The Go-Go's: "We Got the Beat"
In the News
Here is some stuff in the news today...
[Content Note: Police brutality; racism; death] This weekend was a "Weekend of Resistance" in Ferguson, Missouri, and around the country, in honor of Michael Brown, whose killer, Officer Darren Wilson, still has not been arrested or charged. In St. Louis, over 1,000 protestors peacefully marched, in a demonstration that culminated in a sit-in at St. Louis University. Yesterday, police arrested more than 50 people, including members of the clergy, who were participating in a "Moral Monday" in Ferguson. #BlackLivesMatter
[CN: Same as previous] Please read this amazing piece by my friend Pamela Merritt, aka Shark-fu, who lives in St. Louis: "Ferguson October Protests Reveal Deep Wounds in St. Louis."
[CN: Illness; death. Covers next five paragraphs.] The World Health Organization has forecast that the number of new cases of Ebola in West Africa could reach 10,000 per week by December. Additionally, they have predicted that the current mortality rate of 50% will increase to 70% as limited resources become even further stretched by more patients.
Amidst calls for more aid, married couple Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and med school graduate Priscilla Chan have announced they are donating $25 million to the US Centers for Disease Control foundation, earmarked for Ebola research and prevention: "The health agency has hundreds of staffers working on Ebola and has sent more than 100 experts to the virus zone—Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The CDC foundation collects funds for supplies, such as personal protective equipment, ready-to-eat meals, generators, vehicles and motorcycles, and thermal scanners to detect fever."
Nina Pham, the Dallas nurse who contracted Ebola caring for Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian traveler who died at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital last week, has received a blood transfusion from Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly, in the hope that "the antibodies in Brantly's blood will kick-start Pham's immune response to Ebola."
It is not yet known how Pham became infected: CDC director Tom Frieden "said it was likely a breach in infection control protocol. The CDC is urgently reviewing whether its procedures are adequate."
As I said in comments two weeks ago, my major concern about a potential Ebola outbreak in the US is not inadequate procedures among healthcare providers (although that, too), but the fact that the combination of the US' nightmare insurance-based healthcare system and garbage exploitative employment laws will mean that people showing the very common symptoms of Ebola will not seek healthcare. I said then: "Lots and lots of people who don't have health insurance, or who have shitty health insurance—not to mention people who can't miss work to access healthcare—don't go to the doctor with symptoms like fever and aches. If there is an Ebola outbreak in the US—and I think that's very unlikely, at this point—it will be because our garbage healthcare system and shitty workers' rights discourages preventative healthcare. All our terrific healthcare infrastructure will mean zip if people aren't able to use it." Ditto all the most adequate procedures for care providers. First, we have to make sure people seek treatment, early. And whoooooooooops we have spent decades discouraging people from seeking care for what they imagine to be minor healthcare issues.
In good news: Happy Ada Lovelace Day!
In other news: Mitt Romney "feels nudge" to run again in 2016. But Ann Romney has other ideas about that: "Done. Completely. Not only Mitt and I are done, but the kids are done. Done. Done. Done." LOL.
[CN: Misogyny; objectification] Ernie Hudson, who played Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters, is not on board with the all-female roboot: "I heard it was going to be a total reboot, and that it would have nothing to do with the other two movies. If it has nothing to do with the other two movies, and it's all female, then why are you calling it Ghostbusters? I love females. I hope that if they go that way at least they'll be funny, and if they're not funny at least hopefully it'll be sexy. I love the idea of including women; I think that's great. But all-female I think would be a bad idea. I don't think the fans want to see that. Maybe it will come out and be the most amazing thing, but in my opinion I think it would be wrong to do another movie that didn't include the guys. And that didn't include me!" Shut up, Ernie Hudson.
And finally! [video] This is probably the best thing you'll see all day: A tiny boy nails the big dance finale in Dirty Dancing. I mean, whatever you're expecting, trust me: It's even better!
The Walking Thread
[Content Note: Descriptions of violence. Spoilers are lurching around undeadly herein.]
These eyes are the window to the only soul left in this show.
When last we left our sweaty band of survivalists, Grimes Gang + the Doctor Mulletsworth Crew had reached Terminus, following signs that promised sanctuary, only to be shoved into a train car to await their literal slaughter by the bunch of fine young cannibals running the joint. Soylent Terminus is people!
