February 26 You Can Vote For A True Leader

Long story short: Election Feb 26 and it's a no brainer. Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate.

Been following Jumaane with a lump in my throat since he first showed remarkable leadership and courage the night Kimani Gray was shot in East Flatbush. That was the night the Q woke up. I'm not saying I'm woke; I'd get torn a new arsehole for that. I'm saying I, Clarkson FlatBed, woke up to the facts - the reality that the completely innocent young men of color all around me were living day-in and day-out. I'm not going to say that the police hadn't been helpful in shutting down some real-life drug and gang violence in the neighborhood. It's complicated that way - the police helped make me feel safer. I've never trusted cops out-of- hand; but when an innocent mom gets shot down in front of her young son across the street from your house, you'll take what you can get. And many of us were grateful when they nabbed the guy.

So, Kimani Gray was shot and killed in May of 2013. Trayvon Martin's killer was acquitted that summer. #BlackLivesMatter was born. Martin held Skittles; Gray was said to have held a gun. Bullshit. A year and half later and the 67th precinct was shown to have a sick history of gun planting.

The question remains; is a de facto police state, over-incarceration and daily humiliation worth the occasional crime prevented by the abuse of authority, all in the name of keeping "the nice people" safe? That depends on whether you belief "Black Lives Matter." We learned, that year in particular, that not enough cops and citizens believe that they do. And three years later, those same deplorables helped elect the most cynical, self-serving racist this country has seen since...oy, it's a lot of self-serving racists when you think about it.

Having risen through the ranks as both a Democrat councilperson AND an activist, Williams has shown time and again that he puts principles before expedience. I read every missive from Williams start to finish. Either he's a hell of a writer or he has some very, very good people working with him. I suspect both.

Vote for Jumaane on the 26th, and any other time you see his name on the ballot. His actions and rhetoric rise to the level of some of the best civil rights leaders. His curiosity and intellectual appetite can win over the most sceptical snob. His bonafides ensure that he doesn't speak "over" those he speaks "for," Tourette's Syndrome be damned. Do the right thing, indeed.