Burying Infested Bones In Greensboro at connecting*the*dots

April 18th, 2007

Burying Infested Bones In Greensboro

“Every time I publish a story related to the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation report and its aftermath, I hear from people either curious or angry about why the N&R, almost a year after the release of the report, continues to cover it.

[…]

But here’s the problem with ignoring the wrongs and the hurt that litter our past — and I am indebted to the old comic books I read as a kid for the imagery: You can cover up the past all you want, but often it won’t do any good. If you clean and bind the wounds of past harm, and acknowledge the loss and grief of those to whom it happened or their survivors, then you can bury it and perhaps it will rest easy.

But if you don’t, then don’t be surprised if, as you walk through the garden, smelling the magnolias and enjoying the evening air, a rotting hand reaches up from the ground and grabs you and won’t let go. Sometimes the dead don’t stay buried.”

I hear you and couldn’t agree more, Lex. And after living here for going on two years now, I think I’m getting the pulse of this city, but it’s a strange one to put a finger on.

For all of the accountability folks wants from city government and the GPD over issues like a fired police chief and potential misappropriations of $30,000 of taxpayers funds, one might think that the disgust over the Greensboro Police Department’s gross irresponsibility to protect and serve in ‘79 would draw a furor until they satisfactorily explained their inaction on that day.

Actually, that’s not true; the GPD was in action on 11/3:

A police informant was riding with the Klan in the lead car
The GPD filmed the Klan loading up their cars with numerous weapons prior to hitting the march route
A call was sent out to clear the march route of all officers

So yes, the GPD was busy on that day, just not protecting the permit approved march route.

But can you blame them?

Nelson Johnson vociferously barked at the cops to stay away the day before, so they just followed his wishes. I mean, cops are notorious for throwing their responsibilities to the wind when a civilian yells loud enough, right?

From yesterday’s Yes! Weekly article, New inside perspectives on 1979 shootings point to police complicity:

[…] “Based on conversations with Dawson, who is no longer alive, Hennis told YES! Weekly in a recent interview that he believes members of the Greensboro Police Department decided to allow the Klan and Nazis to attack demonstrators after march organizer Nelson Johnson warned police to “stay out of our way.”

“The police, I believe, knew right much about it,” Hennis said. “After Nelson smart-mouthed them, they decided to just stay back and referee…. They didn’t have no plan, but they knew about it and couldn’t care less.” […]

Hell, the people that died in ‘79 were communists. It’s not like they were actually people who subscribed to a different take on labor issues and the systemic issues of socio-economic inequalities within America (which have actually grown since 1979). They were followers of a foreign “ism”… and words have consequences, right?

The thought makes me sick.

I’m not so naive to believe that privileged folk down here care to settle that case of obvious police wrongdoing.

Now, if there’s money involved or the potential for “reverse” racism to be framed, well, that’s a whole other case entirely.

Greensboro 101

Here’s the deal as I see it: Greensboro is a civil, southern town — civility will not allow for such retrospective inquiries of negative events that have occurred in the public sphere.

It’s not how things are done down here; dirty laundry is not to be aired — it’s meant to be buried.

Historically, that’s how things have worked.

It’s always been much easier to bury improprieties and crimes, along with the heads in this town, rather than talk about the issues, bring truth to the table, hold folks accountable to their actions and reconcile our grievances.

More so here than anywhere else I’ve lived.

The problem for past and present town planners and gatekeepers, is that we’re now living in the information age — their circle the wagon rhetorical tactics of old cannot quell the voices of residents who want answers, whether it be about 11/3/79 or the Dudley High School revolt or Willow Oaks or re-zoning a city district to force a successful rehabilitation and homeless program to close their doors.

And more and more folks are wanting answers in this day and age.

Burying an infested bone in a wire-frame view of a backyard these days can’t even fool a dog named Helenkeller.

Tags: citizen media, civility, communism, control, GPD, Greensboro, Greensboro Massacre, GTRC, information, Nelson Johnson, News and Record, Willow Oaks.

12 Responses to “Burying Infested Bones In Greensboro”

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1 Cara Michele Apr 18th, 2007 at 5:45 pm

Good post.
2 David Allen Apr 19th, 2007 at 9:12 am

I am VERY concerned that we may be heading toward another clash with gun-toting loonies.

