Utopia Talk / Politics / Pastor Wants Presidents’ Names Removed

swordtail Anarchist Prime	Wed Aug 16 11:25:59 Pastor Wants Presidents’ Names Removed From Washington, Jackson Parks Over Ties To Slavery August 16, 2017 10:13 AM CHICAGO (CBS) — A Chicago pastor has asked the Emanuel administration to remove the names of two presidents who owned slaves from parks on the South Side, saying the city should not honor slave owners in black communities. A bronze statue of George Washington on horseback stands at the corner of 51st and King Drive, at the northwest entrance to Washington Park. Bishop James Dukes, pastor of Liberation Christian Center, said he wants the statue gone, and he wants George Washington’s name removed from the park. “When I see that, I see a person who fought for the liberties, and I see people that fought for the justice and freedom of white America, because at that moment, we were still chattel slavery, and was three-fifths of humans,” he said. “Some people out here ask me, say ‘Well, you know, he taught his slaves to read.’ That’s almost sad; the equivalent of someone who kidnaps you, that you gave them something to eat.” Dukes said, even though Washington was the nation’s first president and led the American army in the Revolutionary War, he’s no hero to the black community. “There’s no way plausible that we would even think that they would erect a Malcolm X statue in Mount Greenwood, Lincoln Park, or any of that. Not that say Malcolm X was a bad guy; they just would not go for it,” he said. “Native Americans would not even think about putting up a Custer statue, because of the atrocities that he plagued upon Native Americans. And for them to say to us ‘just accept it’ is actually insulting.” The pastor also said President Andrew Jackson’s name should be removed from nearby Jackson Park, because he also was a slave owner. He said he’s not necessarily asking the city rename the parks altogether. He suggested Washington Park could be named after former Mayor Harold Washington, and Jackson Park could be named after civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson or singer Michael Jackson. Dukes said he’s not trying to erase history. He said black people should be able to decide who is and is not honored in their communities. “I think we should be able to identify and decide who we declare heroes in or communities, because we have to tell the stories to our children of who these persons are,” he said. He said parks, statues, or other monuments honoring Presidents Washington and Jackson might be appropriate elsewhere, but not in black neighborhoods. “In an African-American community, it’s a slap in the face and it’s a disgrace for them to honor someone who was a slave owner. Dukes said he has sent letters to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Park District asking them to change the names of Washington and Jackson parks. He shared the letter on Facebook. “I am feeling ambivalent that I would have to walk my child, attend a parade or enjoy a game of softball in a park that commemorates the memory of a slave owner,” he wrote. “Therefore, I call on the immediate removal of President George Washington and President Andrew Jackson names from the parks located on the southeast side of Chicago. They should not have the distinct honor of being held as heroes when they actively participated in the slave trade.” Representatives for the mayor did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A Chicago Park District spokeswoman pointed to the city’s formal process for renaming parks, which allows anyone to submit a request to the superintendent. The Park District board may vote on any such request after a 45-day public comment period. http://chi...otest-presidents-slave-owners/
Paramount Member	Wed Aug 16 11:37:11 "He suggested Washington Park could be named after former Mayor Harold Washington, and Jackson Park could be named after civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson or singer Michael Jackson." Sounds good to me. I'd vote for Michael Jackson.
tumbleweed the wanderer	Wed Aug 16 11:54:54 Janet Jackson would be less controversial
Rugian Member	Wed Aug 16 12:07:01 Trump 2020 gathering steam already, I see
tumbleweed the wanderer	Wed Aug 16 12:17:13 the pastor was probably paid by Trump supporters... or he's just a total idiot to bring this up now after Trump used it to defend himself
Rugian Member	Wed Aug 16 12:30:48 Or the same mentality that believes that Confederate statues should be removed from public also believes that the statues of anyone associated with slavery should likewise be removed, historic context be damned. Its the same mentality that tried to remove Woodrow Wilson's name from Princeton just last year, and the same one that actually did get Yale to erase the John C Calhoun name. It's absolutely in line with what SJWs would believe.
Pillz Member	Wed Aug 16 13:31:01 North America will follow Europe into the leftist abyss, western civilization is dead. Unless the American right manages to win.
Hot Rod Revved Up	Wed Aug 16 18:49:51 Let the pastor stop using dollar bills cause it has Washington's picture on them. If he buys something and his change is $4.80 he should only take the coins and not even look at the bills. Guess he should check for nickels too. Fucking idiot.
obaminated Member	Wed Aug 16 18:52:46 Ah, Trump proven correct once again.
Trolly McSerious Member	Wed Aug 16 19:04:01 lulz, no one pays attention to this guy because he has a history of being nuts. And suddenly his idiotic stance is used as "see, see, i told you!" Little history about the crazy guy; http://coo...o-repay-more-than-79k-in-loans
obaminated Member	Wed Aug 16 19:13:44 Because the left doesn't have a history of wanting to erase historical monuments because they disagree with them based on a modern day morality... rofl dumbass
Trolly McAwesome Member	Wed Aug 16 19:21:39 ^believes the white supremacists were there because of a statue. lulz, dumbass.
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