Racial Injustice Resolution Will Not See Another Vote
by Doug La Rocque
As was reported last week, the minority members of the Rensselaer County Legislature have filed, for the third time, a resolution which they say is aimed at eradicating systemic racism and the harm it causes. They had hoped it would again be brought to the floor for a vote by the full legislature. Two previous resolutions were defeated.
This time around, it does not appear the full legislature will cast ballots on it, as according to Legislative Chairman Mike Stammel of Rensselaer, it most likely will not clear the Rules committee. He tells The Eastwick Press,
there are two basic reasons for this. First, having been defeated twice before, he feels to go through the process again “is a waste of time.” Perhaps more importantly, the Chairman feels the points raised in the resolution, were already addressed last month, when the legislature unanimously passed another resolution that honored the late Congressman John Lewis, a champion of the civil rights movement. That resolution said in part,
“We recognize the unfortunate reality that from the founding of this nation and throughout its history, our country has at times failed to live up to its promise that all Americans be afforded the same access to these rights and liberties, chief among those who were denied full access being Women, Indigenous Americans, and Black People.”
District 5 Legislator Bruce Patire of Eagle Bridge opposes the legislation, saying he “will never endorse any bill that claims there is systemic racism in this country, or does not support our law enforcement personnel.”
Minority Leader Peter Grimm is one of the sponsors of the legislation. Commenting on what Chairman Stammel told The Eastwick Press and his quote in the Times Union that says “I think the resolution is some sort of a crusade the minority is on.” Mr. Grimm asks what is he saying, “that we should move forward and continue to ignore racism? And regarding a crusade. Yes, we are on a crusade to end racism.”
The rules Committee is slated to meet on Wednesday, September 2. We will put the result of the vote on our Facebook page.