House Session of June 26, 2020, Page H2582 — Congressional Record
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated June 26, 2020, at page H2582. Mr. Yoho recognizes Sid Martin Biotech at the University of Florida for winning the Randall M. Whaley Incubator of the Year Award, saying it has incubated 106 startups that raised over $8.8 billion and created over 8,000 jobs, and Mr. Shimkus remembers Mary Ellen Witter. Mr. Biggs, as designee of the minority leader, then leads an hour under the heading Unite America, with Mrs. Lesko and others criticizing the toppling of statues and calling for law and order. The page ends with a speaker calling on the Senate to take up and pass the Equality Act, H.R. 5, for LGBTQ-plus persons.
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“House Session of June 26, 2020, Page H2582 — Congressional Record.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-06-26-crec-2020-06-26-pt1-pgh2582-2-a9e94ae0ea/
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H2582 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 2020
IN RECOGNITION OF SID MARTIN Mary Ellen was a pianist, singer, and b 1730
BIOTECH UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA a devout Christian, who was very ac- And then we saw the other night how
(Mr. YOHO asked and was given per- tive in her church and was part of the they were trying so hard, these crimi-
mission to address the House for 1 Stephen Ministries and prayer groups. nals, to tear down the statue in Lafay-
minute and to revise and extend his re- For those who knew her, she was a ette Park. And they almost had it torn
marks.) soft-spoken woman who loved trav- down, if it wasn’t for the Trump ad-
Mr. YOHO. Madam Speaker, I rise eling, reading, gardening, camping, ministration sending in the National
today to recognize Sid Martin Biotech bird-watching, and going to the beach. Guard to stop.
at the University of Florida for win- But most of all, she loved her family And do you know what they wrote
ning the Randall M. Whaley Incubator and her friends. and spray-painted on that statue, that
of the Year Award, the top award given She was preceded in death by her son, Federal statue? ‘‘Killer scum.’’
by the International Business Innova- Mathew. She is survived by her two Does any of this show tribute to
tion Association. daughters, Nanette Jordan of Norwalk, George Floyd? No.
This marks the third time in the last Connecticut, and Dorinda Selby of Does any of this help? Absolutely
10 years that Sid Martin Biotech has Beaufort, South Carolina. She is sur- not.
been recognized as the top incubator in vived by her sister, Sharon Quade of Now, I was really surprised to see
the world. Even more, Sid Martin Crandon, Wisconsin, and her brother, that one of our colleagues, Congress-
Biotech is the only program in the Robert Imse of Naples, Florida. She woman NORTON, who is a nonvoting
world to win more than one Randall M. dearly loved her five grandchildren: Member but represents Washington,
Whaley award. This is a tremendous Ashley Benusa of Hong Kong; Taylor D.C., has introduced legislation to have
feat, and I am proud that this program Jordan of Boston, Massachusetts; a statue of Abraham Lincoln taken
is located in North Central Florida in Zachary Jordan of Waterbury, Con- down, a statue that was funded by the
Florida’s Third Congressional District. necticut; Senior Airman Mathew Selby freed slaves.
Sid Martin Biotech has incubated 106 of Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tuc- What has our country come to? We
startups since its first opening. These son, Arizona; and Thomas Selby of need to return to a semblance of civil-
companies have raised over $8.8 billion Beaufort, South Carolina. ity in our country. And so that is why
in funding and created over 8,000 high- Madam Speaker, I look forward to at- I call on Democrat-run cities to clamp
tech jobs. tending the burial service, which will down on these criminals. No more au-
Madam Speaker, I congratulate the take place at West Point Military tonomous zones. No more looting. No
entire team at Sid Martin Biotech for Academy National Cemetery at a later more destructing statues. Let’s bring
this great accomplishment, and I am date. There, she will be laid next to her back law and order.
confident that this success will con- husband, Colonel Witter, and her son, That is why I stand with President
tinue in the future. Mathew. Trump and his calls to arrest and pros-
Go Gators. First Thessalonians 4:14 states: ‘‘For ecute criminals. Let’s stop the lawless-
we believe that Jesus died and rose ness. Let’s try to heal our country.
f Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I thank
again and so we believe that God will
UNITE AMERICA bring with Jesus those who have fallen the gentlewoman, and I appreciate her
asleep in him.’’ May we find comfort in comments.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms.
this promise. We do see an increase in the amount
DEAN). Under the Speaker’s announced
Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I thank of lawlessness. We have moved from
policy of January 3, 2019, the gen-
the gentleman for his words and ex- peaceful protests, which I support, I
tleman from Arizona (Mr. BIGGS) is rec-
press condolences for his loss of his understand. That is what the guarantee
ognized for 60 minutes as the designee
dear friend. of the First Amendment is for. We all
of the minority leader.
get a right to assemble with whom we
Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I yield Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
want to assemble with. We get a right
to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. tlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. LESKO),
to speak. We get a right to seek redress
SHIMKUS). my colleague and longtime friend.
of grievances from the government. All
IN MEMORY OF MARY ELLEN WITTER Mrs. LESKO. Madam Speaker, I
of those are important rights that we
Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona
support, we stand for.
thank my colleague for the time and (Mr. BIGGS) for yielding me the time. But we move into rioting, looting,
courtesy. Lawlessness has broken out across mayhem. There has been murder.
Madam Speaker, I rise to speak our Nation. It is absolutely outrageous, There has been assaults. There has
about my West Point mom, who just and it has to be stopped. Mobs are tak- been brutal violence.
recently passed away. Mary Ellen ing over parts of the city of Seattle. I have heard some of my colleagues
Witter of Bluffton, South Carolina, They took over a police precinct. in this body call those protests. It is
passed away peacefully Sunday, June Just last Saturday, people were shot, not protesting. That is lawless rioting,
21, 2020, with her family around her. and one man was killed. Criminals are and it needs to be curbed and checked.
My West Point mom, who loved me looting stores and businesses all over I yield to the gentleman from North
even though I ate her food, broke her the Nation, including in Arizona in the Carolina (Mr. BISHOP).
chairs, and disobeyed a rule now and upscale Scottsdale Fashion Square. Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina.
then. She was the definition of grace. Protestors are throwing bricks at po- Madam Speaker, the coronavirus pan-
She was preceded in death by her lice officers. They are throwing water demic reminded us that we are in this
husband, the love of her life, Colonel bottles at police officers. And I have together. Despite serious and, as yet,
Lee Witter. They were married 61 seen them shine flashlights right up unresolved ongoing questions about
years. She was the daughter of the late close into the police officers’ eyes and policy responses to that event, we have
Allan and Alma Imse, born in Mil- call them all kinds of names. Rioters stayed home and sacrificed for our
waukee, Wisconsin in 1937. are burning the flag, the American neighbors’ health. We have seen the
Mary Ellen went to the University of flag. And the Lincoln Memorial and best of us.
