.org - wgbh.org

A change to Ohios ballot rules could impact key Supreme Court races in 2022 and influence the leaning of the states highest court for years to come.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law Thursday that will list candidates party affiliations on ballots for certain judicial races. This will include races for the Ohio Supreme Court as well as the dozen appellate court districts.

Ohios election system is currently unique in that judicial candidates campaign in partisan primaries, but the November General Election lists them without party affiliation. This is ostensibly to promote judicial independence, but is thought to contribute to significant ballot drop off more than 1 million Ohio voters in 2020 left the two Supreme Court races blank.

Republican supporters of adding ballot party affiliation say this change is necessary to provide more information to voters and also because the campaign trail already features partisan spending, endorsements and advertising.

In reality, the process of electing a judge is already simply partisan in nature, said Rep. D.J. Swearingen of Huron, who introduced legislation to make this change. Lawmakers ultimately approved an identical bill originating from the Ohio Senate.

This bill is sorely needed and long overdue, Swearingen added.

Democrats joined organizations like the Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio Courts of Appeals Judges Association and Ohio Judicial Conference in opposition. The executive director of the latter group, former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer, told lawmakers that party affiliation is wholly irrelevant to the work of a judge and should not be included on ballots. Pfeifer blames the voting drop off to broader unfamiliarity with judicial candidates rather than political party confusion in the ballot box.

Pfeifer and other opponents point to the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits candidates from any political activity inconsistent with the independence, integrity, or impartiality of the judiciary.

Judges are currently not even allowed to make statements implying how they would rule on a case before them under the code of judicial conduct, said state Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney, D-Cleveland. Then why would we further continue to require a party label that would make similar implications to voters?

Critics like state Rep. Stephanie Howse of Cleveland believe this change is only being sought for political purposes. Democrats have won three of the past four Ohio Supreme Court elections (held in 2018 and 2020), narrowing the Republican majority on the court to 4-3. GOP candidates have fared well in other statewide races where party affiliations are listed on the ballot.

I know we talked about being honest with voters, so lets just be real, Howse said. Be a straight-shooter. Yall scared. Its cool, because Democrats are absolutely coming for the Ohio Supreme Court in 22.

Another Republican sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Brian Stewart of Ashville, pushed back against this line of attack and noted his policy support predates the recent election results.

Stewart and Swearingen both highlighted earlier support for this change from Democrats.

The Ohio Democratic Party, in fact, once waged a legal battle seeking to include party affiliation on judicial ballots and viewed the forced nonpartisan labelling as being unconstitutional. The party lost this fight, and now a decade later sees its lawmakers fighting against such a change.

Just 18 months ago, Democratic state Rep. Michael Skindell sponsored legislation that would have added party affiliation to ballots unless a judicial candidate expressly opted out of having it listed. Skindell unsuccessfully ran for the Ohio Supreme Court in 2010 and his bipartisan legislation was cosponsored by Democratic state Rep. Michael OBrien of Warren.

Both Skindell and OBrien voted against the more recent legislation put forward by Republicans.

Democrats also accused the bill sponsors of cherry picking some judicial races to include while candidates for lower courts will continue to be listed on ballots without party affiliation.

Swearingen said this was intentional.

When we see a Super PAC or Eric Holder come in for a Municipal Court judge, let me know about it, because well put them in the next bill, he said, referring to the former Democratic attorney general who campaigned for Ohio Supreme Court candidates in 2020.

We dont see nearly the levels of fundraising and, quite frankly, national politics that occur at the Ohio Supreme Court levels and the appellate appeals levels that we would at the local level, Swearingen argued.

The change could have an impact on an election involving the governors son, Patrick DeWine, a Republican serving on the Ohio Supreme Court.

The younger DeWine has announced plans to campaign for chief justice in 2022 to replace sitting Chief Justice Maureen OConnor, who is forced to retire due to mandatory age restrictions.

He may end up facing Justice Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat elected to the court in 2020 who also jumped into the chief justice race.

Said Brunner about the possible ballot change, Frankly, my opinion is, just tell me the rules and Ill run.

