The following remarks were made at the Pinal County Board of Supervisors meeting on July 3:
I’m glad to be here in celebration of our democratic republic.
Today we celebrate the 60th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson’s enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Another of our country’s various attempts at bridging the gap between the hope and the reality of equal justice under the law.
A hope reflected in Constitutional amendments, and in previous civil rights acts dating back to 1866, 1870 and 1875.
All seemingly failed attempts at ensuring an elusive goal of equal justice under the law. Seeking to overcome discrimination and prejudice based on race, color, sex and religion.
Today we’re witnessing yet another foreboding barrier against our Constitution’s lofty dream of a more perfect Union, to establish justice, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
This week, the Supreme Court added an additional obstacle to our Constitution’s unmet goal of equal justice under the law. In my unvarnished language – continuing the fight of White nationalism versus color-blind democracy.
By its ruling on presidential immunity for the consummate promoter of White supremacy, the Republican-packed partisan court openly declared its willingness to sacrifice western democracy’s seemingly empty platitude that no man is above the law.
This is clearly a momentous decision time for those who genuinely believe in our country’s unique self-governing democratic republic.
And for those who believe our Constitution’s founders were divinely inspired.
Now as never before, our nation’s most existential values face an unprecedented political judgment. A choice between two presidential candidates, imperfect as each may be.
One choice committed to democracy’s foundational value that no one is above the law, the other committed to preservation of personal political power even if it means the end of humanity’s 248-year old hopeful experiment in self-governance within a democratic republic.
The violent insurrectionist who still refuses to accept his defeat by American voters must not be given a second chance to overthrow the peaceful transfer of presidential power, and to relegate our Constitution to the failed trash bin of history.
Our children and their children deserve to continue seeking that more perfect union. This year’s election will either quash those unfulfilled dreams or keep them alive for those who come after us.
Our legacy is on trial.
Equal justice under the law still eludes America.
Happy Fourth of July!
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