Wisconsin, Milwaukee, for her bach- World War II Memorial have been de- But in the past month, we are seeing
elor’s degree in Elementary Education. faced. the worst of us: violent mobs stoning
She received her masters from C.W. Madam Speaker, a few days ago, St. business owners, Federal agents shot to
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Post Center, Long Island University, Serra, the patron saint of peace, was death, looting occurring nationwide,
New York, in Library Science. torn down in San Francisco. and avowed Marxist activists openly
She was a dedicated military wife. Francis Scott Key’s statue was torn defending and promoting it, six blocks
She represented America while being down. of a major U.S. city ceded to anar-
an embassy military wife in Indonesia. The statue of Ulysses Grant, who was chists.
She was a longtime educator, both here the general for the Union was torn I don’t recognize this America. Peo-
and abroad. down by thugs in San Francisco. ple experience fear repeatedly of the
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June 26, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2583
wanton destruction of their liveli- North Carolina, and South Carolina It is time for the violence to stop.
hoods, their cities on fire or being can- were readmitted to the Union. Again, Peaceful protests, yes; violence, no.
celed by social media mobs; govern- they had willingly joined the Union; The Governors and the President
ment buildings attacked; monuments they willingly left the Union; and, yes, should send in troops when requested
and memorials spanning the breadth of they willingly rejoined that same and needed. I stand with the President
our history, from Washington to Lin- Union. Reminders from the past. Do we in that.
coln to Roosevelt, torn down or threat- do away with all reminders? These criminals and lawbreakers de-
ened by riotous mobs. On May 18, 1896, the Supreme Court serve to be dealt with in a manner con-
And this is not impassioned, heat-of- in Plessy v. Ferguson upheld the con- sistent with their behavior and the
the-moment destruction. It is a tar- stitutionality of racial segregation for law. They are pulling down statues
geted, organized, and methodical purge public facilities as long as they were that were paid for with tax dollars,
of figures who represent ideas they separate but equal. In 1962, the Su- erected with the consent of the gov-
wish to bury, ideas such as all people preme Court ruled that the use of unof- erned, no matter what community or
are endowed by our creator with in- ficial nondenominational prayer in timeframe. These thugs simply think
alienable rights to life, liberty, and public schools was unconstitutional. they can tear them down.
property, and that government by, for, They got it wrong twice, just two ex- Do we acknowledge there are those
and of the people shall not perish from amples. Do we do away with any men- who have an improper mindset? Of
the Earth. tion of the Supreme Court? course. Those are thugs tearing things
We have seen this deliberate tactic Madam Speaker, in 1973, June 25, down. Of course we do.
throughout history, in communist Chi- again, yesterday, John Dean, White Do we also acknowledge that Black
na’s cultural revolution, in the theo- House Counsel for President Richard lives matter? You bet we do. I cannot
cratic purge of Afghanistan’s Taliban, Nixon, admitted that President Nixon even begin to understand the fear of
even in the terror campaigns of the Re- was involved in the coverup. Do we do parents and their children who live in
construction and Jim Crow South. away with all mention of President that fear that some day they may suf-
What distinguishes America is how Nixon? fer that same fate.
this Nation responds to such lawless Madam Speaker, how about Presi- But let’s have that conversation
and purposeful attacks. We hold, it is dent Bill Clinton, who was accused of within the framework of a civilized
declared, that government’s very pur- several sexual harassments and was people who earnestly desire what Presi-
pose is to secure the inalienable rights found guilty of lying under oath and, dent Lincoln called ‘‘a more perfect
of all of us and that, when order falls as I recall, tampering with a witness or Union.’’
apart, so, too, does our Nation. obstruction of justice? Are all men- Violence, property destruction, van-
What we have seen in recent weeks
tions of President Clinton gone? No, dalism, arson, looting, and, yes, killing
begs the question: How is government
not him, not Nixon. They were Presi- others is hardly what I think we would
serving its core purpose?
Local and State officials have flouted dents of this United States. want or call a more perfect Union,
Madam Speaker, in 1999, on June 25, Madam Speaker.
that purpose, abandoned that responsi-
Germany’s Parliament approved a na- So how about a new reset? Looking
bility. But in those circumstances, the
tional Holocaust memorial to be built backwards will only leave us hating ev-
Federal Government has the tools to
in Berlin, a painful but necessary re- eryone and everything. Statues and
secure the rights of the people.
Attorney General Barr, chapter 13 of minder from the past. symbols of our great country should re-
the United States Criminal Code, pro- And we could go on. We could talk mind us how far we have come, but,
vides all the authority you may need. about professional entertainers—and I more importantly, how far we have got
FBI Director Wray, the evidence of use the word ‘‘professional’’ loosely— to go still.
criminal conspiracies is in plain sight. who have been accused. And the list is We should be taking pride in how far
The Department of Justice and the Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, and on we have come. Actually, let us hope in
FBI must act without delay. This gov- down. You go right down that list. Do the promises of where we can go, while
ernment must restore the America we we demand any and all of their works, being saddened as to some of the things
know. their mentions, their movies, their that have had to happen to get us to
Word is the Department of Justice is shows be blotted out from memory? this point.
leading over 500 investigations, and We could talk about professional ath- Madam Speaker, how about a reset?
letes—and again, I use the word ‘‘pro-
that is good news. We are counting on b 1745
them, and we know they are up to the fessional’’ loosely—who have been ac-
cused of sexual assault, beating their George Orwell once said:
task.
Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I thank wives up, their girlfriends up, caught The most effective way to destroy people is
with drugs, performance-enhancing to deny and obliterate their own under-
the gentleman from North Carolina for
drugs, gambling, cheating. Do we blot standing of their history.
his comments, and I echo his sentiment
that what needs to happen to restore them out from all memory and all Madam Speaker, as we reassess our
order here is one must arrest malefac- mentions? No. shared experience, let us learn from the
tors who are committing crimes. We Madam Speaker, even churches—the past in order to make a better, brighter
must then charge them and prosecute Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, future. America’s history is imperfect.
them and give them due process. But the Methodists, other churches, other But projecting contemporary norms
without a restoration of order, no one denominations—scandals, military sex through violence while rejecting the
in this country has freedom. scandals, Boy Scouts, congressional sex experiences of our past does a dis-
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- scandals, every occupation, every race, service to the sacrifices of the great
tleman from Texas (Mr. WEBER). color, creed, and religion, none is per- men and women like President Lin-
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speak- fect. Where does it end? coln, who fought for equality for all.
er, some history from our country. Should we pull down and attempt to We must not erase our history. We
Yesterday was June 25. On June 25, erase all mentions of countries like must learn from it. This is one of the
1788, the State of Virginia ratified the Japan, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, promises and the highest callings of
U.S. Constitution and thereby became China? The list is endless. America the beautiful.