We knew this wasn't the end for Grimes Gang, though—and not just because there's no way AMC is going to make burgers out of this cash cow anytime soon, but because last season ended with Grimes growling, "They're gonna feel pretty stupid when they find out they're screwing with the wrong people." And Grimes always keeps his promises! No matter how improbable! Because he is full-tilt powered by patriarchy and perspiration!
Grimes Gang spends their time building makeshift weapons in the train car, but their weapons are useless against the canister of teargas the Terminus Heads launch into the car. They grab Grimes, Daryl, Glenn, and Bob, tying their hands and leading them to their slaughterhouse, along with four other random dudes, who are there to die for our viewing pleasure to try to generate tension, as if this show is likely to kill off any of the three male leads (sorry, Bob).
One by one, the randos are killed, and just when it looks like Grimes Gang Prime is done for (ha ha just kidding there is zero tension because this fucking show), one of the top Terminus Heads interrupts to quiz Grimes about their stash of weapons, which provides just enough time for a big explosion to halt the slaughter.
Cut back to Carol and Tyreese, who are still traveling separately toward Terminus with Baby Zombie Whistle Grimes. They hear gunshots coming from the direction of Terminus, and, as they make their way closer, they bump into some Terminus Head at a cabin and take him hostage. Care of a perfectly timed walkie-talkie conversation he was having, they know Michonne, "the chick with the sword," is being held at Terminus.
Tyreese stays behind with the Terminus Head, who is poorly confined with a loosely tied seatbelt, and with Baby Zombie Whistle Grimes, while Carol takes off for Terminus. She slathers herself in zombie guts so the zombies won't eat her and so she won't be spotted.
Questions: This is not the first time the old zombie goo concealment ruse has been used in the show, and, if it's so effective, why aren't they are lathered up in stink-guts all the time? It's not like there's a shortage of 'em. Also: Considering that survivalists are constantly just decimating hordes of zombies, is it really safe to conceal oneself for travel inside a zombie pack?
Anyway! Carol arrives at Terminus just in time to see Grimes Gang Prime being taken to the slaughterhouse, and so she causes a big explosion care of a propane tank using a firework she stole from the dude who's being incompetently held hostage by Tyreese. In the chaos, Grimes manages to cut through his hand restraints using the makeshift weapon he crafted in the train car. Stab stab stab. Rescue rescue rescue. Grimes, Daryl, Glenn, and Bob make a run for it, and find confirmation in the form of butchered human torsos on meat hooks that these weirdos are definitely cannibals.
Even though our bozo heroes are totally horrified, of course the reveal surprises exactly zero of us, thanks to the heavy-handed hints at the end of last season and the fact that they were about to bleed out the Grimes Gang like livestock.
Chaos chaos chaos. Shooting shooting shooting. Grimes, Daryl, Glenn, and Bob pause in the commotion to have yet another exhausting (but blissfully short) conversation about "who we are." You're all terrible! Just shut up with your precious navel-gazing yawnfests already! If the key to retaining one's humanity is constantly having mendacious, cherry-picked, ill-timed fireside chats about your ethics in the middle of a zombiepocalypse, then I'll be happy to be A MONSTER, thankyouverymuch.
Meanwhile, back at the cabin—surprise!—Terminus Head has loosened his already loose restraints and is threatening to break Baby Zombie Whistle Grimes' neck unless Tyreese goes outside where a bunch of zombies are clamoring to get in the cabin and eat their faces off. Tyreese decides to sacrifice himself for the baby—who Terminus Head inexplicably does not kill instantly, because what purpose does it serve for him to keep her alive? there's not even any meat on dem little bones!—but obviously Tyreese manages to somehow kill all the zombies with his bare hands, then comes back inside and kills the Terminus Head.
This is Very Important, because Tyreese was having angst about killing people and zombies. But when it came down to brass tacks, he killed everything in sight. To save a precious white baby. Who constantly imperils their lives. Obviously.
Meanwhile meanwhile, back in the train car, Doctor Mulletsworth holds forth for the rest of Grimes Gang + His Crew—Michonne, Carl the Hat, Maggie, Sasha, Tara, Sgt. Red Bull, and Rosita Espinoza—giving them a terrific monologue about how before the start of the zombiepocalypse, he was privy to ScienceTM in which weaponized diseases were engineered to fight other weaponized diseases and something something superbug could save humanity.
