An Open Letter (from AARM) to the Democratic National Committee

There has been a lot of talk of the disruptions and confrontations occurring at Obama's national "listening tour". But what are people actually saying at these meetings? The statement below was delivered (verbally and in writing) by Howard Eagle of Activists Against Racism Movement (AARM) on August 12, 2009 to representatives of the Democratic National Committee during their listening tour event, held at the Underground Cafe in Rochester, New York. Its purpose was to articulate AARM's position on racism as it relates to the threats against the President, as well as the need to deal openly with the issue.

First, we would like for you to know that we supported President Obama in the 2008 election.

We want to say very clearly, as evidenced by the fact that, yesterday, a
so-called protester, a white man showed up at a town hall meeting in
Portsmouth, N.H. with a loaded gun strapped to his side —- where the
President of the United States of America was speaking —- is indicative of
clear reason for alarm. The meeting was held at a high school, and this
gun-toting protester was allowed by the chief of police in this all-white or
nearly all-white town —- to stand across the street from where the
President was speaking —- strapped-down —- with his loaded weapon. As if
this was not bad enough, the protester was reportedly carrying a sign —-
with the slogan: “It is time to water the tree of liberty,” which is
reportedly a reference to a quote by slave-holder Thomas Jefferson, in which
Jefferson said: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time
with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Reportedly, this was a favorite
slogan of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh —- who blew up the U.S.
Federal building in Oklahoma City. (BLACKVOICES, ‘Man With Gun Shows Up for
Obama Town Hall and Police Let Him Stay, August 11, 2009). This is beyond
alarming. What was the Secret Service thinking?

It is absolutely alarming that decision-makers at the New York Post thought
(shortly after the 2008 Presidential election) —- that it was OK to depict
a dead gorilla in a cartoon —- with a slogan stating something to the
effect that he won’t be running for reelection in 2012. It is absolutely
alarming that a few days ago, radio talk show host Glenn Beck thought that
there was nothing wrong with accusing (on national television) the President
of the United States of America of being racist, and of having deep-seated
hatred of white people. It is deeply alarming that recently, when the
President of the United States of America criticized the Boston area police
for their stupidity (under the circumstances) for having arrested one the
President’s friends, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, a substantial portion of white
America went ballistic regarding their spewing forth some of the most vile
and hateful language imaginable —- by way of radio, television and
newspaper blogger-sites. It is alarming that a substantial portion of white
America went ballistic when, in the process of making a Black History Month
speech in February of this year, the Attorney General of the United States
of America articulated the indisputable truth that when it comes to even
discussing racism —- the United States of America has been essentially a
nation of cowards.

So, the clear message that we are bringing to you and to whom ever else
this information will be conveyed to —- is that there is absolutely no
doubt about the fact that individual and institutionalized racism is one of
the most serious, pervasive, entrenched and potentially volatile issues that
we are faced with in the United States of America. It is an issue that is,
of course, as old as the country itself. This is an issue that will not
magically disappear some day. It is an issue that we need to talk about
openly, honestly, and frequently. We need a local dialogue. We need a
regional dialogue. In fact, we need national dialogue about race and
racism.

We want you and whomever else this information is being conveyed to —- to
know that our organization, Activist Against Racism Movement has initiated
such a dialogue here in Rochester. We want you to know that we have been
working with decision makers in the local media and with others in our
community to sustain a local dialogue and to build relationships. As it
relates to moving our dialogue to the next level —- we want to invite U.S.
Attorney General Eric Holder to Rochester for the purpose of engaging with
us in open, honest dialogue about this serious, pervasive, entrenched, and
potentially volatile issue. We stand ready, willing, able, and anxious to
help develop a model for the nation relative to knowing how to conduct
dialogue in a constructive and productive manner. We have assembled a packet
of news articles regarding the type of critically important work that we
have been engaged in —- in Rochester.

We look forward to hearing from the appropriate officials regarding the
possibility of bringing the Attorney General to town soon —- so that we can
(as a first step) help him and others develop much-needed, ongoing dialogue
concerning this critical pivotal, deep-seated, socioeconomic,
sociopolitical, and socio-cultural issue and problem. And please note that
dialogue is only the first step (a baby step) relative to moving us —- as a
nation; as a so-called civilized society; as the so-called “United” States
of America —- toward a realistic, viable sustainable, permanent solution.

Thank you.

Howard Eagle is a community activist and a member of Activists Against
Racism Movement (AARM). He is a soon to be retired teacher from the
Rochester City School District. Contact him at heagle@rochester.rr.com

Activists Against Racism Movement
P.O. Box 19442, Rochester, New York
14619-0042

Email: aarm (at) rocus.org aarm ; Website: aarm.rocus.org