The Ultra-right wing “Gathering of Eagles” is planning to confront anti-war activists THIS weekend in Greensboro.

Attention Southeast Regional/State Reps and All EAGLES:

Eagles need to Soar and Gather! Notice is short, but the need to Rally the Troops and be â€œIN THEIR FACEâ€? is necessary.

Bring personal signs/posters of support, American flags, and a lot of Motivation. OUR TROOPS AND AMERICA WILL HEAR US!

See you there.

ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK,
3 sean coon Apr 19th, 2007 at 9:41 am

it sounds like a bunch of rhetoric to me, david. i hope i’m right.
4 Lex Apr 19th, 2007 at 1:31 pm

Sean: Thanks for the kind words. I do want to make clear, however, that buried within your ellipsis is the distinct disclaimer that I was speaking of history in general, not of 11/3/79 or its fallout in particular. Thanks.
5 sean coon Apr 19th, 2007 at 1:46 pm

i know that ellipsis covered an extremely broad amount of the article — your entire post was great — but since the opening focus was on the trc, i didn’t have much of a problem with the massive snip in context. glad you commented, though. keep up the great work.
6 Twilla Apr 23rd, 2007 at 10:28 am

Its sad when anyone leaves this world. I am empathetic to the famlies involved. Don’t get me wrong, but…..

Here’s something to consider:

Don’t hold a DEATH TO THE (insert your name here) RALLY and EXPECT that NOBODY will DIE!!

I personally believe that this is a 50/50 responsiblity situation. The police are easy scapegoats. (and I am not a police fan by ANY stretch of the imagination). Also with Nelson Johnson making all that noise…. Hey, he got what he asked for, right? It was his DEATH RALLY/party. Right?

I remember I was young when this happened,. Even back then I had enough sense to know that nothing good could come from a DEATH TO THE KLAN RALLY!!!

Just my thoughts.
7 sean coon Apr 23rd, 2007 at 10:50 am

thanks for the comment, twilla.

if you check out zucker’s film, you’ll find that nelson johnson agrees with much of what you’re saying. he apologizes for the CWP’s use of language that stoked the KKK to roll through their march armed to the teeth. he realizes that “death to the klan” is much more threatening and personal to human beings than “death to racism” and that their ill choice of words made a major impact on that day.

johnson has taken responsibility for his naivety, but he’s still demonized to this day by plenty of people in this most civil of civil towns.

now when it comes to the police inaction, there’s *no excuse*

when does it become SOP for the police to base their strategic operations on a man foaming at the mouth? when they decided to not show up to protect nelson, they also decided to not protect the residents of each community that the march was to pass through.

what if the CWP had started their march in your neck of the woods? how would your perspective be different?

you make some valid points, but it’s nothing that nelson hasn’t already taken ownership of years ago. zucker’s film even shows a few KKK participants presenting the same degree of remorse for that day.

the problem is that the city wants to take zero responsibility for the events of that day. the last i checked, though, “protect and serve” was never at the pleasure of jim melvin.
8 Twilla Apr 23rd, 2007 at 12:33 pm

If this were happening in my neighborhood, I would of been scared to death. I would of held my child close, stayed LOW and INSIDE away from the windows!!!!!! I admit I WAS scared in my NE Greensboro house on that day! I just knew nothing good was going to come from this.

As for relying on the police to “protect and serve” on that day, or anyday in 1979, ha! I would of just as soon called on a hippie. :) The GPD to this very day, has some horrible issues. Sure, I would have the REASONABLE EXPECTATION that the cops would do the “right thing”, but we all know that is a fantasy that only happens on T.V. Maybe thats where everybody screwed up huh? Having those expectations? They say if you have none, you will not be disappointed…… I dunno….

Nelson may of taken owership for his use of words and we all know that woulda, coulda, and shoulda are not our friends. People still died that day. The whole thing sucks.

I appreciate you educating me on this subject and letting me throw in my 2 cents.
9 sean coon Apr 23rd, 2007 at 1:24 pm

it’s a dialog, twilla — one that we all need to participate in. thanks for stopping by.