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Go here to see the original:
Ohio ballots will list party affiliations for top judicial candidates - Ohio Capital Journal

Governor Mike DeWine signed the bill on Thursday, allowing changes that most Democrats oppose.

Columbus, Ohio Changes to Ohios voting rules will affect the major Supreme Court races in 2022 and may affect the states Supreme Court devotion over the next few years.

Governor Mike DeWine signed a bill on Thursday stating the candidates party affiliation on ballots for certain judicial races. This includes races in the Ohio Supreme Court and 12 Courts of Appeals districts.

Ohios electoral system is currently unique in that it is a judicial candidate campaign in partisan primaries, but the November general election lists candidates without belonging to a political party. This is, on the surface, to promote judicial independence, but is believed to contribute to a significant drop-off of ballots. In 2020, more than one million Ohio voters left the two Supreme Court races blank.

Republican supporters adding ballot affiliations said the change was necessary to provide more information to voters, and that the campaign trajectory was already characterized by partisan spending, support and advertising. say.

In reality, the process of electing judges is already partisan in nature, said Hurons DJ Swaringen. The person who introduced the legislation Make this change.Congressman finally approved Same bill Originated from the Ohio Senate.

This bill is urgently needed and has been postponed for a long time, Swaringen added.

Democrats participated in opposition to organizations such as the Ohio Bar Association, the Ohio Court of Appeals Judges Association, and the Ohio Judiciary Council. Former Ohio Supreme Court judge Paul Pfeifer, the secretary-general of the latter group, told lawmakers that the partys affiliation was totally unrelated to the judges job and should not be included in ballots. .. Pfeiffer accuses the vote of widespread unfamiliarity with judicial candidates rather than party turmoil in the ballot box.

Pfeiffer and other opponents point to Ohios Code of Conduct, which prohibits candidates from conducting political activities that contradictory with judicial independence, integrity, or impartiality.

Judges are currently not even allowed to make statements implying how to rule their previous case under the norms of judicial conduct, said State Assemblyman Bride Rose Sweeney, D-Cleveland. Said. Then why do we continue to demand more party labels that have a similar impact on voters?

Critics such as Congressman Stephanie House of Cleveland believe that this change is sought only for political purposes. Democrats have won three of the last four Ohio Supreme Court elections (held in 2018 and 2020), narrowing the Republican majority to 4-3. Republican candidates are doing well in other state-wide races where the party affiliation is listed on the ballot.

We know weve talked to voters about being honest, so lets do the truth, Howes said. Become a straight shooter. Everyone is scared. Its cool because Democrats will definitely come to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2010.

Another Republican supporter of the bill, Asheville Rep. Brian Stewart, opposed the series of attacks, saying his policy support preceded recent election results.

Both Stewart and Swaringen emphasized previous support for this change from the Democratic Party.

In fact, the Ohio Democratic Party Once fought a court battle He called for the judicial ballot to include political party affiliations and considered forced nonpartisan labeling unconstitutional. The party lost the battle, and now, ten years later, see its lawmakers fighting such changes.

Just 18 months ago, Democratic Rep. Michael Skindel sponsored a bill to add party affiliation to ballots unless the judicial candidate explicitly opted out of the listing. Skindel failed to run for the Ohio Supreme Court in 2010, and his bipartisan legislation was co-sponsored by Warren Democrat Michael OBrien.

Both Skindel and OBrien voted against recent Republican legislation.

Democrats have also accused the bill sponsors of cherry picking some judicial races, but lower court candidates will continue to be listed on ballots without belonging to a political party.

Swaringen said this was intentional.

If you see Super PAC or Eric Holder coming to the district court judge, let us know about it as well put it in the next bill, he said, referring to the former Democratic Attorney General who campaigned for Ohio. Said. Candidate for the 2020 Supreme Court.

We see very little level of funding at the Ohio Supreme Court level, and frankly, no level of appeal at the local level, Swaringen argued.

This change could affect elections involving Patrick Dewein, a Republican of the Ohio Supreme Court, the governors son.

In 2022, young DeWine announced plans to campaign for Chief Justice to replace incumbent Chief Justice Maureen OConnor, who was forced to retire due to mandatory age restrictions.