I don't even know. How am I supposed to pay attention to anything this dude says when I can't take my eyes off his glorious hair?
Eventually, Grimes Gang Prime rescues the rest of Their People, and everyone fights their way out of Terminus, now overrun with FIRE ZOMBIES, and makes for the woods where they've hidden their cache of weapons.
Everyone wants to leave, but Grimes insists they go back and make sure all the Terminus Heads are good and dead, because apparently this blockhead imagines they might survive the zombie onslaught and manage to rebuild the walls around their engulfed-in-flames facility and get Ye Olde Sausage Factory up and running again.
"I run the only Sausage Fest in these parts!"—Grimes.
Everyone starts to tell Grimes his idea is terrible, like most of his ideas, but then Carol shows up, and Daryl runs to her and hugs her like a little kid, and it is very cute. Carol takes them to the cabin, where Grimes and Carl the Hat are reunited with Baby Zombie Whistle and gently squeeze her, because you can't hug a baby tight, no matter how much you want to!
Question: When Carol shows up, she's all clean again. When did she have time to take a shower?! My only guess is that she used a bunch of Baby Zombie Whistle Grimes' baby wipes on getting prettied up for the reunion.
Anyhoo, they all hit the road, presumably after telling Grimes he's fired and making Carol their new leader, since she is not only Queen of Wrecking Your Shit but also President of Getting Things Done and Prime Minister of Good Decision-Making and High Priestess of Being the Opposite of Rick Grimes.
On the way out of Terminustown, Grimes changes a sanctuary sign to read "No Sanctuary." Good one, Grimes.
At the very end, long after they're gone, Morgan (hey, remember that guy?!) finds the sign and looks sad. Aww.
Next time on The Walking Dead: Grimes continues to annoy the everloving shit out of me!
Pistorius Update
[Content Note: Guns; homicide; misogyny.]
Oscar Pistorius, who stood trial for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp, whom he was dating at the time he shot her, claiming he believed she was intruder, was found not guilty of murder last month by Judge Thokozile Masipa, who instead found him guilty of culpable homicide.
Now a probation officer, appearing on behalf of his defense at the sentencing hearing, has recommended that Pistorius, who faces up to 15 years, serve no jail time:
A probation officer appearing for the defence said Pistorius should serve house arrest and community service.What an utterly reprehensible display. The poor manbaby who claims to have accidentally shot and killed a woman after a history of dangerous and belligerent behavior with guns has suffered enough. Of course he has.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel described the suggestion as "shockingly inappropriate".
...Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine.
She said the athlete had acted "negligently" when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but had genuinely thought her to be an intruder.
...[The sentencing hearing] seemed to go reasonably well for the defence. The athlete's first witness was trauma counsellor Lore Hartzenberg, who strongly implied that a "broken" Pistorius had been punished enough.
...The next witness was an even tougher challenge for the prosecution, since he was a state employee appearing for the defence. Social worker Joel Maringa assessed what punishment was suitable. He recommended no time in prison, and three years of house arrest and community service instead.
Judge Masipa, as usual, was giving little away, but asked for more details about what "community service" might entail.
I am so sad and angry for Reeva Steenkamp's family and friends.
Another Domino Falls
[Content Note: Homophobia.]
Over the weekend, a federal judge ruled Alaska's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional:
The late Sunday afternoon decision caught many people off guard. No rallies were immediately planned, but some plaintiffs celebrated over drinks at an Anchorage bar.Naturally, the Republican-majority state government says it will appeal the decision, despite the fact that it's totally fucking pointless:
Matthew Hamby, who along with his husband Christopher Shelden was one of five couples to sue, was "just having drinks with friends, enjoying it."
He said he was "elated" U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess sided with them, and he planned to among the first in line to apply for a license Monday.
"This is just an amazing day for Alaska. We're just so fortunate that so many have fought for equality for so long — I mean, decades," said Susan Tow, who along with her wife, Chris Laborde, were among couples who sought to overturn Alaska's ban.
