Racist Ron Johnson

He’s a Russian stooge, a liar and a racist.

Rewriting the history of Jan 6 to make the rioters who threatened Pence, Pelosi, AOC peace-abiding protestors while describing BLM protesters as violent. https://t.co/ruKdVwdXsv
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 13, 2021

Sen. Ron Johnson says he “never felt threatened” during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack but that if they were Black Lives Matter protesters, “I might have been a little concerned.” https://t.co/msv4Ruv6SS
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) March 13, 2021

Not only open racism, but continuing a process of normalizing white nationalist extremism as a legitimate component of the GOP coalition. As he makes clear, the GOP's extremist wing is now too big to expel. Do R voters who don't want to lock arms w/Proud Boys stay in that party? https://t.co/XeT4yyarN6
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) March 13, 2021

Senator Ron Johnson saw the Auschwitz Hoodie Guy and felt comforted that the rioters loved their country. Had that guy have had dreads and a Colin Kaepernick hoodie, Ron would have hid under his desk.
— Mr. Newberger (@jeremynewberger) March 13, 2021

Holding Trump #Republican Sen. Ron Johnson accountable is critical to protecting our democracy. He's been a key insurrection enabler as lead Chief Disinformation Officer in Congress. His ongoing rhetoric fans the flames of dangerous movements that are a #homelandsecurity threat.
— Olivia of Troye (@OliviaTroye) March 13, 2021

I'm reporting on this for my book and I can tell you that Sen. Johnson is not the only Republican who on Jan 6 felt safe bc they knew the rioters were on the same team https://t.co/ySyJ6NQazs
— Robert Draper (@DraperRobert) March 14, 2021

He's not getting backlash from Republicans – you should point that out. The white nationalist Trump cult is fine with his comments.
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) March 14, 2021

Many right-wing supporters treat Rittenhouse like a hero

He should be treated like a criminal.

“That donation also carried a comment, reading: ‘God bless. Thank you for your courage. Keep your head up. You’ve done nothing wrong.’” https://t.co/swdOJ8Yitw
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) April 16, 2021

Holy hell. https://t.co/jarXPHwXT6
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) January 31, 2021

Kyle Rittenhouse flashed hate symbols, posed with Proud Boys in a Wisconsin bar, prosecutors say https://t.co/c9rNHyQQXk
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 14, 2021

"The defendant then remained with these 'Proud Boys' for the entire time he was in the bar," the motion states.”

Kyle Rittenhouse. White trash… https://t.co/HGjxWaozJL
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) January 14, 2021

Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse’s new merchandise site signals "new era" of criminal defense https://t.co/ld36VsZZbx
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 23, 2020

.@mehdirhasan: If Kyle Rittenhouse was named, say, Khalid Rehman, we know things would look very different.https://t.co/39Gvt8daKn
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 25, 2020

You know, if I'd killed a few people – even if I thought it was in self-defense – it would haunt me for the rest of my life. I'm not sure I'd be smiling like I'm at Disney World after a washed up actor and the My Pillow guy bailed me out. https://t.co/QVFxXHf3Aw
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) November 24, 2020

The same day a Black mother struggled to raise money to cover her son’s funeral costs, Kyle Rittenhouse finished amassing $2 million in donations. https://t.co/93ERzhJb9g
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) November 24, 2020

In case you were wondering how Kyle Rittenhouse’s family paid for his $2 million bond after he fatally shot two people protesting police killings in Kenosha. https://t.co/1HA9D4wnvQ
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) November 21, 2020

Henry Aaron

Henry Aaron, who died last week, is one of the all-time best baseball players. Aaron still has the lifetime record for RBIs and held the home run record before Barry Bonds tainted it. Think of that – two thirds of the lifetime triple crown. He’s third in hits all time, too. In addition to his great baseball achievements, he fought racism. Aaron’s career reminds me of Walter Payton. They were rarely regarded as the best in any season but they played at an extremely high level forever. In addition to his great baseball achievements, he fought racism.

