After rowdy, gun-carrying racists and anti-semites invaded the Michigan legislature last week to protest the coronavirus-related lockdown, a black legislator decided to go to work with an armed guard of her own.
After a horde of armed and angry protesters swarmed Lansing last week, State Rep. Sarah Anthony brought some extra protection on her way to the State Capitol today.
At least three African Americans carrying large rifles escorted Anthony across Capitol Avenue earlier this morning so she could safely attend committee meetings without fear of intimidation.
“We were all just appalled by the lack of support and lack of security that I had, that other legislators had, and the fact that a lot of the demonstrators last week were adorning many racist, anti-Semitic signage. I think it just triggered a lot of folks, especially African Americans.”
Given the explicitly racist temper of the protests — indeed, the racism that permeates the entire MAGA-cult — I don’t fault Representative Anthony for her uneasiness. And I respect her courageous friends for their willingness to step-up and help her. But … sheesh. The bald fact that such a gesture should be needful — and, again, I don’t have a problem with that they did — should worry all of us. This breakdown in ordinary civic trust is the real damage done by Trump and his Deplorable One-third and their cowardly enablers in the Republican Party.
There is no answer but for We, the People, to decisively shove all of them back out to the fringe where they belong.