the 10th State of the United States. Madam Speaker, George Floyd had a Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I thank
Virginia willingly joined the Union. criminal record, but he did not deserve the gentleman for his comments, par-
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Virginia willingly left the Union and execution at the hands of an errant po- ticularly relating to history. I am re-
then willingly eventually rejoined the lice officer. And then again, those minded, as I was pondering that, that
Union, a reminder from our past. Do we whose lives and/or their livelihoods are each of us has a history. Each of us has
take down everything about Virginia? being destroyed by vandals, looters, a personal history. None of us are per-
Certainly not. and rioters don’t deserve to have their fect. Sometimes, we have flaws that
Madam Speaker, on June 25, 1868, families and their livelihoods and their seem almost insurmountable in our
Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, lives ruined either. own lives. But if we deny our history,
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H2584 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 2020
then we deny who we are and who we to be coming down upon those who we on all of those things all the way back
can become. already have on camera or other ways at that time. Now, Democrats are try-
When I hear folks out there attack- to identify in anything going forward. ing to co-opt that and turn it into
ing our history and saying, let’s bring I just came from Lincoln Park about something else completely. Indeed, the
down this statue or let’s do this or let’s 10 blocks east of here, and they have to first 20 Members of Congress who were
do that, some of it is so acontextual. put fencing and have guards out there Black were also Republican because
By that, I mean it is as if there was no for the statue of Abraham Lincoln, who they saw who was really trying to lead
history to learn from. And I think, how is shown there putting a hand up for a them toward freedom.
in the world can we be so narcissistic slave depicted in that statue, an eman- What we have going on right now is
that we don’t accept the flaws of our cipated slave. He is still wearing the not going to keep this great country in
own past and build upon the promise of chains. He is looking up at Mr. Lin- a place that is free. We have lost a lot
the future? coln, who is lifting him and going to of freedom already by the virus, first—
We have problems, for sure, but it take him to a better place. something we have to handle—but also
does not inure to lawlessness, rioting, Yet, that is being misinterpreted in the freedom to actually assemble
murder, and mayhem. It should, in- 2020 as something that is hateful. That downtown in a large city or to go visit
stead, inure to the better angels within same statue was paid for by emanci- a statue or do anything.
us. pated slaves back then who were in- Our freedoms are being eroded. Our
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to spired by what Mr. Lincoln had done. freedoms are being eroded by roving
yield to the gentleman from California They even have a fence around Mary bands of people who—mayors in large
(Mr. LAMALFA). McLeod Bethune right next-door be- cities, Democrat mayors, and some
Mr. LAMALFA. Madam Speaker, I cause they are afraid that might get Democrat Governors that govern
appreciate my colleague from Arizona vandalized because there is indiscrimi- States aren’t doing anything about it.
(Mr. BIGGS) for leading this tonight and nate vandalism happening to any stat- What are we supposed to do? Stand
for what he has been standing up for. ue, to any memorial, to any monument and watch what is going on here? No,
I just have to say that I am really just because it is a mayhem out there. we are not going to watch this any-
grieved by the strife we have in this That doesn’t even make sense. It is more. We are not going to put up with
country, especially trying to exit out not even logical that you would tear it. Severe penalties need to be had for
of this Wuhan virus situation and the down the ones, General Grant or who- these people inflicting this mayhem
horrific things we saw happening in ever, who were actually in the fight to upon their own Nation, upon their own
Minneapolis. That was the moment end slavery. We are not going to have neighbors, upon neighborhoods. It
when we saw George Floyd being a very good conversation about racism needs to be harsh.
abused and ultimately killed by that. when frauds like this go on. Then, once we can get the violence
There was unity among 99.9 percent Even something so simple or silly as stopped, maybe we can get back to the
of the population of the people in this a garage at a raceway here a while table and have a real conversation
country saying that is wrong. We had a back where somebody said it was a about how we are going to improve the
moment to learn from that, to build noose in the garage, and the media ran situations with race.
upon that. with it immediately without taking at It grieves me that young Black males
Indeed, it seemed to be a short mo- least 12 hours to check out and find out feel like they are going to be victim-
ment. Peaceful protests immediately that it was a pull handle for shutting a ized by the term ‘‘driving while
followed. We agree with those. And garage door. In no way does it meet the Black.’’ That is an awful feeling for
then that has been co-opted by these specifications for a noose. Unfortu- them and for us, I think, to see that
forces coming out of the ground that nately, the driver doubled down on happen.
have been looking for an opportunity that and continued in interviews say- Our great colleague over on the other
to divide us, divide our Nation, wheth- ing definitely a noose. side, Senator TIM SCOTT, when he
er it is antifa or other groups that are That doesn’t do anything to bring the brought forth a bill he has been work-
forming and now seeking political harmony we should be having, espe- ing on very hard for a long time, look-
power with this. It is now beyond rac- cially when that driver was shown an ing for bipartisan efforts, his JUSTICE
ism. It is something completely dif- incredible amount of harmony by his Act, and then someone tells him it is a
ferent. colleagues there when first that inci- token effort.
The violence that we are seeing, the dent was reported. What the heck does that mean? That
mayhem, the destruction, the van- Where are we going with all of this? really struck him deeply, that people
dalism has nothing to do with the good I grieve for our country, the one that would say that about that and not even
conversation we should have been hav- had imperfect roots but always has give him the opportunity to have that
ing in that spirit of unity that I think strived to build upon itself to do bet- bill developed further in the Senate.
most Americans felt in that window of ter, to improve. What a shameful moment that was.
time right after the George Floyd kill- Slavery came in with the country, Yet, now we have legislation here
ing. but the Founders knew it wasn’t right. that is trying to eviscerate the ability
How are we going to come out of There were compromises made to at of cops to operate how they need to, to
this? How are we going to have a good least form this country to be some- have a little bit of immunity because a
conversation about how we can im- thing better than the monarchy that cop doesn’t know what he is walking
prove things with law enforcement but England had, compromises but still into or what she is walking into. They
not impugn law enforcement for what building until finally in the 1860s when need a little latitude, not the latitude
they are doing? They are out there Mr. Lincoln came and said enough. You we saw in Minneapolis, but one to sim-
every day trying to find the balance be- had more than half the country that ply operate.
tween how to defend the public, how to was already ready to do that. Doctors need latitude in order to
defend their own life when they knock We don’t get a lot of talk about that work on patients and not be sued to
on a door or walk up to a car—they because you think the whole country death. Yet, we have this legislation
don’t know what is going on inside was racist. Most of the country was that is going to be, basically, sue a cop.
there—and also being a good ambas- not. It was eradicated. Then we had the That is not going to help anything.
sador for somebody who they just need 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to What is that going to do for morale
to talk to. grant rights to those who originally for keeping cops on the force, for re-
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How are we going to find this balance did not have them. The Civil Rights cruiting new ones? Do we want this
again amidst all of this mayhem, Act of the 1960s continued on that path, mayhem we keep seeing happening
amidst all of this violence? Well, cer- the Voting Rights Act. right here in D.C., Minneapolis, L.A.,
tainly, the signal needs to be sent that Yet, all we hear around here is, Re- any other large city, and we don’t have
we are not going to tolerate the vio- publicans are against all that, when some kind of law enforcement there?
lence, the mayhem, the destruction, you find out that, actually, Repub- Social workers do have their place in
the vandalism. Severe penalties need licans were leading in greater numbers certain situations, and they can be
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June 26, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2585
helpful. But we don’t take money property and have dominion over other pectation that if they did not have
away. We don’t defund the cops who unwilling citizens of the United States bars, they wouldn’t wake up in the
are already shorthanded in rural areas in so-called autonomous zones. morning; or if they did, every posses-
like mine, sheriffs, police, in order to Give me a break. sion that they had that was worth any-
try and change the whole game. Then, the lawbreakers have the au- thing would be gone.
