Next Friday won't be the first time Donald Trump has visited Oklahoma, or Tulsa. A few years ago candidate Trump showed up at the Oklahoma state fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. He even had a super secret meeting with top dollar donors in Norman at the home of former Oklahoma football coach, Barry Switzer's daughter. His Tulsa rally in 2016 was held at the Oral Roberts University Mabee Center in the south end of town--not far from the world famous Southern Hills Country Club. In other words, his type of neighborhood.
How amazingly distant those events four years ago can seem. Perhaps it's because as corrupt and savage as Trump's campaign was then it can't even compare to what his presidency has turned out to be.
And, of course, in 2016, the economy was still growing and there wasn't a deadly virus running amok from sea to shining sea and beyond. Plus, police forces through out the land weren't committing well documented acts of violence comparable to those perpetrated by Herr Hitler's Brown Shirts.
A week from today Mr. Trump is scheduled to appear at Tulsa's gaudy jewel, the BOK Center. It is a big time venue which seats 19,000 plus. It is also located in downtown, mere blocks from two places which are suspected to be the sites of unmarked mass graves of African Americans who were murdered during the 1921 Greenwood massacre--the most devastating pogrom in the history of the republic. Not to mention within walking distance of the terrible killing field itself.
The day of his appearance is significant to the African American population. June, 19th, or Juneteenth is considered the date of black independence. It is the day slaves in Galveston, TX finally found out they were no longer owned by their masters and there wasn't a thing those masters could do about it. The celebration, as so many do, went national after a while. In fact next Friday in the modern Greenwood district there are major activities planned to commemorate it.
Given the date, which will fall less than three weeks after the 99th anniversary of the Greenwood horror and the locale it wouldn't be unusual for a sitting President, or big league candidate to show up to make a pitch for votes. You know President's like Jack Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, or even one or both of the Bush boys.
Don Trump feels all kinds of inappropriate though. I mean it might just be me, but a guy who has spent the last couple of weeks calling Black Lives Matter protesters criminals and thugs while praising cops who have gassed and beaten them seems like the wrong person in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Let's face it, it doesn't help that The Big Orange Guy has, on one occasion, called white nationalists, "fine people," and another, armed white gangs of self styled militia types, "good people who should be listened to."
Then we get to the normal yokels who show up at his rallies. They are almost 100% white. In addition many of them like to carry confederate flags while spouting conspiracy theories that almost always involve Barack H. Obama, America's first black president.
Which begs the question, are all of Don Trump's white supporters racist? Maybe not, but it is a pretty sure bet all white racists are.
According to the media the Tulsa rally could well be the spot where El Don makes a national appeal for racial unity and reconciliation. It is a speech which has been conspicuously missing ever since George Floyd was murdered and the demonstrations began. The content of the speech is a tad suspect, however, since the notoriously xenophobic Stephen Miller is reportedly writing it. It's also being reported Miller picked the city and date for Trump's, Fuck the virus, we're back on the road again, address.
Odds are the speech will have little to do with unity, reconciliation, or healing. Instead it will be a marathon harangue during which Don Trump will endlessly brag about all the great stuff he has done for black communities nation wide. A theme something along the lines of, Hey, I've done more for you people than anyone. Now vote for me.
The killing of George Floyd justifiably appears to be the final straw for many. Even though he is now in the ground emotions are still raw and the wounds are deep. So much so God only knows what sort of armed presence will be deployed by the Mayor and Governor around the BOK Center on Juneteenth. Or worse, across the railroad tracks on the north side of Tulsa.
The one thing we do know is there will be demonstrations. What we don't know is how ol' Bunker Don, his crowd, and the cops will react to them. We are going to find out though.
Buckle up, buttercup. It is going to be a long Friday in Tulsa next week.
6-12-20
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