Veteran Home Improvements
Tax deductible
The "unpatriotic activist" myth:
This past week I had a chance to be a part of two small projects to restore the homes of two black veterans. The first was Sgt Homer Hogue-- the oldest surviving Tuskegee Airman. The other Billie McGruder, who had his childhood home sold from beneath him illegally. I haven't had a chance to speak with Mr. McGruder but I was happy to learn that he was able to recover his home and that there is an ongoing project underway to provide some much needed improvements. I was fortunate enough to be able to meet briefly with Sgt. Hogue and his wife. He clasped down on my hand with our initial handshake and referred to me as Sargent Merritt. I had to correct him that I was not military but there were several black military groups coordinating on his house project led by Nekima Horton of VCNCT and joined by Veterans R Moving Us (Verna Owens) and Feed a Million Veterans (Ernest Debbie Walker).
Standing in his home surrounded by veterans and memorabilia from his years as a serviceman and ambassador for the Tuskegee Airmen I felt a surge of pride. In that moment I was proud to be an American. The black experience has not always been pretty. Hell in fact it has been, and remains, far from it. But our history is one of triumph over insurmountable odds. Facing countless barriers, obstacles and pitfalls-- we have overcome and continue to transcend every impediment to progress that racist laws, institutions and ideology has set before us.
There is a prevailing myth that activist are unpatriotic-- that we hate America and its principals. That is a falsehood. Lawyers are required to take an oath to uphold the United States Constitution (as are servicemen, police officers and elected officials). The Constitution itself is a somewhat problematic document (namely Article I, Section 2 where it ratifies enslaving human beings by providing them 3/5 representation; or the "electoral college" which flies in the face of one man* one vote, inter alia). As a Constitutional lawyer, further still, I have studied the document, its amendments, its interpretations and the laws that derives their authority from its tenants. In each case I find myself arguing fiercely for the implementation of constitution principals primarily against states, cities and municipalities taking the opposite stances. These state agencies and their officials are constantly arguing for exceptions, reductions are more commonly outright immunities from the tenants of the constitution. These actors who serve as the most vociferous opponents of the constitution adamantly consider themselves PATRIOTS. This dynamic is replicated throughout the activist community-- the men and women who gathered to march down the streets of Charlottesville romanticizing the traitors of the Confederate arm-in-arm with self professed NAZIS branded with an enemy flag somehow claim the mantle of PATRIOTS. While activist who fight for civil liberties, equality, emancipation-- they're considered UNAMERICAN. Colin Kaepernick kneeled before a flag in silent protest of a country that shamelessly fails to live its creed. "Patriots" were unable to stomach the peaceful protest and ousted him from the National Football League. Donald Trump, denounced what he viewed as the deterioration of America that seemed to too readily welcome immigrants, engage in "PC" consideration of women's rights and concerns for diversity-- "Patriots" elected him president. He once said he believed people who burned the flag should be imprisoned. I always found that kind of humorous. He loved the country so much he would trample on its basic principals in order to protect the symbol that embodies them. But there is a long list conundrums from this man who recently said we should simply suspend the courts and the nuisance that is the legal process in order to expel asylum seekers.
(This has gotten too long for a 'holiday post' so I'll end with this ...)
I love America. I love being American. My ancestors are the foundation of the American project. We have invested blood sweat and tears into the soil, economy and growth of the American idea. We are wed to her for better or for worse. For this reason I will continue to fight to make her who she ought to be.
