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70sEraVet

(4,145 posts)
Sun Aug 27, 2023, 09:08 AM Aug 2023

A small Alabama town whose white former-Mayor holds onto power by shutting off democracy

In the nearly two centuries since the town’s founding, it has retained two aspects of its early days: it has a majority Black population, with, until Braxton, a majority white leadership. Newbern is about 80% Black and 20% white. Until Braxton appointed the four members of his city council, there had only been one Black city councilmember.
Until Braxton decided to throw his hat in the ring, people in Newbern did not realize they had the option to run for mayor or council, or that elections were at all possible. Braxton said he never heard anything about elections in Newbern as a child. Nor did LaQuenna Lewis, who has been supporting Braxton in his efforts to be recognized as mayor.

“We were just told that this is who your mayor is,” Lewis said. “It’s been that – this is like 60 years plus. We’ve been told that this is our mayor and this is how things have been. When you look at the town and the history, years of oppression create a certain condition and a certain way of thinking. It has been accepted.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/26/black-mayor-alabama-town-locked-out
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A small Alabama town whose white former-Mayor holds onto power by shutting off democracy (Original Post) 70sEraVet Aug 2023 OP
How many cities like Newbern are there around the US, particularly in the South? oregonjen Aug 2023 #1
Hard to believe this blatant abuse of democracy is going on today. Baitball Blogger Aug 2023 #2
Dunning Kruger. OldBaldy1701E Aug 2023 #4
White minority rule capsulized. NoMoreRepugs Aug 2023 #3
It's called apartheid and I'll bet it's all over the south. n/t aggiesal Aug 2023 #6
why is not it brought up to the feds ? drray23 Aug 2023 #5
Thats what i wondered. Defending civil rights and enforcing free and fair elections. 70sEraVet Aug 2023 #10
Thanks to the fine reporting by The Guardian erronis Aug 2023 #7
I noticed that,too. Delmette2.0 Aug 2023 #11
the south llashram Aug 2023 #8
K&R Solly Mack Aug 2023 #9

oregonjen

(3,490 posts)
1. How many cities like Newbern are there around the US, particularly in the South?
Sun Aug 27, 2023, 09:25 AM
Aug 2023

Mayor Braxton needs to have much more media attention to shed light on what is happening. Thanks for posting this article. I could see Rachel Maddow doing some digging and reporting on this.

Baitball Blogger

(48,051 posts)
2. Hard to believe this blatant abuse of democracy is going on today.
Sun Aug 27, 2023, 09:34 AM
Aug 2023

"We were told..."

What needs to be researched is why people are so willing to go along.

70sEraVet

(4,145 posts)
10. Thats what i wondered. Defending civil rights and enforcing free and fair elections.
Sun Aug 27, 2023, 01:52 PM
Aug 2023

Sounds like something out of the 1880's.

erronis

(16,845 posts)
7. Thanks to the fine reporting by The Guardian
Sun Aug 27, 2023, 11:41 AM
Aug 2023

It's amazing how much better they report on things happening in the US than the M$M.

My donations go to them and ProPublica and others.

llashram

(6,269 posts)
8. the south
Sun Aug 27, 2023, 12:09 PM
Aug 2023

is trying to rise again, but its legs are not strong enough...yet. Desantis is showing the way that many racists scream in glee about his state and his open racism. Amerikkka has shown the world its sickness and hate personified by the Republikkkan frontrunner. Always been always will be. 1619.

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