In an email, the state said it will appeal Burgess' ruling.Yawn. There is no point except to make life harder that much longer for same-sex couples who want to marry in the state. What vile jerks.
"As Alaska's governor, I have a duty to defend and uphold the law and the Alaska Constitution," Gov. Sean Parnell said in a press release. "Although the district court today may have been bound by the recent Ninth Circuit panel opinion, the status of that opinion and the law in general in this area is in flux. I will defend our constitution."
Despite the pitiful tantrums of losing bigots, it's good news for marriage equality in Alaska. Congratulations, pro-equality Alaskans!
Open Thread (+ Programming Note)
Hosted by a Weimaraner.
I've got a friend visiting from out of town today, so I'll be taking today off. And don't worry—I will definitely have a Walking Dead recap on Tuesday! Wheeeeeee! See you tomorrow.
Open Thread
Hosted by a volleyball.
This week's Open Threads have been brought to you by the letter V.
The Virtual Pub Is Open
[Explanations: lol your fat. pathetic anger bread. hey your gay.]
TFIF, Shakers!
Belly up to the bar,
and name your poison!
What?!
Rob at io9: "Tucked away in a Variety article about Billy Crystal joining the Henson Company's production of Which Witch?—which, you know, whatever—comes the much more interesting news that a sequel to 1986's Labyrinth is in the works (along with the previously rumored Dark Crystal 2 and Fraggle Rock movies). There's of course no information other than the fact that is apparently exists, which is still pretty mind-boggling."
Um, yes. Yes that is pretty mind-boggling.
I can't even imagine what a Labyrinth sequel would look like, nor a Dark Crystal sequel. Although I'm slightly more positive on the former than the latter.
The Dark Crystal feels too definitive (and, if I'm honest, too special) to me for a sequel.
If David Bowie returns for the Labyrinth sequel, however, I am officially on board. Even if it's nothing more than a tale about how the Goblin King just really loves making sandwiches in his dotage.
"I made you turkey on a pretzel roll, Sarah."
Quote of the Day
[Content Note: Rape culture.]
"This Court finds that no individual clothed and positioned in such a manner in a public area in broad daylight in the presence of countless other individuals could have a reasonable expectation of privacy."—Washington, DC, Superior CourtJudge Juliet McKenna, in her ruling dismissing "a case brought against a man named Christopher Cleveland that claimed he took up-skirt photos of women without their consent. It's not that he didn't take the photos—he did; the police caught him with several on his camera—but instead that doing so isn't illegal. ...Because Cleveland did not go to 'extraordinary lengths' to capture the images, McKenna argued, the charges should be thrown out."
Got that? Women have no "reasonable expectation of privacy" from strangers taking up-skirt photos without our consent, as long as those strangers don't go to "extraordinary lengths" to take them.
Cleveland was arrested after US Park Police "noticed he was taking photos of women in dresses who were standing above him on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial." So, basically, this ruling says that if you don't want a stranger taking an up-skirt photo of you, don't wear a dress. Or use stairs. Or exist in public.
If you're thinking, "Hey, that sure sounds an awful lot like tasking victims with sexual assault prevention," you are correct. Instead of tasking people with not being sexual predators, once again women are expected to limit their lives and choices in order to avoid being victimized.
My contempt for this ruling, it is infinite.
[H/T to Shaker RachelB, in comments.]
Discussion Thread: Creative Endeavors!
Shaker Socchan emails (which I am sharing with permission): "Would you be willing to post a thread for Shakers to talk about creative projects they're working on? I know a lot of us are crafty, artistic, or writer-y, and I'd love to be able to see/talk about what other folks are working on and maybe share pictures/links to Etsy stores and similar/etc."
Terrific idea! So here it is!
Daily Dose of Cute
Olivia, the most food-aggressive cat who has ever lived, licking out my salad bowl after dinner last night. I couldn't even stop her, because I was laughing too hard at the lengths to which she'll go and the contortions into which she'll put herself to get the tiniest bit of food. Cat food, dog food, people food. Nothing can deter her. Nothing.
As always, please feel welcome and encouraged to share pix of the fuzzy, feathered, or scaled members of your family in comments.
The Friday Blogaround
This blogaround brought to you by oil paint.
