Black Demonstrators Demand Slavery Reparations

AP via Yahoo! News ^ | Sat Aug 17, 5:18 PM ET | Mark Wilkinson

[Chi-townChief]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A few thousand black demonstrators rallied on the Mall in Washington on Saturday to demand that the U.S. government pay blacks reparations for slavery and decades of discrimination.

"I want to go up to the closest white person and say, 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing,' and then slap him, just for my mental health," Charles Barron, a member of the New York City Council, told the crowd.

The demonstrators, numbering about 2,000 to 3,000, came from all parts of the United States, many traveling by bus from as far away as Texas. With the U.S. Capitol in the background, they chanted "Black power! Reparations!" and "Start the Revolution!"

"Apologize White America," said a sign carried by one demonstrator.

Barron, a self-proclaimed "elected revolutionary," said if the government did not act swiftly he personally would storm the Treasury Department ( news - web sites) and take the money for reparations.

Black activist Louis Farrakhan told the crowd, "America owes the black people a lot for what they've endured."

"We need land for political independence, we need millions of acres," Farrakhan added. "We need payment for 310 years of slavery, of destruction of our minds and the robbery of our culture."

The United States, torn apart by the Civil War, abolished slavery in 1865. Some people argue that even 137 years after abolition, blacks still suffer from the vestiges of slavery.

U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a Democrat from Michigan, urged blacks to press their elected representatives in Congress to deal with the issue of slavery reparations.

"We want reparations -- not next century, not 10 years from now, but now," Conyers said. "These wrongs can only be corrected in the House of Representatives, only Congress can do what we want now. All congressmen ought to be here today."

Conyers has backed legislation that would require the House of Representatives to study slavery's effects on blacks.

Demonstrators said blacks deserved "long overdue" reparations, noting compensation won by Jews in the aftermath of the Nazi Holocaust and Japanese-Americans for their internment by the United States in camps during World War II.

The turnout was smaller than the tens of thousands of demonstrators forecast by organizers of the "Millions for Reparations" movement. But those who traveled to Washington said they believed the rally would make a difference.

"You have to really make some noise just to be heard," Edna Russell, who traveled from Denver, told Reuters.

Kobina Abew, an American citizen from Ghana dressed in a colorful African gown, said, "It's going to be very effective. It's going to bring a solution to this problem, I believe."

[End The Hypocrisy]

Strangely enough, the Washington Post gave an even MORE conservative figure for the http://www.millionsforreparations.com event today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30662-2002Aug17.html

"Hundreds of blacks rallied in front of the Capitol on Saturday to demand slavery reparations, saying that compensation is long overdue for the ills of that institution."

Ouch! :-)

[The Wizard]

2 or 3 thousand........this thing is dead.....

[Catspaw]

I caught one of the speakers--they listed him as co-chairman--say that 900 buses came to the rally. Just doing a little quick math & giving the benefit of the doubt by using the 3000 figure, that means that each bus held 3.3 people.

That's a waste of a lot of good diesel.

[Salvey]

Given the present racial climate, perhaps pro-white rallies, tee shirts, bumper-stickers, etc., would not be excoriated. I hear more and more folks say things like, "If they can do it, then why can't we?".

[dfwgator]

Of course when the blacks buy their new cars, the money will end right back up in Whitey's hands anyway.

[gesully]

Seems to me these people should thank God their ancestors were slaves. If not they would not be on the Mall in Washington DC but would be in some dusty, God-forsaken african country squatting in the dirt, eating grass and probably infected with AIDS.

[marvlus]

I caught one of the speakers--they listed him as co-chairman--say that 900 buses came to the rally. Just doing a little quick math & giving the benefit of the doubt by using the 3000 figure, that means that each bus held 3.3 people.

Based on the numbers reported in the Washington Post, the bus driver was the only one on the Bus!!

[robertpaulsen]

"This entire matter was instigated by the race baiting, church campaigning Democratic Party."

And I hope that every democRATic congressman runs on this issue this November. They don't dare.

[07055]

I bet the buses were at least half full. Wonder where the riders went though? It sure wasn't the rally.

[BJungNan]

Of course when the blacks buy their new cars, the money will end right back up in Whitey's hands anyway.

What I want to aks is this, when they get their new cars, will they get SUV's?

[zeaal]

My spouse just suggested to go ahead and pay everyone xxx,xxx dollars. Then completely stop and close down ALL forms of welfare, housing assistance, free medical, free dental, food stamps, college grants, etc. No more for anyone who receives reparations. Period. This is ALL. From that moment on those who receive money will be responsible for obtaining their own healthcare, housing, pay for college, etc.

They must sign an acknowledgement they will never again apply for or receive any type of government payment. Similar to what the government is doing with the 9/11 family survivors. If they accept the money they cannot sue or seek additional damages.

[lgjhn]

"I want to go up to the closest white person and say, 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing,' and then slap him, just for my mental health," Charles Barron, a member of the New York City Council, told the crowd.

You're right...he's not a real bright-boy.
Come on down to Louisiana and bring it on Charlie Boy....guns ain't outlawed here....I'm positive someone down here can probably help you that mental health problem with some CorBon right between the eyes.....

[stylin19a]

So when do the lawsuits begin, to force the estimates of those attending to be 1 million ?

It would seem the years are even less than 246. Prior to the U.S.A., wasn't America an English Colony ?
Also, why should any state that wasn't in existence as of 1865 be included?
(Which, of course, is mostly "fly-over" country.)?

so...Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii get to "opt-out".

Guam, American Virgin Islands, American Samoa,& Puerto Rico of course are out.

That leaves mostly RAT country. Now, since California & New York are the most populous states, they should have to pay more, which of course will bankrupt those states. Since the Republicans are on the side of the Angels in this one, the people will be, of course pi$$ed at the RATS, so the RATS are gone.

Ok, all of a sudden I'm FOR reparations

[swampfox98]

"I want to go up to the closest white person and say, 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing,' and then slap him, just for my mental health,"

If he slaps me, I'll sue his little black balls off. That would be great for my mental health.

[mvpel]

"I want to go up to the closest white person and say, 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing,' and then slap him, just for my mental health," Charles Barron, a member of the New York City Council, told the crowd.

I seem to recall something very similar being said by a Klansman a few years back at a KKK rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The cops had to rescue a guy who accidentally wandered into the vicinity wearing a Confederate Flag t-shirt and found himself in danger of being kicked to death, and they eventually broke up the angry mob with tear-gas and batons after rocks began raining down on the Klan.

[gitmo]

"Apologize White America," said a sign carried by one demonstrator.

Am I mistaken? Didn't Bill Clinton make a public apology for slavery on behalf of the country?

[sultan88]

Hmmmm. Some black racists are revolting today.

[stylin19a]

agh...Washington also gets to "opt-out"

[engrpat]

Does anyone know where the DNC is on this? As this is one of their largest voting blocks seems they would be out in front of this. Is this what Al was talking about when he said he would fight for us?

[abclily]

Billy Blythe already apologized for slavery on behalf of the entire country. So, it's over. You've had your reparations! Enjoy. Send Billy Blythe a message of appreciation.