Black Lives Shattered: An African American's View of the Clinton Era

[amborin]

Black Lives Shattered: How the Clintons Built Their Legacy on White Supremacy


snip

In 1994, Bill Clinton passed the now-infamous crime bill, which even he has since admitted led to the mass incarceration problem we have today. The bill allocated an additional $30.2 billion for new state prisons, implemented harsher prison sentences, and created the three-strikes law, since adopted in 20 states, that mandates a life sentence after a third violent crime. Before the bill became law, Hillary Clinton was stumping ferociously for its passage:

“We will finally be able to say, loudly and clearly, that for repeat, violent, criminal offenders: three strikes and you’re out. We are tired of putting you back in through the revolving door,” First Lady Clinton had said.

By the end of Clinton’s first term, the U.S. had added an additional 277,000 prisoners — that’s more than twice as many prisoners added during Republican hero Ronald Reagan’s first term (129,000). By January 2001, Clinton oversaw the addition of 673,000 new inmates to state and federal prisons. Reagan had only imprisoned 438,000. Nearly 60 percent of those imprisoned during Clinton’s first four years were behind bars for nonviolent drug offenses. The crime bill had a reverberating effect throughout black communities — as prison spending went up, funding for programs meant to help the disadvantaged declined, according to Ohio State University law professor Michelle Alexander:

Federal funding for public housing fell by $17 billion (a 61 percent reduction) under Bill Clinton’s tenure; federal funding for corrections rose by $19 billion...

http://usuncut.com/politics/black-lives-shattered-how-the-clintons-built-their-empire-on-white-supremacy/

[Metric System]

1. Bernie Sanders voted for the 1994 Violent Crime Control & Law Enforcement Act.

[dsc]

3. as did nearly every black member of Congress

the notion that whites and only whites were concerned about drugs and crime in the late 1980's and early 1990's is hogwash.

[notadmblnd]

4. However, he did not write or sponser the bill.

nt

[roguevalley]

6. Whenever I hear that old canard that bill was the first black president I want to

throw things. I hated it then and I hate it now. Barak Obama has that singular honor and always will.

[notadmblnd]

8. There was a hell of a lot in that bill. Some good, some bad.

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.

U.S. Department of Justice
Fact Sheet

The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 represents
the bipartisan product of six years of hard work. It is the largest crime bill
in the history of the country and will provide for 100,000 new police
officers, $9.7 billion in funding for prisons and $6.1 billion in funding for
prevention programs which were designed with significant input from
experienced police officers. The Act also significantly expands the
government's ability to deal with problems caused by criminal aliens.
The Crime Bill provides $2.6 billion in additional funding for the FBI, DEA,
INS, United States Attorneys, and other Justice Department components,
as well as the Federal courts and the Treasury Department. Some of the
most significant provisions of the bill are summarized below:

Substantive Criminal Provisions

Assault Weapons
Bans the manufacture of 19 military-style assault weapons, assault
weapons with specific combat features, "copy-cat" models, and certain
high-capacity ammunition magazines of more than ten rounds.

Death Penalty
Expands the Federal death penalty to cover about 60 offenses, including
terrorist homicides, murder of a Federal law enforcement officer,
large-scale drug trafficking, drive-by-shootings resulting in death and
carjackings resulting in death.

Domestic Abusers and Firearms
Prohibits firearms sales to and possession by persons subject to family
violence restraining orders.

Firearms Licensing
Strengthens Federal licensing standards for firearms dealers.

More at link: https://www.ncjrs.gov/txtfiles/billfs.txt

[hootinholler]

31. Bernie couldn't have voted for all that gun control could he? n/t

[notadmblnd]

33. Nah, couldn't possibly have.

[hootinholler]

35. Seems like there's a little fib going on here

Oh I hope someone will get to the bottom of it!

[Metric System]

26. Hillary didn't write or sponsor the IWR, but Sanders supporters still hold that vote against her, to

the point that you'd think she was singularly responsible for the Iraq War (nevermind that our current VP and SOS also voted for it).

[notadmblnd]

34. could be cause she's still rooting for war. Ya think?

[Luminous Animal]

10. If you are an honest person, you will acknowledge his reluctance to vote for it and

why he ultimately did.

[jeff47]

16. So he should have voted against the Violence Against Women Act?

It was also in the 1994 bill. And if he had voted against it, you'd be claiming that showed Sanders hated women.

Heck, you guys already ignore the assault weapons ban in the bill...

[Uncle Joe]

23. Here is Bernie in his own words regarding the crime bill.

[TeeYiYi]

32. Wow...

Thanks for that.

TYY

[loyalsister]

39. "Let us create a society of hope and compassion, not one of hate and vengeance"

Thanks for posting!

[ecstatic]

47. Wow. He looks and acts the same as he did 22 years ago

The same hair, yelling, and hand movements (which I mistakenly attributed to age). Incredible!

[uponit7771]

42. Notice the nuance that is afforded Sanders for his crappy votes?!... pages of excuses for him ...

... none for anyone else.

[Betty Karlson]

2. The Clintons cannot be trusted.

This bill, combined with their generous donors from the prison industry, spell trouble for too many people.

"But this year, just make the check out to Debbie. She'll be happy to take your tainted money for us."

[Baitball Blogger]

5. I know. It's crazy.

It's like the Clinton's inner circle is a white status quo. And where conservative white Democrats and Republicans meet, is not a healthy place for minorities.

