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Aaron's avatar

I just happened to be in Memphis for a few days and read this article, having totally overlooked this date in history. Guess who changed their plans and was able to visit the Museum of Civil Rights at the Lorraine Motel? The museum is highly recommended. I'd attach photos if I could figure out how to do it.

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JCfromNC's avatar

Can't do it in the non-comments, you'll have to create a Note (where you can attach images) and then post a link to it here. Or you could put them in the OT chat ziggy initiates every evening.

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DDB9000's avatar

As I have had to point out time and time again...

John F Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy (Sr.) were NOT progressive, and barley liberal,. while LBJ WAS.

JFK ordered his brother RFK, the Attorney General (can you say nepotism? - I know you can!) to have FBI director J. Edgar Hoover investigate MLK Jr. as a communist (these are FACTS easily found).

So you can draw a DIRECT line to MLK Jr.s murder in Memphis cause the FBI were STILL more interest in finding his communist links. Having said that Hoover had first really targeted him after the ''I Have A Dream" speech in Washington in August 1963, but things ramped up when he had the APPROVAL of the President and his Attorney General.

I will admit that you will not find many mentions of JFK ordering RFK, but RFK could've not done it with out his brother's approval.

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Bitter Scribe's avatar

King came back to Memphis to try to contain violence, and was shot to death for his trouble.

Ain't that America.

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marxalot's avatar

The FBI had MLK, Jr marked down as one of if not the greatest threat to the USA's internal hegemonic interests, flagged him as a Commie, mailed him letters urging him to kill himself, spent a lot of time recording and tailing him (to get more material for harassing his family, etc); not quite the full Fred Hampton, but COINTELPRO nonetheless. They wouldn't have gone to as much trouble for a guy who just wanted us all to get along. "Wouldn't it be nice if everyone was nice" doesn't trouble power. "End poverty" absolutely does.

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GiggleSnort's avatar

Couple of things I was reading this morning: stuff about Bannon's plan for a MAGA party that rules for "a hundred years:" his version of the Thousand Year Reich (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/04/steve-bannon-book-maga). And drunk Rosanne Barr going on about how you should drop out of college, because college "isn't nothing but devil worshipping, baby blood-drinking, Democrat donors." (https://boingboing.net/2024/04/04/roseanne-barr-with-kari-lake-at-mar-a-lago-warns-youth-quit-devil-worshipping-baby-blood-drinking-college-video.html). One of these people is pathetic but also dangerous. Ms. Barr is just pathetic. I don't think a lot of young people are going to take up her advice, at least I hope not.

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Robert Eckert's avatar

Young people in college now weren't even born when Roseanne was a thing.

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Nancy Naive's avatar

I think strokes happen in vitro.

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Larry Schmitt's avatar

Roseanne and Kari Lake. Now there's a pair. If she has any kids they must be wondering what's wrong with their mother.

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Liz and Max the No. 1 Cat's avatar

Or as my ex used to say, "there's a pair that would beat a full house".

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Daniel's avatar

That Time Memphis Sanitation Workers Went On Strike And ... Well You Know The Rest

Memphis air cooling systems engineers worked way more, creating a terrible imbalance?

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Delmarva Peninsula's avatar

Huh. So the people who say MLK Jr. would vote for PAB are full of it?

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Mr Canoehead/M Tête-Canoë's avatar

Full to overflowing.

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Paula Wade's avatar

Great article. But as a former Memphian who well remembers that awful day, Memphis is still defined by racism - its economy has been smothered by it. And there's another great book you should have on your list: At The River I Stand, by Joan Turner Beifuss.

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Pexas Teat's avatar

Have you read Blood Done Sign My Name by Tim Tyson? It's a great study of the non-nonviolent racial protests and self-protection that was occurring in NC at this time and a little later. Phenomenal book.

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ReSister For Life Callyson's avatar

I'll read this in a moment, but I need the classic mood music:

U2 - Pride (In The Name Of Love)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHcP4MWABGY

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DDB9000's avatar

A good song, but the time mentioned in the song is wrong...

Early morning, April four

Shot rings out in the Memphis sky.

Free at last, they took your life

They could not take your pride.

Bono was writing it from the time it happened in Ireland. Time zomes, Paul, time zones!

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Villago Delenda Est 🇺🇦's avatar

One of U2's greatest songs (not hits...SONGS).

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Thesaurus Wrecks's avatar

Dr MLK Jr preached non-violence.

GOP: Don’t tread on me, I’m a snake! Come and take it! We will water the tree of liberty! 2nd Amen remedies!

Also GOP: We are the party of MLK!

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Bruce's avatar

Also GOP: We are the party of that one half sentence MLK said that one time and never spoke before or since!

FTFY

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swmnguy's avatar

"Nobody's treading on you, Sweetie."

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Boaty the plural's avatar

You knew I was a snake when you let me in....

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Thesaurus Wrecks's avatar

It’s humorous to me that they advertise to the world that they are a snake in the grass.

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Bradthe🤖's avatar

Honestly, their appropriation of the Gadsden Flag is annoying.

It means something completely different to historians who actually know about shit.

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Bagels of Doom's avatar

Thank you, Erik! this was great.

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Eileen's avatar

ABSOLUTELY! Thank you!

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IdRatherBeDancing's avatar

The Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is amazing. It includes the hotel where King was assassinated and it's a snap shot of that exact time down to the cars parked in front and the coffee cup witn coffee and saucer of snacks in the room... very eerie

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josephebacon's avatar

Is Russia’s New U.S. Propaganda Star Wanted on Child Porn Charges in Rhode Island?

The “former American soldier” who starred in a new pro-war video praising Russia’s “mission” in Ukraine is reportedly a wanted fugitive.

Kremlin-controlled media lit up this week with news that an American veteran had signed a contract with the Russian military in a bold act of defiance against U.S. support for Ukraine.

According to reports in Russia and back home in Massachusetts, the new American in Ukraine may be none other than Wilmer Puello-Mota, a former city councilor in Holyoke, Massachusetts, who prosecutors say fled the country to evade child porn charges.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/wilmer-puello-mota-is-russias-new-us-media-star-wanted-on-child-porn-charges-in-rhode-island?ref=home&utm_source=web_push

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gnomemansanisland's avatar

Seems like men who are sex perverts have an affinity for Putin's Russia, like Scott Ritter and this miscreant.

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Frank Talk, Action Pundit!'s avatar

Also for the Republican Party.

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gnomemansanisland's avatar

And Donnie, of course.

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Schmannity's avatar

Holyoke? Holy smokes!

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weejee's avatar

OT: PAB's shit show meme stock down 5% moar and it is not even noon o'clock.

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fair_n_hite_451's avatar

Now down almost 10% from yesterday's high

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gnomemansanisland's avatar

Once those turkeys start falling watch out below.

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Richard S's avatar

"As God is my witness......"

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Eileen's avatar

SO SWEET.

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Elviouslyqueer's avatar

EQ's hubs was born and grew up in Memphis, and he still recalls seeing TV footage of actual tanks rolling down Main Street to suppress the protesters. And Henry Loeb was only the latest in a string of openly racist mayors, arguably starting with "Boss" Crump, that have infected Memphis for YEARS.

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Eileen's avatar

Bastids all.

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Schmannity's avatar

Into that septic summer, throw George Wallace.

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gnomemansanisland's avatar

Trump reminds me of him.

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Schmannity's avatar

Autocracy today, autocracy tomorrow, autocracy forever!

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Elviouslyqueer's avatar

Actually, Trump is much more like Bull Connor.

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