In the aftermath of the horrible killing of George Floyd, protests erupted in city streets across the country. They were often led by Black Lives Matter signage and chants. Unfortunately, the legitimate peaceful protests morphed into what I consider unlawful rioting, burning and looting. These rioters and looters destroyed businesses and property that often served the Black community.
We can argue who “infiltrated” the peaceful protest marches, but I posit that they were people without a care for George Floyd or racial injustice. They had an interest in creating chaos, which they did. I personally feel that they are revolutionaries, hellbent on destroying our country, its history, laws and culture.
There is talk by Asheville City Council member Sheneika Smith, along with the Asheville Area Arts Council and other community groups and leaders, of installing a temporary Black Lives Matter mural for Pack Square in downtown Asheville. Before Asheville rushes to embrace the BLM mantra, I would urge caution and restraint from going down that path. They should diligently research the BLM movement’s origins and its foundational beliefs and plans for our country.
You may well be surprised to learn that BLM isn’t as peaceful an organization as the millions of legitimate protest marchers were. Be careful Asheville, whom you align yourself with.
— Dennis Kabasan
Fletcher
Too bad Mr. Kabasan wasn’t able to give us any direct proof of his, I’m sure, thoroughly researched conclusions on the nature of the Black Lives Matter movement.
But here is their mantra: taken from their website: (https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/)
Black Lives Matter began as a call to action in response to state-sanctioned violence and anti-Black racism. Our intention from the very beginning was to connect Black people from all over the world who have a shared desire for justice to act together in their communities. The impetus for that commitment was, and still is, the rampant and deliberate violence inflicted on us by the state
Thanks for the suggestion, Dennis. I’m even more supportive of them now. Everyone should read:
https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/
Everyone should support City Council in choosing to recognize the important moment we find ourselves in.
And everyone who would challenge that simple statement, “Black Lives Matter”… I would challenge you to stand up and say so publicly without “have you heard?… nonsense.
I’ll say it…..ALL LIVES MATTER. Nuff said. George Floyd’s murderer will pay the price as he should. But the BLM movement to DEFUND the police is absurd and will only harm those communities least served. BLM does deserve a MUCH CLOSER look…
The organization itself was quite radical from the very beginning. Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors described herself and fellow co-founder Alicia Garza as “trained Marxists” in a recently resurfaced video from 2015. https://nypost.com/2020/06/25/blm-co-founder-describes-herself-as-trained-marxist/
“We actually do have an ideological frame[work],” Cullors said of her organization. “We are trained Marxists. We are super-versed on, sort of, ideological theories.”
Meanwhile, the national organization’s official platform, published in 2015, contained a specific call to “[disrupt] the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure.”
Um, no thanks. I care about black issues – but choose to support those efforts that SUPPORT the traditional family while at the same time don’t tear down America at large. Throwing out the baby with the bathwater so to speak never solved a problem.
@bsummers – it’s because of social media bullies like you who would rather bully the messenger than debate with intellectual facts that we, the silent majority, have the smarts to act at the voting booth – and yet not disclose our personal identities so as to not have our business or personal relationships shredded by maniacal lefts such as yourself. That said – you’re lack of intellectual follow-up renders your opinion nothing of value either.
Right. Its conservatives who push back against Black Lives Matter and say that unjustified police killing of Blacks is not a problem for them – they’re the real victims here.
Thank you Mountain Express for posting Mr. Kabasan’s letter because many of us who do not regularly watch Fox News fail to hear the views of the ignorant and paranoid.
Thank you Mountain Express for posting Mr. Allen’s response to Mr. Kabasan’s letter. Clearly, Mr Allen is an uninformed ignorant individual himself. Clearly, his view of America is gathered through left only media of CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS and NBC. Glad that Mountain Express had the guts to show all that there is ANOTHER view that exists. Go Mountain Express!!! Finally – BOTH perspectives being presented.
I was unable to verify the race of the looters and vandals who were arrested during the damage done to downtown Asheville. I heard that white nationalists were the instigators. Can you set the record straight by naming the color of the perpetrators, person by person?? (Please do not include the peaceful protestors.) Note: the Citizen Times listed their names of the arrested vandals, but not their color.
Regardless, Black Lives Matter is a valid movement that cannot and should not be destroyed, no matter how hard my white race or the smaller faction of the disenfranchised try.
Cornell West expresses best the Black Christian movement that will keep this movement alive with our white help. https://youtu.be/LkdRdrg3SsA
Just as we will be unable to ascertain just WHO ‘deserves’ reparations… the lawyers’ mouths are watering at all the upcoming litigation.
God please deliver us from this maelstrom of hate and deceit from the non leaders, marxists, and ALL the EVIL democrakkks of NC…
Ms. Witherington,
Please explain how blacks need your “white help?”
Such a statement is exceedingly paternalistic, white-privileged, and let’s face it…demonstrates inherent racism. The movement doesn’t need your type. You sure you’re not a card carrying member of the UDC!?
An oxymoron lable of “Black Christian”…is it not if it / they support a BLM organization that supports this position:
– We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking.
Yet, the Bible defines marriage in Genesis 2:24 as a union between one man and one woman. Jesus Christ upholds this definition of marriage in Matthew 19:5, as does the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:31. Any and all sexual activity which takes place outside of this context is treated as sinful, what Jesus calls ‘sexual immorality’ in Mark 7:21.
I’m wondering what part of Jesus’s words is this CHRISTIAN group supporting. Not surprised. Sad the watering down of God’s word by the left…..and dare I say, black (or white for that matter) christian movements too.
Would this be helpful? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbicAmaXYtM
Pretty big rhetorical leap from “I personally feel” to “you should diligently research.”
I suppose it’s easier to encourage people down the deep rabbit-hole of conservative media — where you’ll find tediously familiar conspiracy theories about control and funding — than to explicitly say what you think that research would find.
This LTE will soon come out as a campaign message followed by “I’m Donald J Trump and I approve this message.”
SOooo UNfunny…duh. strive to be creative…
and Sheneika Smith LIES…she is an effing LIAR. YES SHE IS…
BLM is a funded thru the EVIL George Soros and the EVIL TIDES Foundation… EVIL EVIL people like sheniekwa
At least she’s not terrified of speaking out under her own name, Fred “Fisher” Caudle.
And what is your name, mate? Or are you a ma’am? I have known a couple of folks in my time who literally had only initials – served in Germany with a guy whose name on his birth certificate was L. Randolph Ives and knew a kid from Jackson County whose actual name was Big J. Green…..are you B. Summers, or B.S. Ummers? I have, frankly, wondered about this for a while.
My mother knew a guy in her hometown whose family name was ‘Wooly’; his parents named him Wild, with the middle name just the letter ‘N’.
Sorry, Barry Summers is the name.
But how legitimate and radical is a movement when career national-level politicians endorse it and big corporations pay homage to it? Discuss.
You’re questioning BLMs legitimacy because it has too much support?
It’s legit alright. So is communism. So were the Black Panthers, … so is Antifa. So was KKK. All BAD for America. Period.
I agree
They are destroying families. I have biracial
family members who refuse to see the chaos and won’t speak to the white members.
Anything that hurts the people dressed like golfers can’t be that bad.
Sadly like all liberal cities these days, Asheville is all in for BLM, Marxism, communism, Hatred of America, and racism against whites.
I will avoid Asheville like the plague and will boycott all things Asheville