The 2020 Census is so important. Conservative lawmakers know this - and have taken disturbing measures to intimidate us from participating; to make sure Black lives don’t count.
It’s no secret that the criminal justice system targets Black and poor folks, incarcerating us at disproportionately high rates. So it’s no wonder Republicans attempted to get a criminal record question added to the Census to discourage participation!
Those with a criminal history often experience employment discrimination, thus often choose NOT to disclose their record when possible. If the criminal record question were added to the Census, the likelihood of 70 million Americans participating decreases!
Proposing the manipulative question was a blatant attempt to intimidate a vulnerable - and largely Black - population in order to gain political power. Fortunately, the plan didn’t work.
A citizenship question was also recommended by none other than Trump. During a time when immigrants - including many from African countries - are being snatched up, caged, and even killed, potential respondents could see sharing their citizenship status as a threat. Why risk their life over a question?
Adding citizenship status was thankfully blocked, too.
Questions like the above THREATEN the accuracy of this survey. And inaccurate data threatens how federal funding is distributed and how we’re politically represented.
It’s why conservatives tried so hard to stop our participation. But we won’t be bullied.