Recommended Reading:
Prison Culture: [Content Note: Carcerality; homophobia; transphobia] #NoSchoolPushout: LGBTQ Students
Carly: [CN: Disablism; lookism] My Face Is Not a Halloween Costume
TLC: [CN: Anti-immigrationism; abuse; racism; misogyny; transphobia] Destructive Delay: The State of Immigration Enforcement and the Human Cost of Postponing Reforms
Tressie: [CN: Racism; police brutality] Thoughts on a Theory: New Media and Representation
Sister Outsider: [CN: Racism] Motherhood and Intersectionality: Black Kids Need More Than Love to Survive in a Racialized World!
Pia: [CN: Racism; homophobia; antisemitism; misogyny] Is Nicholas Sparks Racist?
Kyler: [CN: Homophobia] Chris Christie: Gay Marriage Should Not Be 'Imposed' from the Supreme Court
Jamilah: [CN: Racism; class warfare] Cinematographer Bradford Young on Lighting Dark Skin and the 'Subversive' Power of the Black Church
Leave your links and recommendations in comments. Self-promotion welcome and encouraged!
In the News
Here is some stuff in the news today...
Congratulations to 17-year-old Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan and 60-year-old Kailash Satyarthi of India who have won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.
[Content Note: Possible harm] 12-year-old Daekyia Shropshire from Washington, DC, has been missing since Monday. A second girl who was missing has been found, and police now say the two cases are not related. But Daekyia is still gone. Contact information at the link, if you can help.
[CN: Domestic violence] Former NFL executive Jerry Angelo, who had a three-decade career during which he worked for the Giants, Buccaneers, and Bears organizations, says that "teams did not discipline players in 'hundreds and hundreds' of domestic violence incidents during his 30 years in the league, and said he now regrets his role in the failure to take action. 'I made a mistake. I was human. I was part of it. I'm not proud of it. ...Our business is to win games. We've got to win games, and the commissioner's job is to make sure the credibility of the National Football League is held in the highest esteem. But to start with that, you have to know who's representing the shield. We got our priorities a little out of order." Ya think? Fuck.
[CN: Police brutality; racism; violence] More protests have been scheduled for this weekend in and around Ferguson, Missouri, following the police killing of Vonderrit Myers. "Mervyn Marcano, a spokesman for Ferguson October, said the group expected to draw between 6,000 and 10,000 protesters for what it calls 'three days of resistance'. He said the protests were aimed at 'making those who are comfortable uncomfortable', adding: 'Folks want to continue the momentum.'"
[CN: Misogyny] Good grief: "Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to Women: Don't Ask For A Raise, Trust Karma." Is this guy fucking serious?! Yes, yes he is: "It's not really about asking for a raise, but knowing and having faith that the system will give you the right raise... That might be one of the initial 'super powers,' that quite frankly, women (who) don't ask for a raise have. It's good karma. It will come back." Hahahaha! Good karma! Jesus Jones. Nadella has since not-apologized: "I answered that question completely wrong. ...If you think you deserve a raise, you should just ask." Gee, thanks.
[CN: Misogyny; racism] Hey, here's something that will totally fucking anger you but definitely won't surprise you: "The Excessive Political Power of White Men in the United States, in One Chart." Despite comprising only 31% of the population, white men hold 65% of elected offices in the US. Post-feminist post-racial America wheeeeeeeeeee!
[CN: Illness; racism] In related news: "Texas Ebola cases expose troubling contrasts and spark fears of race divide: The faltering response to a [black] Liberian's Ebola diagnosis in Texas contrasted starkly to the mobilization after the mere suspicion of the disease in a [white] local law enforcement officer. Some wonder whether it was no coincidence." Ha ha IT WASN'T!
[CN: Misogyny; racism] In related news: Tonight is the premiere of the new ABC sitcom Cristela, starring comedian Cristela Alonzo, who will be making television history. "The 35-year-old virtually unknown comic is the first Latina to create, produce, write, and star in her own primetime comedy." The first! Good luck, Cristela!
RIP Jan Hooks. Surely I'm not the only one among us who had a friend with whom I pretended to be the Sweeney Sisters back in the day...? Damn. She was one funny lady.
Google is releasing a huge phablet code-named Shamu. That is a real sentence with real words in the year of our lord Jesus Jones two thousand and fourteen.
