Following is a statement released today by the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism on the events in Arizona and the Aftermath. The author of this diary, Carl Davidson, is a national co-chair of the organization
Sympathy, Solidarity Against the Right, and Some Pointed Questions:
CCDS Statement on the Tucson Mass Killings and Their Aftermath
We in the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism stand together with the progressive majority of Americans to express our shock and anger at the mass killings in Tucson, Arizona on January 8, 2011. We offer our deepest sympathy, condolences and solidarity with the families and loved ones of those slain and injured.
We hope for a full recovery by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the others wounded. For those who perished, we share the sorrow of those close to them.
As things stand at the moment, this appears to have been the deranged act of an individual, Jared Loughner. He suffers from a severe mental illness made worse by his clinging to a variety of conspiracy theories promoted by the far right. We may learn more as facts from the investigations unfold.
Incidents like this are tragic, but are likely to occur with increasing frequency in a society that still stigmatizes mental illness. Our health care system fails to provide adequate care and treatment. Unfortunately attempts are currently underway to cut back even more on the meager programs that could help. Moreover, it says something about our lax gun laws when this impaired individual was able to legally acquire a semi-automatic pistol with no difficulty.
But there is more than tragedy here. This atrocity is largely due to the violent rhetoric of right-wing media demonizing progressive and moderate politicians and the voters who support them. There are many unstable individuals like the alleged shooter walking our streets, but they don't explode in a vacuum. In Arizona the airwaves have carried a steady onslaught of agitation and propaganda urging armed attacks on immigrants, Democrats and progressive organizations and individuals. Anti-immigrant racism has even led to banning Latino Studies programs in Arizona schools that encourage Mexican and Chicano ethnic solidarity.
"The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous" stated the Sheriff of Pima County, Clarence Dupnick, aiming his remarks at rightwing radio and TV. He continued: "And, unfortunately, Arizona, I think, has become sort of the capital ....We have become the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry." These are the words of a law enforcement officer, not a liberal pundit.
All Americans need to stand behind the First Amendment; as an organization of the socialist left, we have a keen appreciation of the need to defend free speech. But all Americans must also recognize that rhetoric laced and loaded with chauvinist, violent and militaristic imagery is not without consequences. It's also important to note, and to condemn, the fact that in Arizona things have gone beyond words. Rightwing militias have formed, and some of their members have engaged in violence against immigrants. Some officers of the law, including the Sheriff of Maricopa County containing the State Capitol, Phoenix, have blatantly abused their powers and made a media circus of their prisoners and detainees.
It's all to the good that President Obama held a moment of nationwide silence to give expression to the feelings of the vast majority of Americans on this matter. We commend him for it.
But we want to ask some pointed questions. For weeks now, the FBI and the Attorney General have been raiding homes, seizing possessions and issuing grand jury subpoenas to peace and solidarity activists. More than a dozen people in Chicago, Minnesota and North Carolina have been victimized in a bogus campaign against 'material support of terrorism.'
Where are the FBI investigations and evidence-gathering raids on Arizona's rightwing militias and public advocates of violence and intolerance? Where are the grand juries aimed at digging up evidence of 'material aid to terrorism' where it is actually occurring within our borders? Where is the cessation of our own terrorism against the people of Afghanistan?
We have to raise these points to bring some perspective to the nature of our political climate. There is simply too much hypocrisy in the air when we see unjust wars continued with thousands of unnamed and invisible people killed worldwide, and immense resources deployed here in a sham effort against a dozen or so innocent people in the peace movement who could face prison –all while those truly complicit in the Tucson killings and other acts of terrorism in Arizona and elsewhere are simply told to "tone things down."
We have to expose and resist any effort or concession that moves our country even more to the right. Attorney General Eric Holder needs to do a U-turn on the FBI's efforts against left and progressive peace activists. He needs to drop this sham case and waste of resources, and make a real effort to expose and thwart the fascist violence emerging in our midst. It truly threatens the democratic rights of us all.
Already, Fox News and others are working overtime to portray the Tucson killer as an agent of the left. The Drudge Report shamelessly headlines an article on Jared Loughner as a 'leftwing pothead.' But it has already been revealed that Loughner, to the extent that he was rationally political, was into literature of white supremacist groups, listed 'Mein Kampf' among his favorite books, and tried to get into the military. Apologists in the political center are offering bromides "against the violence of both left and right" when for decades the right alone dominates this turf, including recent murderous attacks on abortion clinics and doctors and the murder of three police officers in Pittsburgh by a young rightist claiming 'Obama was coming to get his guns.'
A return to civility cannot be laced with lies and distortions. Only reason and justice, and most of all, a respect for the truth pave the way to civil discourse. If we want to express solidarity with those suffering in Arizona, this is a good place to start.
The Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism can be contacted at national@cc-ds.org , 545 Eight Avenue, Room #1215, New York, NY 10018. Call 212-868-3733 or 724-419-4626. Website: CCDSLinks E-Letter: http://conta.cc/fKcV2z