I saw Aaron at a book signing in Washington for his 1991 autobiography I Had a Hammer. Many years after his playing career ended, he still drew a huge crowd.

The Latest: My first and last phone calls with the great Henry Aaron. RIP, Hammer… https://t.co/ukqucoKAsT
— Full Dissident (@hbryant42) January 23, 2021

After Hank Aaron's death last week, so many people reflected on how sincere, genuine and humble he was. I came across his 1982 Hall of Fame induction speech the other day. It lasted 6 minutes and 40 seconds! The Hammer wasn't one for self-aggrandizement.https://t.co/S34wgnXcuF
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) January 29, 2021

A @TylerKepner gem, starting w Reggie…https://t.co/oL9HTUA1U9
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) January 23, 2021

I wrote about Henry "Hank" Aaron, and why The Hammer's legacy was MLK Day'd within minutes of his death. https://t.co/mbwiuvU13r
— Bradford William Davis (@_beewilly) January 23, 2021

My col: Hank Aaron's greatness and grace were underappreciated for many years, yet still remain unmatched today. Aaron, one of my heroes and role models from age 8, still holds the MLB record for RBI, total bases and honest home runs. RIP. https://t.co/uU6QxtAm6A
— Thomas Boswell (@ThomasBoswellWP) January 23, 2021

I couldn't be more proud of the @nytimes/@NYTSports coverage of Hank Aaron's death. He was a titan and it was all hands on deck, with contributions from @TylerKepner, @DavidWaldstein and @GaryHPhillips and a wonderful obituary by Richard Goldstein. https://t.co/wOYhdm7MbE pic.twitter.com/B3y91gRjkG
— Benjamin Hoffman (@BenHoffmanNYT) January 23, 2021

Aaron in the minor leagues.

In today’s post on @BlkPerspectives, Robert Greene II (@robgreeneII) offers, “Henry Aaron and American Memory” — https://t.co/xa4dpF5HLk @AAIHS pic.twitter.com/9QSMGmuVjG
— Black Perspectives (@BlkPerspectives) February 8, 2021

Hank Aaron launches career home run No. 715, 1974 pic.twitter.com/g21OJzzKvE
— Baseball In Pics (@baseballinpix) January 13, 2022

Henry Aaron hammers his final HR to defeat his Milwaukee #Braves teammate Eddie Mathews in a classic episode of "Home Run Derby"! (Henry wins $2,000 – Eddie gets $1,000!) ⚾️ #MLB #Baseball pic.twitter.com/EiUDJvRpyw
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) January 13, 2022

Trump’s terrible 1776 project

Sounds like more right-wing crap. The Trump cult isn’t real big on truth or facts, just extreme bias.

Deleted the first tweet in this thread — I should have said that Trump’s report includes an apologia or defense of slavery, not an apology.

Here’s a link to the full report, released on MLK Day:https://t.co/Xt9QKT56yg
— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) January 18, 2021

The Trump administration is marking Martin Luther King Day by putting out a report that defends the Founding Fathers for owning slaves and attacks the Civil Rights Movement. This is an administration racist to the core. https://t.co/k1sSMC1mgN
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) January 18, 2021

WH issues its 1776 report which is supposed to help “restore understanding” of American greatness. And not two weeks after Jan 6 there is this passage that says current division in the US calls to mind the disagreements in the “Civil War.” pic.twitter.com/uAx7nSsi0g
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 18, 2021

Trump’s 1776 Commission says historians pointing out the paradox of a nation founded on the idea of freedom denying freedom to Black people “has done enormous damage” to “our civic unity and social fabric.” pic.twitter.com/TQkMkNtBTt
— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) January 18, 2021

Not a single mention of Indigenous people in the 1776 Report.