We have a lot of listening to do to dacity to demand our police be Very little police, high crime, high
each other on both sides. Not every- defunded or reimagined, whatever the unemployment, bars on all the win-
body with light-colored skin is a racist, heck that means. It sounds insane. dows. Is that what we really want for
and I think a lot of people around this It is really a campaign to drive our our future?
country are really feeling, after the duly-elected President Donald Trump We have been blessed to live in the
unity we had, after the George Floyd from office. Anyone who stands in their land of opportunity, the most free and
ugly incident in Minneapolis, this is a way they think should be destroyed. prosperous nation in the history of the
time to get together and listen to each We can expect it to get worse and world. Many, many, many people have
other. worse until November 3, when they risked their lives and the lives of their
If this is allowed to continue to hap- hope to put an end to the prosperity wives, their grandparents, their par-
pen, it is going to make it awful hard created by the President. You have to ents, their children, family members to
for people to listen to each other be- suffer from the world’s worst case of come here. This place is really that
cause they are feeling under fire them- Potomac fever, or beltway brain drain, good that people would risk their life
selves for something they never did, to think they are fooling anybody. just to come here, a chance at coming
Meanwhile, the leadership and major-
never stood for. Instead, they have al- here. We cannot stand back and let it
ity in this Chamber have been silent. I
ways stood for the greatness of that be destroyed. We want America back.
have not heard a single word, syllable,
flag right up there. In God we trust. Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I thank
or letter uttered by them in opposition
I appreciate the time. the gentleman for his thoughts and
Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I thank to the miscreants. It is past time for
taking time to share those with us.
the gentleman from California for his them to condemn their activities, and
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
it is time for law enforcement across
passionate and heartfelt words. tleman from Florida (Mr. YOHO).
It is my pleasure now to yield to the this Nation in every State, in every
Mr. YOHO. Madam Speaker, I thank
gentleman from Florida (Mr. POSEY). county, in every city, in every little
my good colleague from Arizona (Mr.
Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I thank burgh, community, and the rural areas
BIGGS) for putting this on. I really do
the gentleman for yielding. in-between to put an end to this law-
appreciate it because it is so timely.
‘‘We want America back.’’ Those lessness.
Growing pains, I think that is what
were just a few of the lyrics of a song If you don’t start acting soon, there
we can say we are going through is
written by a group named The Steeles wouldn’t be anything left to tear down.
growing pains again as a nation, a na-
in 1996. Some of the lyrics said: I would like to take a bunch of these
tion birthed over 200 years ago.
wannabe revolutionaries to South or
Something is wrong with America. And for anybody who watched yester-
Central America for a few days to see
This Nation is like a runaway train, day’s debate, Madam Speaker, on the
Headed down the wrong track. how their game would end if they were
House floor, I think it was interesting
successful in having it their way.
And it concludes, in part, with: to see the amount of, I guess, race-bait-
I love America. But I do not love what she b 1800 ing that was coming from the other
has become. If you have ever traveled throughout side, from my colleagues, which I found
Circumstances seemed pretty de- those socialist countries there, it is a very unreasonable that, for some rea-
spairing back then, but they pale in very eye-opening experience. The State son, if you are a Black man, you have
comparison to what we are seeing Department, and even their own offi- to tell your children how to act with
going on across our country today, per- cials, warn you, don’t wear any jew- the police.
petrated by Marxists, anarchists, and elry; don’t carry much cash, because My mom and dad had that talk with
those malcontents who are funding there is a good chance you are going to me, probably for good reason, too, and
them. get robbed. And if you are approached they said: If you get pulled over, ‘‘Yes,
Today, the miscreants are using by a robber, hand over everything, hold sir,’’ ‘‘No, sir,’’ and then when you get
George Floyd’s death to neuter the back nothing, because they would just home we want to know what happened
ability of the police to enforce the law. as soon shoot you and kill you as not and why you got pulled over. I had to
So far, they have been successful in shoot you and kill you. have that talk with my children. So
getting the police out of the way. There is a lot of lawlessness, and that is nothing new, and I think that
Without law enforcement, their mobs they don’t fear justice. They don’t fear we sometimes overplay that.
are free to move in, smash businesses, the police. They are going to take, and Does it happen maybe more with mi-
injure people, and cause chaos. Those you are going to give, or you are going nority communities? Yes, I think it
aren’t peaceful protesters, and they are to die. And you know what the State does, but nobody is immune to that.
not peaceful protests. Department and the local officials tell When I came into Congress, I got
Their outcry for justice makes sym- you next? If you get robbed, don’t call stopped multiple times to see if I had
pathetic, or perhaps even cowardly, the police. It is not like in our country the right credentials. That has hap-
corporations and stupid movie stars where, if there is a problem, you call pened to me.
send money to them. Now they are the police. There, they tell you not to Since we have been up here, the di-
tearing down the statues, intimidating call the police because they are all cor- vide in this country has gotten so
the public and politicians into accept- rupt and they will shake you down for much worse, and it has been since Don-
ing their farfetched demands, and giv- anything the robbers missed. ald Trump has gotten elected. And peo-
ing them even more power. One common denominator of the ple will blame the President for doing
Circumstances are advantageous for countries that I visited, which was this, but we can go back to other Presi-
them right now because we are in the Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, and dents where we have seen this happen.
midst of a pandemic so they have a Trinidad, was a common denominator We are Americans. We need to come to-
freer rein of the streets. that every single house that I saw, gether as a nation.
Who could have ever imagined sanc- large or small, urban or suburban, no I have had the great fortune of being
tuary cities where America’s rule of matter how far out you went into the in Congress. This is my last term. I
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
law is ruefully ignored by government country, every single house that was will have served 8 years. I was the
officials? more than a cardboard box had bars on chairman of the Asia-Pacific Sub-
Who would have ever imagined some every window and most of the doors. committee last year, last Congress; I
elected officials would allow domestic Why? Because that is what lawlessness am the ranking member this year. I
terrorists or wannabe revolutionaries brings. have bean able to travel the world. I
to commandeer a complete takeover They truly go to bed every night in have been in the Democratic Republic
and rule of both public and private those socialist countries with the ex- of the Congo.
