AP article from Ohio: American Legion organisers of a Memorial Day event cut the microphone of a retired LtCol when he starts telling how freed slaves honoured 200 Civil War dead by giving them a proper burial.
After being silenced, the LtCol said “This is not the same country I fought for.”
The Ohio Legion is investigating the episode.
It appears the American Legion is de-activating that particular Legion post as a result, per the NYT. I’m glad it seems they’re taking strong action.
It truly reflects poorly on the AL, but it’s really a reflection on just how well entrenched racism is in US culture. Mention black vets celebrating the first Memorial Day? Cut the mike!
Horrible.
Really a depressing story, but it sounds like it might mostly be about Cindy Suchan being prejudiced and not the Post. I hope it is mostly her at least.
The male leader of the post has apparently resigned at the request of the Ohio state legion command. Suchan, the female leader of the Auxillary, has refused to do so.
The state command has given the local post 60 days to show cause why they shouldn’t be shut down.
From USA Today:
I am saddened and disgusted, but not surprised. There are a lot of vets in the U.S., and as with any group, some of them are awful people. I am at least a bit heartened that the state AL command is taking the matter so seriously - but only a bit heartened, because they’re only doing what they should be doing. I’d be more heartened if the local command were facing a revolt from the rank and file of the Post membership.
Unfortunately, a lot of people, including a lot of vets who should know better, like to use the platform of Memorial Day services to make political statements. A few years ago, a featured speaker at a local Memorial Day service in my area took the opportunity to lecture the assembled crowd on God and how military service was only worth anything if it were also service to God - explicitly the Christian God. His mic, of course, was not muted during his screed. Afterwards, I talked to the chair of the vet’s organization that sponsored the ceremony. She said she hadn’t screened his remarks, agreed they were inappropriate and offensive (she was Jewish and the speaker was very clear only service to the Christian God counted), said he would never be invited to speak again…but the organization never made a public statement about it.
Anyone have any pics of fluffy bunnies or something?
Hairless bunnies matter!
(plus characters to make Discourse happy - extra characters are apparently Discourse’s fluffy bunnies).
Not black vets - black former slaves, freed by the efforts of the union dead they were honouring. Can’t have that!
FYI, the text of the speech he delivered is here, on the website of the Akron Beacon Journal.