Native people do not exist in patriotic history.
— Jeff Ostler (@Jeff__Ostler) January 18, 2021

Here is a page from the outgoing administration’s 1776 project, which was released on Martin Luther King Day: pic.twitter.com/3k6K5yAiDs
— Blake News (@blakehounshell) January 18, 2021

If you want to see what the co-option of antifascism for nefarious purposes looks like, look no further than the Trump administration's 1776 Project. pic.twitter.com/sVmF8KVFk4
— David “HINDSIGHT IS 2021” Walsh (@DavidAstinWalsh) January 18, 2021

The White House 1776 Report seems to regard calling the Founders hypocritical about slavery as worse for the country than actual slavery.https://t.co/xJ02meUw65 pic.twitter.com/xjF4GIiGeN
— Seth Masket (@smotus) January 18, 2021

OMG! The Civil Rights Movement had such promise, but then gave into Calhounism! pic.twitter.com/SWIjGBSaFz
— Seth Masket (@smotus) January 18, 2021

This is somehow even worse than I expected it to be. https://t.co/Kw0lek2HKo
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) January 18, 2021

Republicans are blind to white supremacy because many are white supremacists

The riot was obviously full of white supremacists

new Quinnipiac Poll on whether white supremacy played a major role in the Jan 6 insurrection at the US Capitol:

Republicans
17% yes

everyone not a Republican
62% yes
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) January 18, 2021

most people get it:

How much of a role do you think white supremacy played in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th?

Major role 51%
Minor role 18%
No role at all 24%

(Quinnipiac U. Poll, RV, 1/15-17/21)
— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) January 18, 2021

‘A Battle for the Souls of Black Girls’

“White girls can laugh or be giddy, and teachers aren’t going to think they’re high. They’re going to think they’re just having fun.”

“The study found that Black girls as young as 5 were viewed by adults as less innocent than white girls.” https://t.co/TMwwn058xA
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) October 3, 2020

Trump’s DHS and the right treat Rittenhouse like a hero

He apparently killed two people. He is not a hero.

Kyle Rittenhouse's lawyers see his case as a battle in their own culture war https://t.co/uMsygC7JRN
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) October 5, 2020

Law enforcement officials "were directed to make public comments sympathetic to Kyle Rittenhouse" in internal DHS talking points, NBC reports.

One of these is that he "took his rifle to the scene of the rioting to help defend small business owners."https://t.co/22kItkeXlB
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) October 1, 2020

Christian group raises over $500K for Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse https://t.co/0femJpPHci pic.twitter.com/6b6FUmL76P
— New York Post (@nypost) September 28, 2020

Kyle Rittenhouse, charged with fatally shooting two people and injuring a third last month in Kenosha, got a standing ovation at a Waukesha County Republican event this week. https://t.co/bLhMZekdSx
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 26, 2020

I think a lot about how large parts of America literally worship violent white men. https://t.co/FgAI5oaCME
— Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) September 25, 2020

This is insane. https://t.co/VlkIgWzS3s
— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) September 25, 2020

A standing ovation from Wisconsin Republicans for a 17-year-old who traveled to another state, illegally procured an AR-15, and has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide after fatally shooting two protestors. #wileg pic.twitter.com/lWwqRlvhGr
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) September 25, 2020

Kenosha shooter's defense portrays him as 'American patriot' https://t.co/yBxrJQTvvV
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) September 24, 2020

Just here to add my voice to all the black people calling out this racist crap. He's calling for vigilante violence. https://t.co/vpaUCs3dCm
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) September 24, 2020

It is sort of noteable that Biden is repeatedly pressed to respond to and denounce looting and riots that happen at these protests while Kyle Rittenhouse becomes a folk hero on the right and militias now roam the streets of cities.
— Sam Stein (@samstein) September 24, 2020

Fox is defending a mass murdering 17 yo who went into the street with a rifle to shoot unarmed protesters. If you can’t see that Fox is a malignant tumor on the American mind I can’t help you. https://t.co/MVV93BePdl
— Touré (@Toure) September 23, 2020

He brought a semi-automatic ride to a police brutality protest and has been charged with murder https://t.co/lQWFFXrrnX
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 23, 2020

