Arkansas State Senator Flower on Stand Your Ground

[Skidmore]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/08/arkansas-sen-stephanie-flowers-stand-your-ground-speech-goes-viral/3108568002/

Arkansas state Sen. Stephanie Flowers didn't hold back when debating a "stand your ground" bill and her unfiltered, profanity-laced pleas quickly went viral.

Flowers, a Democrat, railed against the proposition in an emotional plea that laid out how similar self-defense laws across the U.S. had affected people of color and at one point, walked out of a committee hearing. Her comments spread like wildfire on social media on Friday, with many liberals and gun-control advocates applauding her courage and dubbing her a hero.

"This is crazy! You don't have to worry about your children!" Flowers said during a hearing this week. "I worry about my son and I worry about other little black boys and girls and people coming into my neighborhood, into my city, saying they have open carry rights."

Stand your ground laws and others similar to have allowed people to defend themselves if they feel threatened, without being forced to retreat. The laws, which have been controversial for years and used as a defense in a number of high-profile homicides, make it legal for a person to remain where they are, as long as they have a legal right to be there, and use any level of force, including deadly force, if they believe they face a threat of serious harm or death. ... more

[murielm99]

1. K&R

[mcar]

2. An amazing woman!

[UtahLib]

3. K&R nt

[brer cat]

4. Every word needed to be said

and her righteous anger felt.

[sheshe2]

5. Powerful speech.

At one point, Republican state Sen. Alan Clark, who chairs the committee, tried to halt Flowers' emotional speech, telling her in a low voice, "Senator, you need to stop."

"No, I don't. What the hell are you going to do? Shoot me?" she said. He tried again, saying "Senator..." but Flowers interjected, "Senator, sh-t. Go to hell."

God bless Senator Flowers, it needed to be said.

[KitSileya]

6. Absolutely powerful.

And it shows how important it is to have diverse representation at all levels of a democracy. If they had been only white men and women there, it would have passed unanimously, because they simply wouldn't have thought of that perspective.






Of course, some would claim that wanting to have State Senator Flowers in that room is just identity politics, and voting for someone because they are a woman or African American. If that't the case, I say bring on more of this identity politics, and vote those white men out!

[sheshe2]

11. Well said, Kit.

Of course, some would claim that wanting to have State Senator Flowers in that room is just identity politics, and voting for someone because they are a woman or African American. If that't the case, I say bring on more of this identity politics, and vote those white men out!

I just watched Senator Flowers being interviewed on CNN. We definitely need more like her with her strength and passion. She said she has been getting calls from around the country in support from people of all ages and colors. Looks like she woke some people.

You are correct, we need more like this Senator.

[backtoblue]

7. Big kick and rec

[calimary]

8. K&R!

[Cha]

9. Mahalo, Skidmore!

[lark]

10. My Shero of the week!

[Lazy Daisy]

12. Trayvon Martin

Stand your ground is a racist law legalizing the execution of people of color.

Shout it from the rooftops State Senator Flowers!

[jimlup]

13. So I don't donate to many candidates who are not in my state but...

where can I sign up!?

Go Sister!