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H2586 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 2020
Africa is a continent of 1.2 billion, a 90-mile stretch, on inner tubes, on not like the form of government in
yet today, in the 21st century, 650 mil- rafts, on surfboards to get to this coun- then-Russia. It was not a massive revo-
lion people do not have electricity. I try? It is called freedom. It is called lution. It wasn’t widespread, but it
suppose they have a reason to protest. justice. changed that entire nation’s form of
I suppose they have a reason to com- But do you know what? We are not government.
plain. But do they have the right to going to fix it if this side is accusing I am reminded that it was Trotsky
protest? this side, and this side over here is ac- who prevented the military from inter-
Being on the Asia-Pacific Sub- cusing that side of pandering to our au- vening against the lawless revolution.
committee we got to travel to a lot of dience. What I am seeing here today reminds
the Asian countries. We all know what So what that meant to me when I me an awful lot of that. This is a small
is going on in Hong Kong today. Hong was with those Ambassadors from In- revolution that is violent in nature, is
Kong is a province of China. There was donesia and Malaysia, what it meant to anti-American in nature.
an agreement of one country, two sys- me was: Do you know what? America is And so when my colleagues mention
tems, where Hong Kong was supposed bigger than a Presidency. It is bigger the police and what they need to do,
to be a semi- or a self-ruling area with than the Democratic Party. It is bigger what happens is there has been an
an independent judiciary committee. than the Republican Party. It is those emasculation of the police. They don’t
Yet, 23 years into that agreement, Xi ideals that this country stands for that really want to get involved because,
Jinping, the leader of the Communist we all need to fight to hold on to. should they get involved, there is a le-
Party, said that is null and void, and I want to read something that one of gitimate concern that they will be
they have put the heavy hand of the my constituents sent me. It says: ‘‘The sued, arrested, et cetera. So when you
Communist Party in there. lesson taught at this point by human get rid of the blue line of defense
These young students are out there experience is simply this, that the man against lawlessness, then you basically
holding up that flag behind you, who will get up will be helped up, and destroy the foundation of the protec-
Madam Speaker, holding up that flag the man who will not get up will be al- tion of your freedoms.
for liberty and freedom because they lowed to stay down. . . . Personal inde- President Trump called certain
have tasted that. That is all they have pendence is a virtue and it is the soul groups antifa, domestic terrorists. In
ever known. Yet the Chinese Com- of which comes the sturdiest manhood. our debate in the Judiciary Committee,
munist Party wants to take that away But there can be no independence with- some of my colleagues said antifa is a
because it scares them. Free thought, out a large share of self-dependence, fiction. So I said: Well, you know, is it
independent thinking, freedom, they and this virtue cannot be bestowed. It a fiction?
know the Communist Party cannot must be developed from within.’’ So I went to CNN, because I knew
survive, so they are going in there to I had an African-American man, a that if I went to FOX and referred to
squash that. conservative Republican who is afraid FOX, nobody was going to believe that
These students are holding those to tell people he is a conservative Re- that was not biased. So I went to CNN
signs up. Our flag is up. They have been publican because he gets labeled Uncle because I wanted to find out what they
in my office here in the Washington Tom. You have been put on the planta- said, and you can go through and find
Capitol. They have a reason to protest, tion. extensive interviews where the conclu-
but they do not have the right. These are not my words. These are sion is clear: antifa is a real organiza-
You talk about Venezuela, somebody words coming from him. tion. It is a group. And the group some-
talked about it. Go down to Cuba and But that quote came from somebody times chooses to resort to violence.
talk against the Castro regime. You I wish we could go back and meet, Mr. So what do you have? They are defi-
don’t have the right. Talk about reli- Frederick Douglass, a person born into nitely domestic. They are committing
gion in those countries. You do not slavery who picked himself up by the terrorist activity in this country.
have the right. bootstraps, who educated himself. He Thus, they are domestic.
But then I look at this country, and stood beside President Lincoln when And what would terrorism be? Ter-
I am as guilty as anybody else in this they dedicated the Emancipation stat- rorism is the use of force, intimidation,
country. We have the right to protest, ue. violence to change or alter behavior for
the First Amendment, but sometimes I And I have got these people out here a particular purpose.
think—and this is where I feel like I who loathe, despise, disdain this coun- So you begin to see you have domes-
am guilty, like a lot of us. I think we try, and it is being flamed by people— tic terrorism going on.
take it for granted what we have in and I can’t blame just people, the
this country. Democrats. There are people out there b 1815
It was interesting because I was with who just hate this country, but they 18 U.S. Code, Section 2339A, I call on
the Ambassadors of both Malaysia and are using that to tear this country FBI Director Wray to begin using that
Indonesia, and they talked about the apart instead of remembering the statute, make the arrests necessary to
founding of their country. When they ideals that this country is built on. restore order. And I call on Attorney
got their independence, when they And those are American ideologies— General William Barr to use that same
broke away and they formed those not conservative, not liberal, not Re- section to charge and prosecute these
countries, they told me that their publican or Democrat, American—and I individuals who are attempting to in-
founding fathers could have picked any think it is time that we all come to- timidate Americans out of their free-
system in the world. They could have gether and realize we are Americans dom.
taken Great Britain’s system of gov- and we are on the same team. A lot of these Federal monuments
ernment. They could have taken Ger- Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I thank and statues that are coming down,
many’s, Russia’s, China’s. But you the gentleman for his passionate com- these memorials that are being ripped
know who they took? They took the ments about freedom. to shreds, destroyed are on Federal
principles of America because they had Madam Speaker, those of us who property.
read our history, they had read those have had the good fortune of studying And you know what? 18 U.S. Code
documents and what those documents history, we know that it bumps and 1369 is the statute that Director Wray
meant. claws along. We do see progress some- should be having his Federal agency
And I heard people over and over here times, and we also see devolution make arrests under. And then I call on
today, since I have been in Congress, sometimes. Attorney General Barr to have his U.S.
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
America is not a perfect country be- What we are seeing today, though, attorneys charge and prosecute under
cause people are in it, and people are reminds me an awful lot of a revolution 18 U.S. Code 1369 for destruction of vet-
not perfect, but the ideals laid out that took place in the early part of the erans’ memorials. And we can go for-
there were the best ideals that have 20th century. It was not a large revolu- ward.
ever been laid out. If not, why are tion; it was a small revolution. It was But why do I even bring that up? It is
other countries adopting them? Why do the Bolshevik Revolution. It was fund- because I believe sincerely that this
people in Cuba come across the ocean, ed by some of the bourgeoisie who did country is built on the idea that each
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June 26, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2587
of us should have agency, will, choice. ues should be left alone, with just over a erate statues and monuments amid an in-
It hasn’t always worked out really well quarter, 26 percent, indicating otherwise. tense nationwide debate about race and his-
or perfectly. There are those who have However, Morning Consult reported that tory.
the purported increase in support over the After a ‘‘Unite the Right’’ rally in Virginia
had their choices and will taken away years is largely driven by Democrats: in August to protest against the removal of
from them. That is inexcusable, of The rise in support for removing the stat- a statue of Robert E. Lee resulted in the
course. ues was driven by Democrats, a majority of death of a woman who was demonstrating
But if we are going to have will and whom now take that position, and independ- against white supremacy, other cities have
choice and freedom, then we are part of ents, who still favor keeping those statues decided to remove Confederate statues.
this great social contract where I dele- standing by a 10–point margin. Eleven per- Many of the controversial monuments
cent of GOP voters say the statues should be were dedicated in the early twentieth cen-
gate my right to defend myself because tury or during the height of the Civil Rights
I can’t do it all the time. There are removed, virtually unchanged since 2017.
