by Dr. Willie Ratcliff
Rarely in my lifetime has the choice been so clear. As U.S. president, Bernie Sanders would definitely make Black lives better. And a big win in the California primary June 7 could give him the leverage to win the nomination – and the presidency.
To vote for Bernie, you must be registered either as a Democrat or No Party Preference, and the last day to register for the primary election is Monday, May 23. You also need to re-register if you’ve changed your name or address.
Check your registration (county contacts are at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/registration-status/) and register or re-register at http://registertovote.ca.gov/ or by visiting your county elections office. You can request a vote-by-mail ballot until May 31 from your county elections office, where you can also find out about early voting in your county.
Back when Blacks were a major force at San Francisco City Hall, our slogan was “Vote 100%” – and we did. Voting is not the only way to make change, but it’s too powerful to ignore. So I say, once again, let’s VOTE 100%!
U.S. President: Bernie Sanders
State Senator: Jane Kim
Democratic Central Committee AD 17: London Breed, Jo Elias-Jackson, Wade Woods, Petra DeJesus, Malia Cohen, David Campos, Jane Kim, Shaun Haines, Rafael Mandelman, Tom Ammiano, John Burton, Aaron Peskin, Rebecca Prozan, Alix Rosenthal
Superior Court Judge: Paul Henderson
State Prop. 50, Suspension of legislators: Yes
SF Prop. A, Public health and safety bonds: Yes
SF Prop. B, Recreation, park and open space fund: No
SF Prop. C, Affordable housing requirements: Yes
SF Prop. D, Investigations of officer-involved shootings: Yes
SF Prop. E, Paid sick leave: Yes
Bay Area Prop. AA, Regional wetlands tax: No
Bay View publisher Dr. Willie Ratcliff can be reached at publisher@sfbayview.com or 415-671-0789.
Malcolm X on voting: The ballot is more important than the bullet – or the dollar
by El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)
By ballot I only mean freedom. Don’t you know – I disagree with Lomax* on this issue – that the ballot is more important than the dollar? Can I prove it? Yes. Look in the U.N. There are poor nations in the U.N., yet those poor nations can get together with their voting power and keep the rich nations from making a move.
They have one nation, one vote; everyone has an equal vote. And when those brothers from Asia and Africa and the darker parts of this earth get together, their voting power is sufficient to hold (Uncle) Sam in check. Or Russia in check. Or some other section of the earth in check. So, the ballot is most important.
*Louis Lomax was an influential Black journalist, who reported for Black papers and the major media – he was the first Black TV journalist – and moderated the event in Cleveland at which this speech was delivered. “Karl Evanzz, a staff writer for The Washington Post, wrote in his 1992 book, ‘The Judas Factor: The Plot to Kill Malcolm X,’ that Lomax was working on a documentary concerning the role played by the FBI in the death of Malcolm X, and that Lomax’s own death may have been connected to that project,” according to Wikipedia.
El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X), the earth-shaking leader Ossie Davis called “our shining Black prince,” was born May 19, 1925, and assassinated Feb. 21, 1965. He would have turned 91 this week. This is an excerpt from “The Ballot or the Bullet,” the first version of the speech, which he delivered on April 3, 1964, in Cleveland.
