By Dr. David Caruth

If I may draw your attention to the 15th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, black men gained the right to vote on February 3, 1870. Rest assured that we intend to use every available means to keep and exercise that right. As I write these words, the American Renaissance Movement, Inc. (ARMI), an organization started by conservative African American men, is moving forward with its efforts to influence party politics in the United States of America for many years to come.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, and Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell have gone too far in their efforts to defame the first African American President. Speaker Boehner did so with his invitation to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to address congress, and Senate Majority Leader McConnell did so with his open letter to Iran. Their acts to influence American foreign policy, and embarrass a sitting president, were shameless and must come to an end.

Let me be clear. While some members of the Republican Party may not like President Obama’s foreign policy, he is our President. With considerable support from African American men, the American people elected him to conduct foreign policy on our behalf. My message to the GOP is this, use some of your power and resources to address the socio/economic concerns of African Americans. Black men in America cannot and will not stand by while party leaders shift attention away from a systematic pattern of racially motivated killings of African American boys and men, by law enforcement officers.

History will prove it to be a mistake of epic proportions if the GOP ignores civil rights issues in America, while its leaders aligned themselves with leaders of foreign governments. If the GOP remains silent on one of the most serious civil rights issues of our time, the assassination of our most celebrated President, Abraham Lincoln, would be in vain. As one nation, under God, we have to resist the work of people who seek to sow seeds of hate, violence, and mistrust into the fabric of our society.

Black lives matter. The votes of African American men cannot be taken for granted by either party. In the next presidential election, we fully intend to exercise our political mobility. As you know, 48% of men voted for John McCain, while 49% voted for President Obama. Do the math. If African American men had voted for Senator McCain in higher numbers, he would be President, and our government leaders would not be fixated on bringing shame to our representative democracy.

Lest you forget, on March 7, 2015, President Obama and other civil rights leaders marked the 50 Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Marches that were led by slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fifty years ago, civil rights leaders, including Minister C.T. Vivian and a younger John Lewis, showed extraordinary courage to confront an armed police state in Selma, Alabama. We are calling on the GOP to consider the cost and encourage Speaker Boehner and Senator McConnell to provide the leadership necessary to address this concern, with deeds, not words.

Prior to the tragic killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man in Ferguson, Missouri, the killing of Tony Robinson, an unarmed black teenager in Madison, Wisconsin, and other senseless killings of unarmed black men in other cities throughout the country, my friend, Cheryl Owsley Jackson, devoted nearly two years of her life to establish the Cary Owsley Mission For Justice, after her brother Cary was shot and killed in Columbus, Indiana. His death from a gunshot wound to the chest was ruled a suicide, with no investigation and no autopsy.

We are not merely asking for the GOP to hear us, we are boldly proclaiming that any political party that ignores our concerns, will find themselves awash in a tidal wave of courageous Americans determined to use every available means to make our voices heard in the next presidential election cycle. When society threatens us with violence, teargas, and police dogs, we will not stand down. In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we will stand-up with our hands up.

We call upon African American men in every state in the union, but especially in Kentucky and in the 8th Congregational District of Ohio, to register to vote, and join the American Renaissance Movement, Inc.. As men, we call on you to demonstrate through your actions, that you have the courage to join our efforts to show leaders of all political parties that they can no longer take our votes for granted.

If we, the ARMI, are not satisfied with actions taken by party leaders, know that our boots will hit the ground in every congressional district, and in every state, to increase voter turnout and protect the rights of voters who desire to exercise their constitutional rights. Our aim is to elect leaders who share our core values, and who we can trust to use the power vested in the offices they seek to provide justice and liberty for all Americans.

About the Author

Dr. David Caruth is the founder and President of God’s Perfect Timing Ministries, (GPTM). GPTM is a 501 C 3 non-profit organization that helps the poor and homeless reclaim the dignity of their lives. Dr. Caruth overcame poverty after being struck by lightning at football practice as a senior in high school. He went on to author two books: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty with Education and Faith; and 6 Keys of Spiritual Transformation. Dr. Caruth’s books are available at: www.davidcaruth.com or from online booksellers.