The vast majority of Republicans, 71 per- Movement. Discussions are under way about
people who are stronger or more vi- cent, believe the Confederate statues should the removal of monuments in Houston, At-
cious or are more malevolent who want remain standing, whereas the majority of lanta, Nashville, Pensacola, Florida, Jack-
to compel me to do something or take Democrats, 53 percent, believe they should sonville, Florida, Richmond, Virginia, Bir-
something from me. be taken down. Forty percent of independ- mingham, Alabama, and Charlottesville, Vir-
We delegate police authority to po- ents believe they should remain standing, ginia.
with 30 percent vying for their removal and Here is a running list of all the monuments
lice. It is not carte blanche. It is rea- and statues that have been removed and the
sonable. 30 percent expressing no opinion.
The survey was taken among ‘‘roughly’’ cities that have taken them down:
We have got to restore respect for the ANNAPOLIS, MD.
1,900 voters, with a margin of error of +/- two
law, for the police, for the courts, and percent. Under cover of darkness, city workers re-
for process. The survey comes as protesters vandalize moved a statue in August 2017 of former Su-
It is imperfect. I worked in that sys- and, in some cases, tear down Confederate preme Court Justice Roger Taney that had
tem for a lot of years on both sides, statues and others they deem offensive, in- been on the State House’s front lawn for 145
prosecuting and defending. It is not a cluding statues of Christopher Columbus. years. Taney authored the Supreme Court’s
perfect process. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D–CA) has 1857 Dred Scott decision, which held that Af-
also embraced the calls for change, request- rican-Americans could not be U.S. citizens.
The reality is, though, it is as Win-
ing in a letter on Wednesday the removal of The city’s Republican mayor said through a
ston Churchill said, Democracy is the Confederate statues occupying the U.S. Cap- spokesman that it was removed ‘‘as a matter
worst form of government except for itol, or as she called them, ‘‘monuments to of public safety.’’
all those others. men who advocated cruelty and barbarism to AUSTIN, TEXAS
It is the best humankind has come up achieve such a plainly racist end.’’ The statues of four people with ties to the
with. ‘‘Monuments to men who advocated cru- Confederacy—Robert E. Lee, Albert Sidney
To destroy our history seems so anti- elty and barbarism to achieve such a plainly Johnson, John H. Reagan and former Texas
thetical to making progress, eradi- racist end are a grotesque affront to these Gov. James Stephen Hogg—were removed
cating our history, erasing it. ideals,’’ she said in a letter to Committee from pedestals on the University of Texas
Chair Roy Blunt (R–MO) and Vice Chair Zoe campus on Aug. 17, 2017. UT’s president said
College professors are now saying we Lofgren (D–CA). ‘‘Their statues pay homage in a written statement the deadly clashes in
have got to go through and remove to hate, not heritage. They must be re- Charlottesville made it clear ‘‘Confederate
books from the library. moved.’’ monuments have become symbols of modern
Remove them from the library, be- Interestingly, Pelosi has remained silent white supremacy and neo-Nazism.’’ Sepa-
cause why? They have unpopular ideas on her own father’s role in the dedication of rately, a 1,200–pound bronze statue of Confed-
in them. They may be unpopular ideas, a Confederate statue in Baltimore’s Wyman erate President Jefferson Davis that was re-
but you know what is better than tak- Park in 1948. moved from UT’s campus in 2015 has now re-
As Breitbart News detailed: turned to the campus, at the Briscoe Center
ing them out and burning them or re-
However, her father, Thomas D’Alesandro, for American History.
moving them and trashing them ala Jr., oversaw the dedication of such a statue The Austin school board voted to strip
Adolph Hitler and the Nazis? It is let- in Baltimore’s Wyman Park—the Stonewall Confederate names from five district schools,
ting us read them, discuss them, and Jackson and Robert E. Lee Monument—as though they haven’t been renamed yet. The
point out their flaws, and rehabilitate mayor of the city in 1948. At the time, the board had previously renamed Robert E. Lee
us, our hearts. Speaker’s father said people could look to Elementary School in 2016.
Artwork being removed from muse- Jackson’s and Lee’s lives as inspiration and The Austin City Council approved renam-
urged Americans to ‘‘emulate Jackson’s ex- ing Robert E. Lee Road and Jeff Davis Ave-
ums, being removed from this House.
ample and stand like a stone wall against ag- nue.
Why? Because some were not 2020 po-
gression in any form that would seek to de- BALTIMORE, MD.
litically correct. What they did was, to stroy the liberty of the world.’’ Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh told re-
some, unconscionable and abominable. World Wars I and II found the North and porters she wanted to move ‘‘quickly and
Let’s have the discussion. South fighting for a common cause, and the quietly’’ to take down four Confederate stat-
Removing your history allows you to generalship and military science displayed ues or monuments—statues of Lee and
repeat the mistakes of your history. I by these two great men in the War between Thomas, J. ‘‘Stonewall’’ Jackson and monu-
simply don’t understand it. the States lived on and were applied in the ments for Confederate Soldiers and Sailors
We have now moved beyond a moti- military plans of our nation in Europe and and Confederate Women—from the city’s
the Pacific areas,’’ D’Alesandro said at the public spaces. Although the plan had been in
vational or some kind of philosophical
dedication ceremony, as detailed by the Bal- the works since June 2017, the Baltimore
attempt to remove historical items. timore Sun. He continued: City Council approved it only two days after
Now we are seeing indiscriminate ac- Today with our nation beset by subversive the deadly events in Charlottesville. On
tion. groups and propaganda which seeks to de- March 10, 2018, the space where the Confed-
Madam Speaker, I include in the stroy our national unity, we can look for in- erate statues had stood was rededicated to
RECORD a series of articles. spiration to the lives of Lee and Jackson to abolitionist and civil rights pioneer Harriet
[From Breitbart News] remind us to be resolute and determined in Tubman.
preserving our sacred institutions . . . re- BRADENTON, FLA.
A greater percentage of U.S. registered main steadfast in our determination to pre-
voters believe Confederate statues, which Mantee County removed a Confederate sol-
serve freedom, not only for ourselves, but for diers memorial obelisk on Aug. 24 after the
have been targeted by protesters in recent other liberty-loving nations who are striving
weeks, should remain standing despite activ- city commission voted 4–3 to take it down
to preserve their national unity as free na- and place it in storage. The monument,
ists’ demands to remove them, a Morning tions.
Consult poll released this week revealed. which had stood there for more than 90
Pelosi’s office did not return Breitbart years, was accidentally broken into two
The survey, taken June 6–7, showed that a
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
News’s request for comment. pieces when city workers removed it. The re-
greater number of Americans believe Confed-
erate statues should remain standing, 44 per- moval came after days of protests from resi-
[From Fox News, Aug. 21, 2018] dents and activists, most of whom were in
cent, as opposed to the 32 percent who say
WHICH CONFEDERATE STATUES WERE favor of taking it down, and it cost $12,700 to
they should be removed. Twenty-three per-
REMOVED? A RUNNING LIST remove.
cent expressed no opinion on the matter.
