The January 5th Club meeting was our New Year’s Kickoff Meeting with guest speaker Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels and former Republican candidate for NYC Mayor. He’s on the radio weekdays from 12 noon to 1pm and other time slots with talk shows on WABC, “Always Broadcasting Curtis.” He’s one of the greatest New Yorkers there ever was, someone who has given his life for our city many times over, Curtis Sliwa!
By Maureen Grey
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) was one of those historic figures who was always on the list of people to study for Negro History Week. Every American Black child knows or is supposed to know by second grade, especially if one attends a majority Black* student or faculty populated school. Douglass seemed to be current looking – his hair was natural and long – which was in vogue. Some of his suits looked like the one in Ebony magazine. His features were fiercely chiseled – which intimidated me as a child, but they expressed his passion to fight the establishment to gain equality – something that was a part of the 1960’s and 1970’s America my family had to learn about when we came to America. So much was studied about him during those school days, but no one mentioned that he was a Republican – just like our President, Richard M. Nixon. Today, five Black Republicans have taken new seats in Congress. This is just a sign of a rebounding Republican Party.
*Although African-American is more politically correct, I prefer to use Black as my racial nomenclature. That was the term of my upbringing and most of my adulthood; and serves as a common descriptor for my two African diasporic cultures.
When I first came to this country from Jamaica W.I, Douglass’ picture would often be placed next to Lincoln’s on the school bulletin boards highlighting Negro History Week – that is what the commemoration of Black historical figures was called. I still recall the bulletin board outside my first-grade classroom at St. Joseph’s Parish Day School in Queens Village, NY (Demolished, 2022). I recognized Martin Luther King, Jr., because he had just been killed, but the others I did not recognize. Those were all the American heroes. I was hoping to see the great Jamaican hero, Marcus Garvey, but he was not there. In second grade, we took days to cut silhouettes of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington from black construction paper so as to commemorate their February birthdays. We placed the silhouettes around the room and on the classroom bulletin board. Sometimes, we cut silhouettes for Frederick Douglass, but those were put on the Negro History Week bulletin board in the hallway. Over the years, we all learned that he was a runaway slave who became an eloquent orator for the emancipation of slaves despite not having a formal education. After writing several books such as the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he was able to purchase his freedom from the proceeds. Ever promoting abolition of slavery, Douglass encouraged several northern abolitionist groups to pressure Congress to end slavery. Prior to and during the Civil War, Douglass persuaded Lincoln to allow the enlistment of Blacks to fight in the Civil War. We also learned that Douglass was President Lincoln’s friend. But that was mostly all that was emphasized. No one mentioned that he was a New York Republican.
America, land of the free and home of the brave. Our country was founded on inalienable principles that we still cherish today – freedom, democracy, and capitalism. America is unlike any country in the world, and it is crucial that people understand and appreciate all the things that make America so special. America’s founding fathers were willing to achieve independence at any cost. The stakes could not be higher, yet heroes like George Washington and John Adams stood up to Great Britain and showed the true embodiment of patriotism. Like many patriots before me, I love our country. America is the land of opportunity, a place where if you work hard, you can accomplish anything, and a beacon of hope for millions of people around the world. My parents’ success story is the result of hard work and perseverance, but most importantly, the great American Dream. They each came to America with nothing, but because America is the land of opportunity, they were able to make it in this world, and become successful professionals who provided an excellent foundation for me to succeed as well.
The new year of 2023 begins with America mired in several created crises caused by the massive policy failures of Joe Biden and the increasingly radicalized Democrat Party. Specifically, Americans confront the reality of a de-facto open border, a miserable economy that punishes working-class families, and toxic cultural pollution that invades key aspects of public life, especially schools.
By Aura Moody
Dear Freedom Fighters:
Recently, several New York State Supreme Court Judges have rendered decisions in favor of the unvaccinated. It is not a coincidence that these judges are Constitutionalists.
