SPRINGFIELD — Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy recently characterized U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley as being like a modern-day grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Of course, she took offense to this, but it's more offensive to the American people.
Ramaswamy's message was confusing. The KKK is still very much with us and has been joined by many other hate groups which have a strong influence in today's Republican Party. The KKK is dedicated to maintaining the supremacy of white people who share their version of Christianity over everyone else.
They focus on keeping Black people oppressed and subjugated by restricting access to voting, enforcing segregation, using the police and criminal justice system to unfairly prosecute Black people while protecting white people and police who kill people of color, and restricting access to adequate education and good-paying jobs for Black people.
Historically, their repertoire included inciting terror by burning crosses in people's yards and lynchings. These days it is more likely to take the form of arbitrarily killing black people in public settings. The KKK has also targeted French Canadians, Jews, and non-white immigrants.
Pressley and other progressives are calling for a correction in the pattern of oppression of minority groups in the United States in order to move toward a just society. This is the opposite of the KKK agenda - not racism.
Recent Republican policies often support the KKK agenda. Republicans calling anti-racists racist is dishonest.
Vivek's advertising signs say "Truth." Vivek. Even his signs lie.
This Voices Letters from readers was submitted to The Commons.