No Fear

While addressing the crowd outside the federal courthouse in Norfolk, Virginia, after entering a not-guilty plea in the mortgage fraud case against her being pushed by Donald Trump, New York Attorney General Letitia James channeled some of the best of Martin Luther King Jr. James, addressing a crowd of enthusiastic supporters, some exclaiming “Freedom” and “Democracy,” explained once again in so many words that the justice system is being weaponized by Trump to target his political enemies. She declared, however, expecting to prevail, that her faith was strong, a claim King characteristically suggested about his own faith. She added that she had no fear, echoing King’s “I’m not fearing any man today” line from his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. She even led the audience in a call-and response chant: “No fear (No fear) No fear (No fear) No fear (No fear).” Immediately following, James expounded, “I believe justice will rain down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream” --- very close to the way that King often paraphrased Amos 5:24, “but let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream” (KJV).

Peering out from the Language Lane, I wished James had leaned even more into “I Have a Dream.” When she disclosed that she had received expressions of support from jurisdictions across the nation, I would have liked to hear that some of those jurisdictions were in New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, California, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi (let freedom ring).

Of course, the overall circumstances surrounding the indictment of James are abhorrent. The justice department bowing down to Trump is inexcusable. His sycophants go to absurd lengths to craft language to support him, relabeling No Kings protests Hate America demonstrations. That seems to be a Mike Johnson special, as does the branding of Democrats as “legislative terrorists” for their views and actions regarding the government shutdown. Trump himself has called Letitia James evil. Nothing good comes out of such demonizing language.

At least, perhaps our saving grace, there is will to speak back, as James and supporters illustrate. They may have to open more of the King playbook.

#thelanguagelane #keithgilyard #letitiajames #mlkjr