Let’s not forget the pain and loss we have endured during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of the unconstitutional vaccine mandates. In my opinion, what has transpired is a direct result of what happens when we are apathetic about politics and voting. It is time for us to consider which party embraces freedom, aligns with our values and protects our interests.
By Taisha Parrott
The Republican National Committee (RNC) will hold its annual winter meeting in California where committee members will vote to elect the next chairman on January 27, 2023. The committee is made up of 168 men and women, three from each state. The elected chairman will lead the RNC through the 2024 presidential election. Vying for that seat are incumbent Ronna McDaniel; Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and staunch supporter of President Trump; and Harmeet Dhillon, an RNC member and lawyer whose firm represents President Trump.
It is undisputed that public officers including elected officials from all three branches of government take an oath of fidelity to the Constitution or office they represent not to a political party or agenda, and they are expected to uphold and defend it. On the other hand, We The People expect our elected officials to protect our constitutional rights and represent us fairly when making decisions that affect our lives.
As you know, the New York State Legislature is scheduled to begin sessions on January 5, 2023 in Albany, New York. There is a list of controversial bills that are being proposed by Legislators that will trample upon our constitutional rights and freedoms. Therefore, I am reaching out to you to express my strong opposition to all bills that violate medical freedom and parental rights, among others. Some of these bills are:
By Aura Moody
Part 1
It is no coincidence that the left wants to rewrite American history with regard to the Republican Party, slavery and the civil rights movement. Leftists and mainstream media have been misinforming and misleading the public about the conservative policies that have been enacted and implemented by the Republican Party. In order to debunk their narrative, it is imperative that we educate ourselves by doing our research on the numerous endeavors the Republicans have successfully pioneered to uplift the Black community in the United States of America.
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 in a schoolhouse in Wisconsin by anti-slavery activists who opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Its purpose was to counter the Democrats’ plan to expand slavery. Republicans have been the champions for the civil rights of Blacks since the moment President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves to the present time. They have advocated and provided opportunities for Blacks to attend college and become successful citizens, among other achievements.
Below is a list of actions that the Republicans have undertaken to ensure equal opportunities and make a positive difference in the lives of Blacks:
1. In 1865, Republicans under the Presidency of Republican Abraham Lincoln passed the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery.
2. In 1865, Republicans drafted the bill “40 Acres and a Mule”, saying that newly freed Black people should get 40 acres and a mule, but Democrat President Andrew Johnson blocked it, denying former Black slaves the ability to generate financial self-sufficiency.
3. Republicans passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which gave Blacks the right to buy and own property.
4. In 1866, Republicans passed the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to Blacks, including formerly enslaved people.
5. In 1869, Republicans passed the 15th Amendment, which gave Blacks the right to vote.
6. Republicans passed the Civil Rights Act of 1871 to protect Blacks from the Ku Klux Klan.
7. Republicans passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which gave Blacks the right to serve on a jury.
8. In 1901, shortly after moving into the White House, Republican President Theodore Roosevelt invited his adviser Booker T. Washington to dine with him and his family. This was the first time a Black person dined in the White House.
9. In 1954, Republicans endorsed and supported Brown vs Board of Education, outlawing segregation in public schools. Although this case was settled by the Supreme Court, Southern schools remained segregated for 16 years. It was in 1970 that Republican President Richard Nixon accomplished the total desegregation of the schools.
10. In 1957, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower sent in the Federal troops to escort nine Black kids who entered Little Rock’s Central High School in Arkansas for the first time. This is known as the “Little Rock Nine.”
11. Republicans passed the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960, which increased the protection of Blacks’ voting rights.
12. Republican Senator Everett Dirksen co-wrote the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and he helped that law get passed. Most Republicans voted in favor and the Democrats opposed.
13. In 1976, Republican President Gerald Ford officially declared February as Black History Month.
14. In 1983, Republican President Ronald Reagan signed into law the bill that made Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday a national holiday.
