When one talks about racism and the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, one should keep the following Associated Press articles in mind.

The articles involve a failed and a successful tour of the ICRCM by two well-known politicians. The failed attempt resulted from a denied appointment; the successful attempt was an unscheduled, walk-in off the street visit.

In 2016, Donald Trump’s campaign contacted and asked if the ICRCM could be closed for 5 hours so that he and his entourage could tour the facilities. His request was denied for the reasons given below:

 

“A North Carolina civil rights organization denied Donald Trump’s request to visit its museum, saying the Trump campaign’s demands were “disrespectful.”

“We did not honor the request of the Donald Trump team because we thought … their approach was disrespectful,” Earl Jones, co-founder of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum said, according to WFMY News.

According to the news report, the Trump campaign was aggressive and rude to the staff of the museum in making its request to visit last week. Jones said that the Republican nominee wanted the museum to be closed for at least five hours to accommodate him.

The main reason the museum denied the request, Jones said, is because it doesn’t offer any special treatment to anyone. But he also didn’t think the request was sincere.

“The approach, the type of disrespect, pretty much a demand and bullying us to use the museum in their manner and their way in their time, it was inappropriate, and I think it’s probably reflective of the type of insensitivity of civil rights and human rights that’s reflective from Trump over the years,” said Jones.

But Jones added that if Hillary Clinton were to make the same request, she would also be denied. Both Trump and Clinton are welcome to visit the museum, but no special arrangements will be provided.

“We have equal treatment for everyone coming to the museum and we welcome everyone to the museum, but we are not going to allow the museum to be used for political gain,” said Jones.”

 

The following article describes what happened when Camilla Harris made an unscheduled, walk-in off the street-type visit to the ICRCM in April 2021:

Vice President Kamala Harris sits at the lunch counter as she visits the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, Monday, April 19, 2021, in Greensboro, N.C. With Harris are LaTonya Wiley, museum tour guide, left, Melvin Skip Alston-Guilford County Board of Commissioners, John Swain, Museum director and Rev. Anthony Spearman, right. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) – Photo omitted intentionally but is available on the internet

Vice President Kamala Harris took a detour while visiting North Carolina on Monday to sit at the same lunch counter where four Black college students known as the Greensboro Four conducted a peaceful sit-in 61 years ago that became a defining moment in the civil rights movement.

Harris, who was in North Carolina to plug President Joe Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, made the unscheduled visit to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro.

Funded by our tax dollars, racism and hypocrisy are both still thriving at the ICRCM in Greensboro.

Buddy K.