David Duke In Memphis
Sunday, November 9th, 2008John Farmer ran in 2004 on the Republican ticket against Rep. John Tanner. I’ve met him.
So I was somewhat surprised to see he attended an event in Memphis yesterday that’s key note speaker was David Duke. The meeting was for The European American Unity and Rights Conference which focuses on, according to what the sign says, or what I can see of it, “Standing up for the rights and heritage of european Americans.” The meeting was no secret.
My grandmother was full-blooded Indian. Is her heritage under scrutiny during these events? I wonder. My father has many features from his mother. Would he be allowed to come?
I’m wondering if Farmer John (as he called himself during the race) was there as an advocate or in somewhat of a reporter capacity. Some of this made me wonder. Farmer cites that the meeting had to be held in private to “exercise first amendment rights.” As I’ve said I’ve met John. We had a beer together once while he was campaigning.
Of course what you say during a campaign and what one does after are two different things.
John, let’s look at this honestly. Duke is an opportunist who was involved with the KKK. No one turned water hoses on anyone or released attack dogs on people during yesterday’s events. No one was arrested due to skin color.
If people wanted to protest, they have the right to protest. Crazy to think, but that’s an American right too.
Business owners also have the right to change locations. It’s a business. They can do what they like.
I realize, John, that you took a picture of two hot chicks and a “White Pride” sign and showed them to two African-American people after the event who you write “were all right with the photo.” What were they going to say. It’s like going up to gay people in a Wal-Mart and saying “You know, you dudes shouldn’t get married.” In a public place, it’s the same thing. It could have been many things, their response. If it had been me, I would have gotten away from that photo.
But, one thing you didn’t add to your post were these comments:
Rick Russell of Bartlett was not pleased that the conference was taking place in his backyard.
“I’m a 22-year navy veteran, and I fought for our country for freedom and the ability not to hate,” he said.
The hotel’s owner, Shiraz Hassaneli, said he didn’t know what the conference was about, and that the employee who booked the conference was told that it would be a “family meeting”.
I return back to the issue of that a business had to make a decision. It’s like the Bill Ayers thing? Guilt by Association perhaps. Businesses just want to make money. They don’t want to be embroiled in a political uproar especially one that is shrouded with a big fancy name but has the same agenda of a modern day KKK who just happens to host a radio show and owns some computers.
Take a look at this and tell me that racism doesn’t exist against innocent people from a biracial family’s point of view.
As I said before, the meeting was no secret. If you google David Duke and Memphis, even Duke’s website is talking about it. He was playing the victim of race politics because he’s trying to stir things up. Like he always has.
And you said one member of the media said it was just “dozens” who showed up. True on one account I read but not all of them. The media didn’t all say that.
The group of about 100 participants, met at the East Memphis hotel to discuss issues that Duke says are “vital to European Americans.” According to Duke’s official website, “The European American Unity and Rights Conference is dedicated to defending the heritage and rights of European Americans.”
Memphis police were on hand in case of any problems, but the event went smoothly.
This is the third International EURO Conference held by the white civil rights activist. The first EURO Conference was held in New Orleans in 2004. Duke says now is an important time for the group because of President Elect Obama. Duke says Obama has a record of anti-white racism and is close with an anti-white church leader, Rev. Wright.
No one is saying folks can’t go see Duke if they don’t want to.
But, I have to say buddy, the whole thing reeks. John, Memphis elected a white Jewish man to represent your city in Congress. Call this for what it is. In this case, the Duke visit was reported. The only thing is that businesses knew his history and they made a corporate choice.
The man was a grand wizard for the KKK, for crying out loud. And, to move it forward, he’s had a bit of trouble with the law. Not on racial issues, but on financial ones.
David Duke pleaded guilty to the felony charge of filing a false tax return under and mail fraud under in December 2002.[83]
Four months later, Duke was sentenced to 15 months in prison, and he served the time in Big Spring, Texas. He was also fined US$10,000, ordered to cooperate with the Internal Revenue Service, and to pay money still owed for his 1998 taxes. Following his release in May 2004, he stated that his decision to take the plea bargain was motivated by the bias that he perceived in the United States federal court system and not his guilt. He said he felt the charges were contrived to derail his political career and discredit him to his followers, and that he took the safe route by pleading guilty and receiving a mitigated sentence, rather than pleading not guilty and potentially receiving the full sentence.
John, he’s been in the public eye for years. There was no violation of rights here. Coverage was there. People, unfortunately chose to go and that’s their right. But for pete’s sake, of all people, don’t make it into a constitution issue which it clearly is not.
It is a period of time regarding race in this country where we are trying to heal the divide but to muddy up the issue of denial of constitutional rights, which didn’t not happen, when, it was indeed just simply about race.
Pure and simple.