15. The following Historically Black Colleges and Universities, among others, have been founded and funded by Republicans: Shaw University in 1865, Fisk University in 1866, Howard University in 1867, Morehouse College in 1867, Meharry Medical College in 1876 and Spelman College in 1881.
16. In 1991, Republican President George H. W. Bush nominated the first Black male Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who is still serving as an Associate Justice in the United States Supreme Court.
17. In 2004, Republican President George W. Bush nominated Condoleezza Rice as the first Black woman to serve as United States Secretary of State.
18. In 2018, Republican President Donald Trump signed into law a Criminal Justice Reform bill called the First Step Act, which has helped Blacks who received unfair prison sentences.
19. In 2019, Republican President Donald Trump signed a bill that will permanently provide more than $250 million a year to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
20. In 2021, Republican Senator John Cornyn wrote and helped to pass a bill making Juneteenth a national holiday. Juneteenth marked the end of slavery.
Democrats in cahoots with the mainstream media portray Republicans as racists. Obviously, this is not the case. Republicans’ actions on behalf of Blacks, as stated above, speak louder than words and contradict the Democrats’ false accusations.
Surprised by this information? Stay tuned for Part 2 of this article in our next issue!
By Ira Harris
For a number of years, I’ve been discussing a project to put current events, and the opinions of fellow citizens on the issues of the community, to print. With all the issues that impact our lives, from crime, inflation, to what’s being taught in our schools, the voices of the citizens especially here in Queens County, need to be expressed.
The Queens County Beacon, the newspaper published and distributed by the Queens Village Republican Club, is that vehicle. Now, as we celebrate the one-year anniversary of our newspaper, that vision is moving forward, through our readership, our volunteer distributors, our advertisers, graphic designers, and our opinionated writers and editors with a newfound flair for citizen journalism.
As one of the founders of the Queens County Beacon, I and other like-minded patriots felt the need to fill a vacuum left by the Republican Party in our County and State. We believed there was an urgent need for such a grassroots courier of the people, so after years of talking, years of inaction on the part of Republican leadership, the Queens County Beacon was born in January 2022.
With informative articles, opinion pieces, pictures, book reviews, word puzzles, reflections on recent events such as BBQs, club meetings, galas, and even a local Queens history page, we are showing the public that we can have fun, camaraderie, and address important policy issues at the same time. We are also busting the myths about Republicans, showing the public that we are your neighbors, friends, fellow worshippers, from every race, creed, and national origin, with shared values, united under our flag with love of country.
As this project moves into its second year, the enthusiasm has gained steam from fellow Republicans and readers throughout Queens, starving for a newspaper that touches their core values, patriotism, and the founding principles of our country. This enthusiasm has created a steady flow of contributors, writers, a network of volunteer distributors, loyal advertisers, who see the need to support our free newspaper, in order to grow and touch more hearts and minds.
With delighted readers giving us words of appreciation and positive feedback, contributing articles and opinion pieces, new advertisers and sponsors coming on board, a bright future lies ahead for the Queens County Beacon. As Republicans and patriotic citizens, we need to look at the glass as half full, not half empty. Our victories are to be savored, our new relationships held dear to our hearts, our beacon of hope and freedom to shine forth, all to ensure brighter days are ahead for Queens County, New York State, and America.
By Phil Orenstein
President, Queens Village Republican Club
Years ago, former Congressman Lt. Col. Allen West, gave an encouraging message to the Queens Village Republican Club: “As the oldest GOP club in America, it is your duty to carry the torch for the Republican Party and its core principles for the whole nation.” Since he spoke those words as keynote speaker at our 2009 Lincoln Dinner, we have accomplished a great deal on a path to a brighter future for Queens and beyond. The latest election results show that many parts of Queens flipped from Democrat to Republican over the past few years (see diagram below). In Queens County where Democrats outnumber Republicans 6 to 1, many people got tired of the Democrat’s lies, false promises, crime, and chaos. They saw reality and voted accordingly.