But, those Clintons are charismatic, if nothing else.

[notadmblnd]

9. Well, Bill has charm. However, I don't see anything charming in Hillary

To me, she comes across as trying to hard to have swagger like she's some sort of hard ass braggart. She's not as careless as Donald Trump with her words but seems very similar in the attitude she projects.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. I see that alot in lawyers.

[notadmblnd]

14. I would agree with that.

I call it assholishness

[A Simple Game]

37. Now for me when I look at and listen to Hillary I see

a hard ass braggart trying to hide her swagger. But you may be right, who knows?

On edit: But the laugh, she can't hide the evil behind that laugh when she is talking about death and destruction. And she always laughs when talking about death and destruction.

[firebrand80]

7. How is the increase in State inmates Bill's fault?

[Luminous Animal]

11. "allocated an additional $30.2 billion for new state prisons"

[firebrand80]

13. That doesn't change State law

[Luminous Animal]

15. States followed suit. You might want to read up on this issue.

[firebrand80]

18. That's an overly simplistic view

There was a national sentiment that state and local Governments needed to do something about the drug epidemic. Bill Clinton was certainly on board with it, but you can't just lay it all at his feet.

[notadmblnd]

17. Yes, it does. Federal law trumps state law.

For example some states have legalized marijuana. But Federal law still considers it illegal. The only thing keeping the feds away for the most part is the Presidents justice department has not been too keen on enforcing federal law.

Now, if another President who is against MJ takes office (such as HRC), they could decide to order their justice department to pursue all legal means necessary to put growers and sellers (in states that it is now legal in) in prison.

[firebrand80]

20. No, it doesn't

For example, the Feds passing a law making crack penalties harsher than powder cocaine penalties doesn't apply to people tried and convicted in state court

[notadmblnd]

22. If the feds want to prosecute federally, they could.

If federal laws were broken, they could indeed prosecute. Your scenario is completely different than the example I gave. And yes, If the next administration decides to be tough on marijuana in states where it is legal, they can indeed go after growers and sellers for violating federal drug laws.

And yes, if States want federal dollars for prisons and law enforcement, they will adopt federal sentencing guidelines or they may be required to forfeit federal funding. It's how the federal government does business. So yeah, technically, you could be right but, most states choose to come into line.

And no, no new federal laws passed would apply to those already convicted and serving sentences. They would not be re-sentenced retroactively.

[firebrand80]

24. State's haven't adopted Federal sentencing guidelines

nor have they been asked to

[notadmblnd]

25. Pardon me, I misspoke. I should have said

And yes, if States want federal dollars for prisons and law enforcement, they will enact similar federal laws or they may be required to forfeit federal funding. It's how the federal government does business. So yeah, technically, you could be right but, most states choose to come into line.

[pinebox]

19. More back up for the OP

Just a reminder XD http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511088990

[firebrand80]

21. Again, this is just overly simplistic

There was plenty of "get tough on drug crime" sentiment going around, some of it coming from black political leaders and black communities that were being held hostage by the drug trade.

This is not to say everything that was done was right, but let's not pretend that this was entirely a creation of the Clinton administration.

[4139]

27. See the '1 million to lose food stamps' threads... Bill Clinton ending 'wellfare as we know it'

[Stargleamer]

28. Don't forget the welfare "reform" bill he signed into law

that also hurt disproportionally people of color

[Blue_Tires]

29. Who in the fuck is Amanda Girard?

There's no bio, and she doesn't google well..

And a cursory glance at her column seriously makes me wonder if she actually lived through the Clinton era...

[Tanuki]

44. She ain't 50 Black Mayors, that's for sure!

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/50-black-mayors-to-endorse-clinton/article/2574480


"Hillary Clinton will receive the support of 50 black mayors on Tuesday, adding to her lead among minority voters.

Endorsements will come from Steve Benjamin, the president of the African American Mayors Association and the mayor of Columbia, S.C.; Kasim Reed of Atlanta, Ga.; and Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, among others.

"Hillary Clinton is the most experienced and most respected presidential candidate bar none," former Mayor James Perkins of Selma, Ala., said in a campaign statement prior to the endorsement. "In 2016, America has the chance to elect a candidate in Hillary Clinton who has been putting people over special interests throughout her entire career and I'm proud to throw my support behind her."

Many of the endorsements come from mayors in crucial primary voting states, such as South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio and Colorado. Numerous other endorsement come from southern states, such as Alabama and Georgia, where African-Americans make up a considerable portion of the population."

[DefenseLawyer]

30. "But first, we have to bring them to heel"

That was Hillary Clinton's conclusion on how to deal with rising crime rates. I guess comparing young black men to dogs was good politics.

[oberliner]

36. The bill was written by Joe Biden

Congress writes bills, not the president.

Most of the opposition to the bill came from Republicans.

[BeanMusical]

38. Kick and R

[kath]

40. Kick.

[AtomicKitten]

41. k/r

[uponit7771]

43. Its still NOT worse than the "that person you know sucks vote for me cause I'm your revolution

... savior (except for reparations) that didn't know you till I needed your votes" message PoC are getting from the usual.

Clinton polls better with poor people and PoC for a reason

[cali]

45. Well that was garbled nonsense

[uponit7771]

46. Some peoples reading comprehension skills are low, no wonder pixy dust politics appeals to them