Al Green: Racism Has Not Received the Same Amount of Acclaim that Anti-Semitism Has Received

EXCERPT:

GREEN: “I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to address the topic of racism infused in Texas politics. Racism infused into Texas politics. Mr. Speaker, I have in my hand a letter from the Justice Department. It is a letter that has as its reference unconstitutional race-based congressional districts, and then it cites the districts. Texas District 9, occupied by a person of color. Texas 18, was occupied by a person of color, who is deceased, to be filled soon. 29, occupied by a person of color. 33, occupied by a person of color. Now this letter goes on to infuse race into the conversation. Read the last line, last sentence, in the last paragraph. It reads, 'If the state of Texas fails to rectify the racial gerrymandering of Texas 9, Texas 18, Texas 29, and Texas 33, the attorney general reserves the right to seek legal action against the state, including without limitation, under the 14th Amendment.' So, race has been infused into this letter. It is sent to the Honorable Greg Abbott, that's the governor of the state of Texas, and the Honorable Ken Paxton. Dear friends, at the end of the day, if they can fulfill what they proclaim in this letter, there will be more white representation in Congress from Texas, and less black and Latino representation. This is nothing more than an attempt to silence many of the voices that are emanating from communities of color in the state of Texas. It is racist. Now there, in this country, seems to be a problem with people saying racist. It's OK to say anti-Semitism, but don't say racism. Racism has not received the same amount of acclaim when it comes to dealing with racist issues that anti-Semitism has received when it comes to dealing with things that are anti-Semitic. Well, I'm not afraid. I'm going to speak truth to power and about power.”