Sen. Ron Johnson just said he supports “citizen soldiers” in Kenosha. Kyle Rittenhouse, who murdered 2 people, is a citizen soldier. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/gAe4B2Z4tA
— Mike 🌊 One-Term Trump 🌊 (@thedecider99) August 30, 2020

Even for Trump, it was a morning of especially wild tweets, advancing conspiracy theories claiming a coup against him and an inflated virus death toll while embracing a call to imprison Cuomo and offering support for Kyle Rittenhouse. https://t.co/PlSF8ft3W2
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) August 30, 2020

Racism has cost the US economy $16 billion since 2000

$16,000,000,000,000.

That's how much the U.S. economy has lost since 2000 because of discrimination against African Americans in areas including education and access to business loans, according to a new Citigroup study.https://t.co/N8179s4cCz
— NPR (@NPR) September 23, 2020

"America could have been $16 trillion richer if not for inequities in education, housing, wages and business investment between Black and White Americans…"

Imagine what we could've done with that wealth. Our GDP in 2018 was $20.5 trillion.https://t.co/YRytCxVuVn
— Adrienne Lawrence (@AdrienneLaw) September 24, 2020

Citigroup has figured out just how much money systemic racism in the United States has cost the country: $16 trillion over the past 20 years. https://t.co/UQnW55KxOj
— Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise) September 24, 2020

Two-thirds of US terror attacks tied to right-wing extremists

Trump won’t do anything about this (besides encourage it). This is part of his base.

Something that probably should have gotten more attention https://t.co/HAXBfbLGzD
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) October 27, 2018

This didn’t start with Trump.

I keep thinking about this 2009 DHS report on right-wing extremists. Conservative bloggers went nuts and claimed Obama was targeting them, but we need to stop being politically correct and talk about this problem. https://t.co/ENd1lzKAhb
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) October 27, 2018

But none of the white supremacist terrorism has anything to do with Trump, oh no https://t.co/fXHi6hN6sI
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) October 27, 2018

White supremacy in America is a bigger problem than Islamic terrorism here. It is a bigger problem than crimes by immigrants. And this administration is not only not doing anything about it, they are fomenting hate among this group.
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) October 26, 2018

Two days ago a white man walked into a @Kroger supermarket and murdered two black elderly people.

This was domestic terrorism.

And @realDonaldTrump, a self proclaimed nationalist, has not said a word.

His silence speaks volumes.
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) October 26, 2018

Trump cut funds to fight anti-right wing violence

I remember every single person who said the connections @jbouie made in this 2016 piece were unfair and ridiculoushttps://t.co/SIcE1rIC8u
— Jenée (@jdesmondharris) October 27, 2018

Good for the Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks become first NBA team to boycott playoff game to protest social injustice https://t.co/y7qBZBXLiv
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 26, 2020

Athletes in this era are upholding the finest traditions of heroes like Muhammad Ali. You can't have your entertainment if these players aren't even safe driving home for fear of a police stop. You want your "sport?" Peace and quiet and a relief from protests? Change policing. https://t.co/eiWD4r2a0u
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 26, 2020

If you have a problem with players choosing social change over sports, that’s a problem. The sooner ppl understand that the sport of basketball is insignificant in comparison to these events taking place in our country. The sooner you’ll understand what players are thinking. https://t.co/2adMzereel
— Antonio Daniels (@adaniels33) August 26, 2020

When I went to Milwaukee in 2016 to cover the police shooting of Sylville Smith I was struck by the role the Bucks front office was playing in trying to soothe the unrest. 2 years later, Bucks guard Sterling Brown was assaulted by police. Now 45 mins south, Jacob Blake’s shooting https://t.co/TeBK9oRXvh
— Wesley (@WesleyLowery) August 26, 2020

We are at an inflection point. ✊🏼 https://t.co/Zg3GhNAGJY
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 26, 2020

The Bucks are showing a hell of a lot more guts and moral clarity than almost every other American institution.
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) August 26, 2020