This Fourth of July I'd like to provide you an opportunity to help with two American heroes that served this country honorably. Here are some links to their story and a gofundme where I am hoping to raise $5k to contribute to their home improvement projects: (still working on links)
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/06/27/community-comes-through-for-humble-hero-tuskegee-airmans-home-gets-needed-updates/
https://www.wfaa.com/amp/article?section=news&headline=80-year-old-veteran-evicted-from-home-in-fort-worth&contentId=287-566856267
This past week I had a chance to be a part of two small projects to restore the homes of two black veterans. The first was Sgt Homer Hogue-- the oldest surviving Tuskegee Airman. The other Billie McGruder, who had his childhood home sold from beneath him illegally. I haven't had a chance to speak with Mr. McGruder but I was happy to learn that he was able to recover his home and that there is an ongoing project underway to provide some much needed improvements. I was fortunate enough to be able to meet briefly with Sgt. Hogue and his wife. He clasped down on my hand with our initial handshake and referred to me as Sargent Merritt. I had to correct him that I was not military but there were several black military groups coordinating on his house project led by Nekima Horton of VCNCT and joined by Veterans R Moving Us (Verna Owens) and Feed a Million Veterans (Ernest Debbie Walker).
Standing in his home surrounded by veterans and memorabilia from his years as a serviceman and ambassador for the Tuskegee Airmen I felt a surge of pride. In that moment I was proud to be an American. The black experience has not always been pretty. Hell in fact it has been, and remains, far from it. But our history is one of triumph over insurmountable odds. Facing countless barriers, obstacles and pitfalls-- we have overcome and continue to transcend every impediment to progress that racist laws, institutions and ideology has set before us.
There is a prevailing myth that activist are unpatriotic-- that we hate America and its principals. That is a falsehood. Lawyers are required to take an oath to uphold the United States Constitution (as are servicemen, police officers and elected officials). The Constitution itself is a somewhat problematic document (namely Article I, Section 2 where it ratifies enslaving human beings by providing them 3/5 representation; or the "electoral college" which flies in the face of one man* one vote, inter alia). As a Constitutional lawyer, further still, I have studied the document, its amendments, its interpretations and the laws that derives their authority from its tenants. In each case I find myself arguing fiercely for the implementation of constitution principals primarily against states, cities and municipalities taking the opposite stances. These state agencies and their officials are constantly arguing for exceptions, reductions are more commonly outright immunities from the tenants of the constitution. These actors who serve as the most vociferous opponents of the constitution adamantly consider themselves PATRIOTS. This dynamic is replicated throughout the activist community-- the men and women who gathered to march down the streets of Charlottesville romanticizing the traitors of the Confederate arm-in-arm with self professed NAZIS branded with an enemy flag somehow claim the mantle of PATRIOTS. While activist who fight for civil liberties, equality, emancipation-- they're considered UNAMERICAN. Colin Kaepernick kneeled before a flag in silent protest of a country that shamelessly fails to live its creed. "Patriots" were unable to stomach the peaceful protest and ousted him from the National Football League. Donald Trump, denounced what he viewed as the deterioration of America that seemed to too readily welcome immigrants, engage in "PC" consideration of women's rights and concerns for diversity-- "Patriots" elected him president. He once said he believed people who burned the flag should be imprisoned. I always found that kind of humorous. He loved the country so much he would trample on its basic principals in order to protect the symbol that embodies them. But there is a long list conundrums from this man who recently said we should simply suspend the courts and the nuisance that is the legal process in order to expel asylum seekers.
(This has gotten too long for a 'holiday post' so I'll end with this ...)
I love America. I love being American. My ancestors are the foundation of the American project. We have invested blood sweat and tears into the soil, economy and growth of the American idea. We are wed to her for better or for worse. For this reason I will continue to fight to make her who she ought to be.
This Fourth of July I'd like to provide you an opportunity to help with two American heroes that served this country honorably. Here are some links to their story and a gofundme where I am hoping to raise $5k to contribute to their home improvement projects: (still working on links)
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/06/27/community-comes-through-for-humble-hero-tuskegee-airmans-home-gets-needed-updates/
https://www.wfaa.com/amp/article?section=news&headline=80-year-old-veteran-evicted-from-home-in-fort-worth&contentId=287-566856267
Organizer
Lee Merritt
Organizer
Richardson, TX
Black Cross
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
