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South Dakota white people - from all parties - esp. Republicans, all 83% of us, let's have a talk. I know you're there - it's snowing & we blend in with the environment right now, but let's chat.
Voter Disenfranchisement.
It's a term you hear often in the news, but it 1/
Voter Disenfranchisement.
It's a term you hear often in the news, but it 1/
Usually doesn't affect us.
Today it finally did.
54.2% of SD voters voted for Amendment A - recreational marijuana on Nov. 3rd.
Since then @govkristinoem has tried to overturn it by directing cops to sue the state to declare it "unconstitutional." 2/ https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-dakota/articles/2021-01-08/noem-issues-order-to-direct-lawsuit-against-recreational-pot
Today it finally did.
54.2% of SD voters voted for Amendment A - recreational marijuana on Nov. 3rd.
Since then @govkristinoem has tried to overturn it by directing cops to sue the state to declare it "unconstitutional." 2/ https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-dakota/articles/2021-01-08/noem-issues-order-to-direct-lawsuit-against-recreational-pot
Today, a judge in Hughes County, where the state. Capital is, ruled that the people's vote for Amendment A - recreational marijuana shouldn't be signed into law.
By definition this is voter disenfranchisement.
It makes you feel hopeless. Like the 3/ https://twitter.com/Argus911/status/1358912892100349953?s=19
By definition this is voter disenfranchisement.
It makes you feel hopeless. Like the 3/ https://twitter.com/Argus911/status/1358912892100349953?s=19
Entire process is rigged against you. As if there is nothing you can do to win.
But, white people in SD (like myself), this is what minorities in the entire country feel like not every election, but every day.
They are disenfranchised more than any other people in this 4/
But, white people in SD (like myself), this is what minorities in the entire country feel like not every election, but every day.
They are disenfranchised more than any other people in this 4/
Entire country. It is not just voting. There is an entire system of disenfranchisement that has plagued people of color in our country, and especially our state for too long.
The election result of overturning Amendment A will continue to disenfranchise our minority 5/
The election result of overturning Amendment A will continue to disenfranchise our minority 5/
Communities well after the anger subsides in our minds as white people.
In South Dakota, we jail more than any other state in the nation per capita.
The large reason they don't want legal marijuana to pass is due to prison profits & law enforcement 6/ https://theappeal.org/south-dakota-leads-nation-on-jail-admissions-new-report-finds/
In South Dakota, we jail more than any other state in the nation per capita.
The large reason they don't want legal marijuana to pass is due to prison profits & law enforcement 6/ https://theappeal.org/south-dakota-leads-nation-on-jail-admissions-new-report-finds/
Jobs @KristiNoem has tried to bring over here for a!"law and order" state.
For example, from 2009 to 2018, 31,883 people were arrested for marijuana in South Dakota, 95% of them for possession offenses. Yet, the arrest rates for Native Americans and Black South Dakotans has 7/
For example, from 2009 to 2018, 31,883 people were arrested for marijuana in South Dakota, 95% of them for possession offenses. Yet, the arrest rates for Native Americans and Black South Dakotans has 7/
Has been over five times higher than for whites for the 10-year period from 2007 to 2018.
On top of that, in 99.1% of marijuana arrests, no weapons were seized by police; making them non-violent offenders. 8/
(PDF):
https://www.southdakotamarijuana.org/s/Marijuana-Arrests-in-South-Dakota-rev-Sept20_2020.pdf
On top of that, in 99.1% of marijuana arrests, no weapons were seized by police; making them non-violent offenders. 8/
(PDF):
https://www.southdakotamarijuana.org/s/Marijuana-Arrests-in-South-Dakota-rev-Sept20_2020.pdf
So, as much as we, as white people, feel disenfranchised by this right now, as we should be, we need to understand that we are not bearing the brunt of this undemocratic corruption.
We need to fight for those who will. Who have been victims of disenfranchisement their 9/
We need to fight for those who will. Who have been victims of disenfranchisement their 9/
Entire lives.
We need to organize & find allies, preferably on a national scale that have a substantial amount of resources & influence.
We need to make it clear that @KristiNoem's "values" She has brought to SD as "her people" is rejected so severely that it is made 10/
We need to organize & find allies, preferably on a national scale that have a substantial amount of resources & influence.
We need to make it clear that @KristiNoem's "values" She has brought to SD as "her people" is rejected so severely that it is made 10/
Crystal clear, it is not welcome here.
And we need to ensure that every single one South Dakotan, especially those who are vulnerable to the immoral & corrupt practices of our state government on a daily basis, are protected by the white privilege that we have been given. 11/
And we need to ensure that every single one South Dakotan, especially those who are vulnerable to the immoral & corrupt practices of our state government on a daily basis, are protected by the white privilege that we have been given. 11/
We need allies. We need to fight. And we need to do it asap.