The fundings reflect a slight shift in opin- (By Christopher Carbone) BROOKLYN, N.Y.
ion over the last three years. In August 2017, More than 30 cities across the United Plaques honoring Lee were removed from
52 percent of voters indicated that the stat- States have removed or relocated Confed- an episcopal church’s property on Aug. 16,
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H2588 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 2020
2017 and the governor called on the Army to been donated by the United Daughters of the regard, Davis and Lee. Also removed was the
remove the names of Lee and another Con- Confederacy. City Parks and Recreation Di- Liberty Place Monument, which commemo-
federate general from the streets around a rector Amy Teegarden told the Spokesman- rated a Reconstruction Era white suprema-
nearby fort. ‘‘It was very easy for us to say, Review that the fountain initially will be cist attack on the city’s integrated police
‘OK, we’ll take the plaques down,’ ’’ said stored in a city warehouse—but it could be force. The mayor plans to replace with new
Bishop Lawrence Provenzano, of the Epis- reassembled at a future date. fountains and an American flag.
copal Diocese of Long Island, who called KANSAS CITY, MO. NEW YORK, N.Y.
them ‘‘offensive to the community.’’ New A Confederate monument was boxed up in Busts of Lee and Jackson were removed
York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has called for summer 2017 and is slated to be removed. The overnight on Aug. 17 from the Hall of Fame
a review of all the city’s public art to iden- Missouri division of the United Daughters of for Great Americans at Bronx Community
tify ‘‘symbols of hate’’ for possible removal. the Confederacy had asked Kansas City College. Prior to its removal, Bro x Borough
DALLAS, TEXAS Parks and Recreation to find a new home for president Ruben Siaz Jr. had said ‘‘there is
A bronze statue of Robert E. Lee, formally it. nothing great about two men who committed
called the Robert Edward Lee Sculpture, was LEXINGTON, KY. treason against the United States to fight to
removed in mid-September 2017 from Robert Two 130-year-old Confederate statues were keep the institution of slavery in tact.’’
E. Lee Park, which was also named in honor removed from downtown Lexington on Octo- ORLANDO, FLA.
of the Confederate general. The Dallas City ber 18 after the state’s attorney general A Confederate statue known as ‘‘Johnny
Council voted 13–1 to remove the statue, issued an opinion giving the city permission Reb’’ was moved in June 2017 by officials
which has stood in Lee Park for 81 years. to take them down and move them to a pri- from Lake Eola Park to Greenwood Ceme-
The park was dedicated to Lee by Presi-
vate cemetery. Lexington used private funds tery in response to public outcry about it
dent Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936 dur-
to take the statues, of Confederate General being symbolic of hate and white supremacy.
ing a renaming ceremony of the park.
John Hunt Morgan and John Breckinridge, a A spokesperson for Orlando’s mayor told Fox
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. former U.S. Vice President and the last Con- News that city officials are working with
Three Confederate monuments were re- federate Secretary of War. Private funds will historians on a new inscription to put the
moved from a city park Friday morning. A cover the cost of their upkeep in the ceme- monument ‘‘in proper historical perspec-
city spokesperson said the plaques were tery. tive.’’
going to be cleaned up and taken to a nearby LOS ANGELES, CALIF. RICHMOND, VA.
museum. The decision to remove them did
A large stone monument commemorating The Richmond school board voted 6–1 on
not require public input, the spokes-person
Confederate veterans was taken down Aug. June 18, 2018 to rename J.E.B. Stuart Ele-
told FOX35, because they were donated and
16 from the Hollywood Forever Cemetery mentary School to Barack Obama Elemen-
not purchased with taxpayer funds.
after hundreds of people demanded its re- tary School. The process began several
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. moval. The 6-foot granite marker was loaded months prior and involved input from stu-
Protesters toppled the ‘‘Silent Sam’’ stat- into a pickup truck and taken to a storage dents, teachers, administrators and local
ue that has stood on the University of North facility. A petition calling for it to be taken stakeholders. Virginia is home to the largest
Carolina’s Chapel Hill campus since 1913 on down had garnered 1,3000 signatures. number of Confederate monuments and sym-
Aug. 20. More than 200 people had gathered LOUISVILLE, KY. bols in the country.
and were chanting ‘‘hey, hey, ho, ho, this ROCKVILLE, MD.
A statue of a Confederate soldier was re-
racist statue has got to go.’’ In a statement,
moved from the University of Louisville A 13-ton bronze Confederate statue that
UNC Chancellor Carol Folt called the act
campus after a legal battle between the city had stood for decades next to Rockville’s Red
‘‘unlawful and dangerous,’’ adding that law
residents, the mayor and the Sons of Confed- Brick Courthouse was relocated in July next
enforcement were investigating the incident.
erate Veterans. It was relocated to Branden- to a privately run Potomac River ferry
The statue had been a source of controversy,
burg, Kentucky, which hosts Civil War Re- named for a Confederate general. The reloca-
with school officials claiming that state law
enactments. tion cost about $100,000, according to the
prevented them from removing it.
MADISON, WIS. Washington Post.
DURHAM, N.C.
A plaque honoring Confederate soldiers SAN DIEGO, CALIF.
A nearly-century old statue of a Confed-
were removed Aug. 17 from a cemetery not A plaque honoring Davis was quietly re-
erate soldier was toppled not long after
long after residents and city leaders began moved Aug. 16, 2017 from a downtown park.
Charlottesville by protesters associated with
calling for it to be taken down. ‘‘The Civil ‘‘This morning I ordered the immediate re-
the Workers World party. North Carolina
War was an act of insurrection and treason moval of a plaque honoring the Confederacy
Central University student Takiyah Thomp-
and a defense of the deplorable practice of at Horton Plaza Park,’’ Mayor Kevin
son, along with three others, were arrested Faulconer told the Los Angeles Times.
slavery,’’ said Mayor Paul Soglin in a state-
and charged with felonies in the days fol- ‘‘San Diegans stand together against Confed-
ment. ‘‘The monuments in question were
lowing. As the bronze statue lay crumpled on erate symbols of division.’’
connected to that action and we do not need
the ground, protesters could be seen kicking
them on city property.’’ SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
it on social media. A Worthington assistant
city manager said the community seeks to MEMPHIS, TENN. A Confederate statue was removed from
be one that ‘‘promotes tolerance, respect and Crews removed two Confederate statues Travis Park overnight Sept. 1, 2017 after the
inclusion.’’ from Memphis parks on Dec. 20 after the city City Council voted 10–1 in favor of taking it
A statue of Lee was removed from the en- sold them to a private entity. The City down the previous day. There were no pro-
trance to Duke University Chapel on Aug. 19, Council voted unanimously earlier in the day testers during or after the removal, accord-
2017 and is set to be preserved in some way to to sell both Health Sciences and fourth Bluff ing to local media reports. ‘‘This is, without
study the university’s ‘‘complex past.’’ Parks where the Confederate statues, of Con- context, a monument that glorifies the
‘‘I took this course of action to protect federate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and causes of the Confederacy, and that’s not
Duke Chapel, to ensure the vital safety of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, were something that a modern city needs to have
students and community members who wor- located. in a public square,’’ said San Antonio Mayor
ship there, and above all to express the deep NASHVILLE, TENN. Ron Nirenberg following the council vote.
and abiding values of our university,’’ uni- The Legendary Ryman Auditorium, where SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
versity President Vincent Price wrote in stars like Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and Lo- A Jefferson Davis highway marker was re-
statement to the school. retta Lynn made their Grand Ole Opry de- moved in 2016.
