By Eric Lee
Harmony, MN
On April 3, House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman called to break up the “100% white male card game” occurring in the retiring room. Many readers of the Fillmore County Journal are represented by Rep. Greg Davids, who following her remarks, called on Rep. Hortman, not only to apologize, but to resign her position. Frankly, I was disappointed by his admonition, particularly within the context of these remarks.
It is the context of the remarks that I wish to discuss, and continue to shine light upon. The topic of debate was the controversial provisions for increasing penalties for public protest in a public safety finance bill.
We live in a nation that was born of civil disobedience, born of revolution. We celebrate a group of patriots who damaged property, throwing tea into the Boston Harbor as heroes. But what of those who currently engage in protest for their freedoms? For their very safety? Specifically, I speak of those who would block a highway for Black Lives Matter. For Philando Castile. For Freddie Gray. As these are clearly the targets of bills such as these which are being introduced around the country. The intent is not to provide for public safety. There are few within most protests who would seriously seek to block passage of public vehicles. The intent is to discourage speech. In a nation which claims to take seriously a commitment to the freedom of speech, with our very First Amendment, as laid out in the Bill of Rights.
You might say, “Well, there are proper ways to make one’s voice heard.” That may be. But when you speak and are not heard, then eventually you will move outside of what is deemed “acceptable.” As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, “It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city’s white power structure left the Negro community with no alternative.”
Over 50 years later, we still must push for Black voices to be heard. It is important, not only what was being discussed, but also who was speaking, as Minority Leader Hortman called the House back to the chamber. Somali-American Representative Ilhan Omar and African-American Representative Rena Moran. Women, and not only that, but women of color, were speaking to attempts to silence the voices of Black lives who were pleading for nothing less than their own right to exist safely in public spaces, as Americans.
I will not presently argue whether or not privilege exists. I am aware of its benefits, and I do my best to be aware of how I can share those privileges that have been given me by nature of the society in which I live. White Americans, and especially white American men, like myself, owe it to everyone else to do others the basic courtesy of listening. This government has been, by and large, a very exclusive club, and new voices and faces, are finding themselves finally represented in our government. We owe it to this country to cede just a little space in the public discourse, that other voices might be heard.
I’ll not repeat the speeches those women delivered, but I would implore you to seek them out. I would ask that you find the stories of those who differ from you. Listen to them. Believe them when they tell you of their American experience. I cannot recommend Ava Duvernay’s 13th, enough, or Ta-Nahisi Coates’ Between the World and Me. And everyone should read the entirety of Dr. King’s Letter From a Birmingham Jail. These are essential works of an America that I am still learning about.
And if you really wish to prevent these protests, Representative Davids, there’s a better way to do it. As Philando Castile’s friend, John Thompson, testified in the committee hearings on the bill, “You know what they were doing? They were asking for all you guys to come out and say what is it we can do to help you. Not one of you came out!” We all just want to know that we are seen. That we are heard. Just listen.