He could face Judge Jennifer Bruner, a Democrat who was elected to court in 2020.

Frankly, my opinion is that if you tell me the rules, Ill do it, Bruner said of the possibility of ballot changes.

Read more from the original source:
Ohio ballots list the party to which the judge belongs - Ohionewstime.com

Irene Monroe| Guest Columnist

This July 4th, America will celebrate 245 years of independence from British rule. However, when President Joe Biden signed into law Juneteenth as a federal holiday, it forces Americans to take a sterner look at what this July 4th means.

More than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and two months after the end of the Civil War on April 9th, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Texas found out they were free on June 19, 1865, called Juneteenth. Also, it's known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day.

With two wildly disparate celebratory liberation narratives about independence, America must reconcile its founding ideals with her spotty lived reality.

In 1852, Frederick Douglass called America out on its hypocrisy in his speech, "What, to the slave, is the Fourth of July?" In it, Douglass stated that a country in the throes of slavery has to close its gaping gap between the ideals of the United States and its dastardly deeds toward POC. His words still resonate today.

"What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence. ... I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. ... This Fourth of July is yours, not mine."

African Americans have fought in every war defending this country, starting with the American Revolution in a segregated military until 1948. Crispus Attucks, a brother of African and Native American ancestry from Framingham, was the first martyr for America's independence in the American Revolution. Prince Estabrook, an enslaved man from Lexington and black Minuteman, was wounded in the first battle of the American Revolution.

The fight for black independence was ongoing during the American Revolution, too. Enslaved Africans who fought for the British, called Black Loyalists, were ensured their freedom. Sadly, enslaved Africans who fought against the British were not. They were reluctantly acknowledged as Black Patriots, even today in celebrating July 4th.

Black patriotism is exhibited not only on the battlefields of America's wars but also in America's streets and sports arenas.

For example, in 2016, San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick began to protest police brutality against black Americans and other forms of social injustice by taking a knee during the national anthem. His action was seen as polarizing, un-American, and unpatriotic. However, when patriotism is narrowly defined, it can only be accepted and exhibited within the constraints of its own intolerance.

Case in point, former President Trump, in particular, stoked the flames of Kaepernick's expression of protest. Trump publicly criticized Kaepernick and his allies, calling themS.O.Bs, who took a knee during the national anthem as being anti-the American flag, cops, and the military. To Kaepernick's defense, former Attorney General Eric Holder tweeted with a photo of one of the first images of King down on his left knee in Selma, Alabama, on Feb. 1, 1965. Holder tweeted that "Taking a knee is not without precedent, Mr. President. Those who dared to protest have helped bring positive change." MLK said in his Montgomery Bus Boycott speech on Dec.5, 1955, "The great glory of American democracy is the right to protest for right."

The controversy of taking a knee during the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," America's beloved national anthem, brought heightened attention to its racist history. Francis Scott Key, who penned the lyrics, supported slavery and came from an influential plantation family in Maryland.The song's third verse, no longer sung after the Civil War, included the lyrics, "No refuge could save the hireling and slave/From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave."

In depicting the mangling grip of white supremacist domestic terrorism on black lives, Malcolm X in 1965 said, "That's not a chip on my shoulder. That's your foot on my neck." Last year, the world got to see a 9 minutes and 29 seconds video of former Minnesota Police officer Derek Chauvin's murder of George Floyd with his knee on Floyd's neck. Floyd handcuffed, lying face down, saying, "I can't breathe went limp.Last week, Chauvin was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison. The ongoing struggle, however, against police brutality persists.

This Fourth of July, people will once again sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" or recite the Pledge of Allegiance or reenact the Continental Congress of 1776 or watch reproductions of the "rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air." America' will showcase her indomitable spirit of bravery and patriotism as vaxxed or non-vaxxedcitizens during this ongoing pandemic.

However,this 4th will be different from the previous ones. Juneteenth can no longer stand in the shadows of America's celebration of independence. Juneteenth highlights how it is inextricably linked to America's core values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans.

