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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTexas Senator Who Blamed Baltimore Riot On ‘Absent Fathers,’ Has Nothing To Say About Waco Massacre
In the aftermath of protests surrounding the deaths of unarmed black men and women, outspoken members of the GOP, including Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz (R-TX), were quick to contextualize the tragedies and criticize black people for violent behavior. But in the wake of a deadly gunfight between two biker gangs which left nine people dead, 18 wounded in Waco, and 170 charged for criminal activity two of Texas most prominent leaders have yet to respond to the violent shootout.
Days into the Baltimore protests sparked by Freddie Grays death, Cornyn (R) spoke on the Senate floor about how to understand and address deeply-ingrained tension in Baltimore and Ferguson. The whole idea of a young man dying in police custody, the confrontations with police, the looting and burning of innocent minority-owned businesses
these are all scenes we would expect perhaps in other countries
but thats what we saw, he said of events that transpired in both cities. Were doing a great disservice to ourselves and everyone else so clearly frustrated by the status quo, if we isolate Baltimore or Ferguson as just individual instances of civic unrest, and if we dont step back and see how they fit into the broader issue of our entire criminal justice system. He also called on families, civic organizations, faith groups, and Congress to correct injustice and remedy basic instability in similar communities nationwide...
But neither Cruz nor Cornyn has responded to the deadly shootout between the Bandidos and Cossacks two rival biker gangs that exchanged gunfire outside of a Hooters-like restaurant last weekend. Although the two condemned violent means of expressing anger in Ferguson and Baltimore, in reference to rioting and the looting of local businesses, they have yet to acknowledge the bikers who turned their weapons on law enforcement. Both have stayed quiet about the Bandidos and Cossacks long-standing involvement in organized crime, and neither senator has addressed the gangs members white supremacist leanings, despite bringing up race in the context of Baltimore and Ferguson.
However, this not the first time conservatives, including Cruz, have been slow to denounce outlaws whove resorted to violence against police. When the Bureau of Land Management tried to take cattle away from Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who owed $1 million in grazing fees, Bundy and a host of right-wing supporters engaged in an armed standoff with federal rangers for several days. Without touching on Bundys use of force, Cruz blamed Obama for the armed standoff, arguing it was the unfortunate and tragic culmination of the path that President Obama has set the federal government on. Former Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) also said, I have a problem with the federal government putting citizens in the position of having to feel like they have to use force to deal with their own government. Thats the bigger issue.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/05/20/3660499/texass-senators-vocal-baltimore-ferguson-totally-silent-waco-shootout/
shenmue
(38,506 posts)FLPanhandle
(7,107 posts)The Waco guys were all fathers, at least they looked old enough to be.
Maybe if they were at home with their kids and not being absent, this wouldn't have happened.
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)guys with guns and Latinos with/without guns. Those two groups can do nothing wrong until after the 2016 election.