But the circumstances were perfect. The tragic events in Charlottesville, Virginia brought 1979 back into the minds of those of us who were here then. The death of a young white Charlottesville woman at the hands of an out of town racist Nazi, KKK sympathizer and injuries to 19 others played so much like the events of 1979 that we couldn't help but remember.
In 1979, left wing activists organized a protest in a neighborhood were they weren't wanted after having gone to China Grove, North Carolina and interrupted the KKK while watching a private viewing of the movie Birth of a Nation. Feeling emboldened they dared the Klan to come to Greensboro and battle it out.
In Charlottesville, heavily armed, Nazi, KKK, and other right wing white supremacist groups went to a town were they weren't wanted and were met by left wing groups. Fighting ensued.
In both Greensboro and Charlottesville, police were either unwilling or unable to respond as needed. You know, depending on who is telling the story.
Last night the Greensboro City Council voted to formally apologize for 1979 and thus accept the blame.
Did it look scripted to you? These same city council incumbents have been seated for years. Many of these same council members were involved in the Truth And Reconciliation process. Why now? Why not before?
Just remember: this is an election year.
Maybe a bigger question is: why is the Greensboro City Council planning to put off the sale of Heritage House until after the election?
While the City and County continue to tax the property owners there?
Just remember: this is an election year.
