The horrific killings in Baton Rouge and Minnesota triggered a series of groundbreaking events within the last week. Protesters in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Baton Rouge, and Memphis hit the streets to air out their disdain over police brutality. The Bahamas’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration issued a travel warning to young black men, encouraging them to be prudent when engaging with U.S. police.
Most shockingly, the murder of Philando Castile elicited a response from the National Rifle Association.
The response that was not a response.
The reports from #Minnesota are troubling and must be thoroughly investigated. #2A #NRA pic.twitter.com/Z7wEQNBs0y
— NRA (@NRA) July 8, 2016
This self-proclaimed civil rights organization regularly receives criticisms for their silence on police brutality. The NRA claims to be “diligent protectors of the Second Amendment.” But their commitment seems to evaporate when it comes to black lives. From Alton Sterling to John Crawford III, the NRA maintains a wall of silence. But, of course, the NRA denies allegations of racism.
Colin Noir is right. We don’t know all the facts about Philando Castile, but we do have a lot of facts about past and present events.
We know Philando Castile was stopped by police because of his “wide nose.” We know the officer who killed Tamir Rice in an open-carry state was “deemed unfit for duty by another police agency,” and yet the Cleveland Police department allowed him to patrol the streets. We know the NRA has yet to denounce the very real trend of police brutality against black American citizens.
*waits for @NRA to raise hell for #AltonSterling since he was in an open carry state*
Jk, black lives don’t matter to them.
— Catison is Baesic. (@namasteinmylane) July 6, 2016
Their stance was made clear when it came to the lives of officers in Dallas.
The NRA’s silence on police killings is partially because of their alliance with the GOP.
The Republican Party’s relationship with racism complicates their claim for being champions of equality. Since the presidential campaigns of Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon, the GOP has perfected the art of dog whistle politics. In essence, Republican politicians galvanize their base (the silent majority) against urban unrest through coded language. Dog whistle politics lives at the core of Republican rhetoric. That is, until Donald Trump.
Trump disregards the Republican tradition of using coded language. He’s called Mexican people rapists, demanded a temporary ban be placed on Muslim immigrants, and alleged a judge cannot properly do his job because of ‘Mexican heritage.’
I find it challenging to believe the NRA’s latest “look at all these black people, tell everyone we are not racist” crusade when they support a man who facilitates a climate of violence and acceptable racism. The NRA’s inability to support black lives upholds their commitment to support white supremacy under the guise of protecting the second amendment.
[Madman shoots 25 ppl]
NRA: Protect the 2nd ammendment![Black man is murdered by cop for legally carrying]
NRA: pic.twitter.com/JwEqIJyYxF— Lyle Clip Art (@Kyle_Lippert) July 10, 2016
