General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Rev Al just made a great point [View all]hlthe2b
(102,225 posts)I know GA and GA politics too well, having lived there on several occasions before returning to Colorado. Six months before I left, two things happened that spurred my departure. First, I accidentally became trapped within a KKK march/rally in Woodstock, GA, just north of Atlanta which I found both disgusting and terrifying (though I am a white female). Of course, these assholes tried to ingratiate themselves with me as I was trapped in my car within their crowd and I was NOT having it.
The second is literally bumping into Newt Gingrich at the Atlanta airport as he returned after being replaced as Speaker and I was moving through to my gate to leave. I apparently had a subconscious smirk on my face and he called me out-- asking about it, got all defensive. I really really wanted to tell him what I thought, but I just said I was leaving on a plane and was very happy to do so (and that I was even happier to see him returning to GA for good). Oh, boy that pissed him off.
Now, I'm all for Georgia's progress. I'm hopeful. I made phone calls for Warnock and Ossoff in January 2021 and will do so again. I adore Stacey Abrams and all she's accomplished. But, I'm a realist. Until Forsyth County is cleaned out of its most devout racists, Georgia is always going to be at risk and readily exploited.
I know Al Sharpton is fully aware of that history... Perhaps he's just taking time to be positive for the moment. That I can understand.