The Rev. IreneMonroe is a Visiting Scholar in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Programat BostonUniversity School of Theology and sheis theBoston voice for Detours African American Heritage Trail. She can be reached atrevimonroe812@gmail.com.

Original post:
After Juneteenth, what does this Fourth of July mean? - Milford Daily News

(Image: Pixabay)

This July Fourth, America will celebrate 245 years of independence from British rule. President Joe Bidens signed into law Juneteenth as a federal holiday forces Americans to take a sterner look at what the holiday means.

More than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and two months after the end of the Civil Wa on April 9th, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Texas found out they were free on June 19, 1865, called Juneteenth. Its also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day.

In 1852, Frederick Douglass called America out on its hypocrisy in his speech, What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? In it, Douglass stated that a country in the throes of slavery has to close its gaping gap between the ideals of the United States and its dastardly deeds toward people of color. His words still resonate.

What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.

African Americans have fought in every war defending this country, starting with the American Revolution in a segregated military until 1948. Crispus Attucks, a brother of African and Native American ancestry from Framingham, was the first martyr for Americas independence in the American Revolution. Prince Estabrook, an enslaved man from Lexington and black Minuteman, was wounded in the first battle of the American Revolution.

The fight for black independence was ongoing during the American Revolution, too. Enslaved Africans who fought for the British, called Black Loyalists, were ensured their freedom. Enslaved Africans who fought against the British were only reluctantly acknowledged as Black Patriots, even today in celebrating July Fourth.

Black patriotism is exhibited not only on the battlefields of Americas wars, but in Americas streets and sports arenas.

For example, in 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began to protest police brutality against Black Americans and other forms of social injustice by taking a knee during the national anthem. His action was seen as polarizing, un-American and unpatriotic. When patriotism is narrowly defined, though, it can only be accepted and exhibited within the constraints of its own intolerance.

Case in point: Former President Donald Trump, in particular, stoked the flames of Kaepernicks expression of protest. Trump publicly criticized Kaepernick and allies who took a knee during the national anthem as being S.O.Bs who were anti-the American flag, anti-cops and anti-military. To Kaepernicks defense, former attorney general Eric Holder tweeted with a photo of one of the first images of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. down on his left knee in Selma, Alabama, on Feb. 1, 1965. Holder tweeted that Taking a knee is not without precedent, Mr. President. Those who dared to protest have helped bring positive change. MLK said in his Montgomery Bus Boycott speech on Dec. 5, 1955, The great glory of American democracy is the right to protest for right.

The controversy of taking a knee during the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner, Americas beloved national anthem, brought heightened attention to its racist history. Francis Scott Key, who penned the lyrics, supported slavery and came from an influential plantation family in Maryland. The songs third verse, no longer sung after the Civil War, included the lyrics, No refuge could save the hireling and slave/From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.

In depicting the mangling grip of white supremacist domestic terrorism on black lives, Malcolm X in 1965 said, Thats not a chip on my shoulder. Thats your foot on my neck. Last year, the world got to see a 9 minutes and 29 seconds video of former Minnesota Police officer Derek Chauvins murder of George Floyd with his knee on Floyds neck. Floyd handcuffed, lying face down, saying, I cant breathe went limp. Last week, Chauvin was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison. The ongoing struggle, however, against police brutality persists.

This Fourth of July, people will once again sing the Star-Spangled Banner or recite the Pledge of Allegiance or reenact the Continental Congress of 1776 or watch reproductions of the rockets red glare from bombs bursting in air. America will showcase her indomitable spirit of bravery and patriotism as vaxxed or non-vaxxed citizens during this ongoing pandemic.

But this Fourth will be different. Juneteenth can no longer stand in the shadows of Americas celebration of independence, but highlights how it is inextricably linked to Americas core values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.

The Rev. Irene Monroe is a speaker, theologian and syndicated columnist. She does a segment calledAll Revved Up! on WGBH (89.7 FM) on Boston Public Radio and a segment called Whats Up? Fridays on New England Channel News.

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Juneteenth is recognized as a federal holiday. What does that mean for this Fourth of July? - Cambridge Day