And finally! Here is a big dog trying to get a little kitten to play with him. Adorbz!
The Misogyny Tax
[Content Note: Misogyny; fat hatred; harassment.]
I've spoken before about the misogyny tax—the personal cost to being a woman in the public eye (or any sphere); the cost to one's emotional resources to be expected to weather all manner of misogyny just in order to compete with men on a professional (or other) level.
This cost is something that gets casually elided in conversations about online harassment. Yes, it's terrible that women go through these things, and, sure, social media sites have to do better in taking seriously harassment against women.
But the emotional cost. No one must talk about the emotional cost, lest women (especially feminist women!) convey anything but strength, anything but a veneer of imperviousness to the very harm caused by the hatred we're trying to explain is harmful.
Which is only one thing we don't talk about. We don't talk about the time it costs us, either.
In the best case scenario, women are given resources to report harm only after it has happened to us. There is no emphasis on prevention. No investment in stopping abuse before it reaches its target.
This morning, like many mornings, I started my day by retweeting, as pushback against both abuse and the admonishments to be silent about it, an abusive tweet I'd received overnight:
And then, like many mornings, I spent my time filling out an abuse report to send to Twitter. Because I can block dipshits all day long and not have to see their abusive garbage, but that just means they'll go after someone else. So I take the time to make a report.
When there was someone who was creating a new account every day, sometimes multiple times a day, to harass me and other women, for months and in some cases years, I spent a ridiculous amount of time blocking and reporting, only to have Twitter send me generic responses about their investigation. It literally took years—and, finally, Imani Gandy publicly shaming them as loudly as possible—before they actually took meaningful action.
The opportunity to report abuse is necessary, but it's also the most basic first step. Especially when people who are reported can simply set up a new account to continue to same abusive behavior. There has to be some emphasis on prevention.
Not only because by the time I have to file a report, it's too late—the harm of an abusive attack has already been done—but because I am tired of a constant tax on my time. On women's time.
What could have been accomplished in the last year alone with the collective energy women instead spent filling out abuse reports on social media?
If men online don't want that to be precisely the point, they have to get engaged with prevention and accountability.
Spend some of your time, to give me back some of mine.
Good News
[Content Note: Voter suppression; racism; classism; disablism.]
Courts have struck down voter ID laws in both Wisconsin and Texas:
The Supreme Court on Thursday evening stopped officials in Wisconsin from requiring voters there to provide photo identification before casting their ballots in the coming election.But the law was then provisionally reinstated by an appeals court, who cited Indiana's voter ID law, which the Supreme Court upheld in 2008. Ultimately, the Supreme Court rejected Wisconsin's law because they are trying to implement it too close to the election. Which means that Republicans in the state are likely to try again.
Three of the court's more conservative members dissented, saying they would have allowed officials to require identification.
Around the same time, a federal trial court in Texas struck down that state's ID law, saying it put a disproportionate burden on minority voters.
The Wisconsin requirement, one of the strictest in the nation, is part of a state law enacted in 2011 but mostly blocked by various courts in the interim. A federal trial judge had blocked it, saying it would "deter or prevent a substantial number of the 300,000-plus registered voters who lack ID from voting" and would disproportionately affect black and Hispanic voters.
Thursday's ruling from Texas, issued after a two-week trial in Corpus Christi, found that the state's voter ID law "creates an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote, has an impermissible discriminatory effect against Hispanics and African-Americans, and was imposed with an unconstitutional discriminatory purpose," Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos wrote.There is an abundance of evidence that voter ID laws disproportionately disenfranchise people of color, elderly people, people with disabilities, and/or people in poverty. It is no coincidence that many of these voters tend to lean Democratic, and that it's Republicans who are advocating for voter ID laws, despite vanishingly few incidences of voter fraud across the nation.
A spokeswoman for the Texas attorney general's office said it would immediately appeal "to avoid voter confusion in the upcoming election."
Ryan P. Haygood, a lawyer at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, welcomed the decision. "The evidence in this case," he said, "demonstrated that the law, like its poll-tax ancestor, imposes real costs and unjustified, disparate burdens on the voting rights of more than 600,000 registered Texas voters, a substantial percentage of whom are voters of color."
Republicans think people aren't entitled to vote.
