Ethics and integrity are words that should be immutable, not situational. Actions absolutely DO speak louder than words. The controversy surrounding the opening of the new Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, Mississippi last weekend is a full-throated demonstration of this point specifically. The President of the United States inserted himself into the middle of that controversy when he decided (at the absolute last minute) to accept an invitation to the opening of the iconic museum. No doubt the invitation was compelled, given the historic magnitude of the opening of a public museum dedicated to the celebration and commemoration of the Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in such a place as Mississippi, an epicenter for the struggle for Civil Rights and Equality. Where the bloodshed must be commemorated and the struggle renewed. As a performance of partisan duty, given that the Governor of Mississippi is a Republican, the President was invited no matter how insulting and inappropriate that invitation. It appears GOP party leaders feel the need to genuflect to the 45th President as some sort of tribal demonstration no matter what the cost to their integrity or ethics.

There is nothing more antithetical to the celebration and commemoration of the Civil Rights Movement than to invite a person who has built a career around touting racist policy, racial division and a systematic deconstruction of the historic incremental gains made as a nation towards civil rights, economic justice and racial equality. If the question is “What do you have to lose?”, the answer must be EVERYTHING. Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi and the Honorable John Lewis refused to share the stage with a man who is the antithesis of EVERYTHING they have historically fought for, struggled to achieve and stand against. This president has legitimatized White Supremacy and Neo-Nazi dogma while attempting to de-legitimize the first African American President of the United States. He continued to call for the execution of the Central Park Five even after they had been exonerated; he was sued numerous times for housing discrimination in NYC; and has created confusion and conflation around the #TakeaKnee protest against police brutality and lack of accountability for the countless murders of unarmed Black men by law enforcement, turning that legal, legitimate and peaceful protest into a misdirected and misinformed anti-American, anti-flag debate. The iconic civil rights hero John Lewis, along with many others could not sacrifice their personal integrity or the integrity of the Movement by allowing this president to make a mockery of the Civil Rights Museum opening in Mississippi and reducing it to a photo op and publicity stunt.

We have much more to lose than to gain by pretending that we ALL celebrate the icons of The Movement or that we recognize the need to work harder than ever to fight hate and not placate those who spew hateful and racist rhetoric. We STAND on the shoulders of those who paved the way on the road to Freedom, Justice and Equality and this president remains not only a distraction, but also an insult. We Shall NOT be Moved
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