Georgia State Representative Links Black Americans to ‘Mental Plantation’ During RNC Speech

The Republican National Convention opened Monday night with health care professionals praising President Donald Trump’s “decisive leadership” during the coronavirus pandemic. But for Black Americans, perhaps, the most memorable speeches of the evening were delivered by former NFL standout, Herschel Walker, and Georgia State Representative Vernon Jones.

“He taught me that family should be your top priority,” Walker said.

Former NFL standout Herschel Walker, who is Black, defended Trump’s character. During his four years in the White House, Trump has been accused of supporting white supremacists, ignoring systemic racism and trumpeting law and order as a thinly disguised weapon of division.

“His actions speak louder than stickers and slogans on a jersey. He keeps right on fighting to improve the lives of Black Americans and all Americans,” Walker said. “He works night and day. He never stops. He leaves nothing on the field.”

Walker’s comments seemed aimed in part at professional athletes like Colin Kaepernick who have protested racial injustice by taking a knee during the national anthem at sporting events. 

African American voters account for roughly 12 percent of eligible voters nationally and for a substantial share of the vote in six of the seven states Trump carried by 5 points or less in 2016. Political experts say the Trump campaign would like to “cherry pick” some of those voters from the Democrats, eroding a crucial voting bloc.

Former DeKalb County, Georgia executive Vernon Jones, who was once a Democrat, sought to portray the 44th President as an advocate of African Americans.

“He ended once and for all the policy of carcenation of Black people which has decimated our communities caused by no other than Joe Biden,” Jones stated. “Democrats wouldn’t do it, Obama didn’t want to do, and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris definitely wouldn’t do it.”

Jones called on his experience as the chief executive of one of the largest counties in the Southeast to criticize efforts demanding police reform.

“Police officers are our fellow citizens,” Jones said. “They live in our country. They have families too. They live in our communities. Unfortunately, Democrats have turned their backs on our brave police officers. They call it defunding, and it’s a danger to our cities, our neighborhoods, and our children.”

Yet, Jones saved his sharpest critique for Black America’s longstanding support of the Democratic Party.

“When I made the public announcement of my support for President Trump, all hell broke loose,” Jones said. “I was threatened, called an embarrassment and asked to resign by my own party. Unfortunately, that’s consistent with the Democratic Party and how they view independent thinking Black men and women. But, I’m here to tell you Black voices are becoming more woke and louder than ever. The Democratic Party has been infected with the pandemic of intolerance, bigotry, socialism, anti-law enforcement bias, and a dangerous tolerance for people who attack others, destroy their property and terrorize our own communities.”

The first night of the convention also devoted considerable time to the global pandemic, dusting off the Trump administration’s initial attempts to downplay the danger of the novel coronavirus.

“President Donald Trump truly moved mountains to save lives, and he deserves credit,” said Dr. G.E. Ghali, Chairman of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport Health Sciences. Ghali credited the Trump administration’s Operation Warped Speed with removing regulatory impediments to fast-track drug trials for a vaccine. The Republican National Convention continues Tuesday evening.