Forget Will Dismukes; ALGOP Chair Terry Lathan Is Worse

“It is one thing to honor one’s Southern heritage; however, it is completely another issue to specifically commemorate the leader of an organization with an indisputable history of unconscionable actions and atrocities toward African-Americans.”

Alabama GOP Chair Terry Lathan (RIGHT, in red) with Donald Trump (LEFT)

– Alabama Republican Chairwoman Terry Lathan, official statement upon learning that Will Dismukes, a Republican member of the Alabama State House of Representatives, from the 88th State House District which includes Prattville, attended a party celebrating late KKK founder Nathan Bedford Forrest on the day of late U.S. Representative John Lewis’ memorial in Alabama

Terry Lathan is correct – “it is completely another issue to specifically commemorate the leader of an organization with an indisputable history of unconscionable actions and atrocities toward African-Americans.”

But…

Can you smell the hypocrisy cooking?

By officially celebrating as holidays the birthdays of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis, the State of Alabama “specifically commemorates the leader[s] of an organization with an indisputable history of unconscionable acts and atrocities toward African-Americans.”

That Madam Chairman Lathan specifically ignores the proverbial “elephant in the room” of racism, strains at the gnat of Will Dismukes, and swallows the camel of state-sponsored endorsement of the institution of slavery is the entire point. Will Dismukes is a gnat on the derriere of the ALGOP. Lathan is its mouthpiece.

Slavery, racism, and discrimination are Alabama’s heritage – a genuine homemade Southern mess. It’s tough to erase history, so they don’t even try. Instead, they embrace it as a lost sheep, welcoming it back into the Confederate fold.

Officially acknowledging Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis is the ULTIMATE act of hypocrisy, and the demonstration of an ultimately corrupted organization that officially reveres those at the very heart of the proliferation of the institution of slavery, and the treasonous rebellion of the states via secession in support of that Lost Cause.

That Alabama GOP Madam Chairman Lathan somehow ignores that fact, and instead, chooses to chastise a junior member of the state legislature, is telling, in more ways than one.

It’s telling first of all, that Dismukes is openly sympathetic to the Klan, racism, and White Supremacy.

It’s telling that his attendance at that event – and its timing – was no mistake.

It’s telling that he, as a licensed minister of a religious tradition which has only recently striven to apologize for being on the wrong side of history for so long, is openly supporting that very thing from which they have attempted to alienate themselves, and to seek forgiveness, and make restitution.

A since-deleted Tweet by Will Dismukes, a Republican member of the Alabama State House of Representatives, State House District 88, whom is also a Baptist preacher

It’s telling that it’s still alive and breathing in Alabama.

It’s telling that it’s predominately in the GOP.

It’s telling that the state’s legislative leaders have done nothing, and likely will not do anything, such as remove him from all committee assignments, etc.

It’s telling that the ALGOP has done nothing to rid themselves of Dismukes, and other such vermin.

It’s telling that the blatant hypocrisy of Madam Chairman Lathan who is merely using the name, and memory of late U.S. Representative, and Alabama native son John Lewis, to attempt to promote the appearance of the party as one which actually give a damn about anyone, much less about Civil Rights, or racial or ethnic minorities – in short, anyone who isn’t White.

It’s telling that no one else apparently sees the blatant hypocrisy of it all.

If there was any honor in this wretched mess, Will Dismukes would be the one getting the award, for at least he was authentic – wretchedly wrong, but authentic – and to this point, unapologetic.

On the other hand, Alabama GOP Madam Chairman Lathan… is the ultimate example of a Class A hypocrite.

As usual, Alabama’s stupidity gets national and international attention, and this case is certainly no different.

As John Lewis was honored in Alabama, a state GOP legislator celebrated a KKK leader’s birthday
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/07/28/alabama-republican-lewis-kkk/