FRANKLIN, OHIO buts, quietly moved a sign on Sept 21 hang- ST. LOUIS, MO.
A monument to Lee was removed in Au- ing the venue’s upper level that read ‘‘1897 The Missouri Civil War Museum oversaw
gust 2017 by Franklin workers. Gainesville, Confederate Gallery.’’ Honoring an 1897 re- the removal in late June 2017 of a 32-foot
Fla. union of Confederate veterans at the Ryman, granite and bronze monument from Forest
A chapter of the United Daughters of the the sign had been shrouded over the years Park, where it had stood for 103 years. It
Confederacy paid for the removal of a monu- but has now been permanently removed from shouldered the costs of removal and will hold
ment to Confederate soldiers known locally the main auditorium and added to a museum the monument in storage until a new home
as ‘‘Old Joe’’ that stood in front a building in exhibit that explains the history of the 125- can be found for it. The agreement stipulates
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
downtown Gainesville for 113 years. It was year-old music hall. the monument can be re-displayed at a Civil
moved to a private cemetery outside the city NEW ORLEANS, LA. War museum, battlefield or cemetery. In
in August 2017. New Orleans city workers removed four Boone County, a rock with a plaque honoring
HELENA, MONT. monuments in April dedicated to the Confed- Confederate soldiers that had been removed
The state’s capital city on Aug. 18, 2017 re- eracy and opponents of Reconstruction. The from the University of Missouri campus was
moved a memorial to Confederate soldiers city council had declared the monuments a relocated a second time after the Charleston
that had been in a public park since 1916. The public nuisance. The monuments removed AEM church massacre to a historic site com-
granite fountain, which was dismantled, had were of Confederate General P.G.T. Beau- memorating a nearby Civil War battle.
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June 26, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2589
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. favor removing the statues: 64 percent and 63 ments of figures such as George Washington
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman or- percent, respectively, say they’d like to see and Thomas Jefferson with a scarlet S, for
dered city workers to remove a bronze Con- them taken down. There are differences, slave-holder. This time, the ignorance has
federate marker at noon on Aug. 15, 2017 however, by ideology among the party’s descended even further.
after determining that it was on city prop- members—77 percent of self-described liberal The rioters are now tearing down and de-
Democrats, but just 40 percent of self-de- facing memorials wantonly, apparently as-
erty. It’s being held in storage until a new
scribed moderates or conservatives—want to suming that if someone is being celebrated
home can be found for it. ‘‘The plaque recog-
see the statues removed. that person is ‘‘probably a racist,’’ as the
nizing a highway named after Stonewall
Most other surveys released in the past few image below says.
Jackson has been removed and we will at- This prejudiced ignorance appears to be
tempt to locate its owner,’’ Kriseman said in weeks find at best modest support for remov-
ing Confederate memorials, although two widespread, and unchecked by local authori-
a statement to the Tampa Bay Times. ties. Several of the defaced monuments are
distinctively-worded questions stand out in
WASHINGTON, D.C. of abolitionists, including the Great Emanci-
these results.
The stewards of the National Mall an- The strongest support for keeping memo- pator Abraham Lincoln, as Tristan Justice
nounced this week that the exhibit alongside rials in place came in the poll conducted by reported Thursday. For example:
the Thomas Jefferson Memorial will be up- ‘‘[I]n Boston, demonstrators also vandal-
Marist for NPR and PBS NewsHour, which
dated to showcase his status as both one of ized a monument to the 54th Massachusetts
gave respondents a choice between letting
the country’s founders and a slaveholder. regiment, the second all-black volunteer
statues ‘‘remain as a historical symbol’’ and regiment of the Union Army,’’ Justice
‘‘We can reflect the momentous contribu- removing them ‘‘because they are offensive writes.’’ . . . Add to the growing list of civil
tions of someone like Thomas Jefferson, but to some people.’’ (Arguably, the question rights freedom fighters defaced by social jus-
also consider carefully the complexity of might have been better balanced had the tice protestors a Minnesota memorial to
who he was,’’ an official with the Trust told first option been written as ‘‘because some three black men who were lynched in 1920
the Washington Examiner. ‘‘And that’s not people view them as a historical symbol.’’) following false rape accusations from a white
reflected right now in the exhibits.’’ The only poll to find majority support for woman.’’
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker introduced a removing some monuments, conducted by These mob actions are not the result of ac-
bill in Sept. 2017 to remove Confederate stat- the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, cidental ignorance, but of cultivated preju-
ues from the U.S. Capitol Building. adopted a framework far more sympathetic dice. One month ago, I collected just a few
The National Cathedral voted that same to the monuments’ opponents, asking about pieces of evidence pointing in this direction:
month to take down two stained-glass win- their ‘‘relocation’’ rather than their ‘‘re- A 2019 poll found . . . that ‘‘more than 80
dows of Confederate generals. The removal moval.’’ percent of Americans ages 39 and younger
could take a few days and workers seen put- PPP found voters split—39 percent to 34 could not say what rights the First Amend-
ting up scaffolding around the windows to percent—on whether they ‘‘support or oppose ment protects, and three-quarters or more
start the process- monuments honoring the Confederacy.’’ But couldn’t name any authors of The Federalist
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, those voters were largely willing to relocate Papers.’’ Another 2019 poll found ‘‘just 57 per-
signed a bill to replace a statue of a Confed- Confederate monuments if the issue was in- cent of millennials believe the Declaration of
erate general at the U.S. Capitol with one of stead presented as an attempt to move them Independence ‘better guarantees freedom and
Mary McLeod Bethune, a black woman who ‘‘to museums or other historic sites where equality’ than the Communist Manifesto.’’ A
founded a school that became they can be viewed in proper historical con- 2016 Federalist article notes, ‘‘40 percent of
BethuneCookman University in Daytona text.’’ Unlike other questions, PPP also recent grads were unaware that Congress has
Beach, Florida. She’ll become the first black asked specifically about memorials on gov- the right to declare war and 10 percent think
female to be honored in Statuary Hall. ernment property, rather than a broader Judge Judy is on the Supreme Court.’’
WORTHINGTON, OHIO question about public spaces. In February, I presented more such evi-
Opinions surrounding Confederate symbols dence:
Worthington removed a historic marker
have also proved to be fairly mutable in re- Today, 4 in 10 Americans who are younger
Aug. 18 outside the former home of a Confed-
sponse to current events. After a white su- than 39 disagree that the United States ‘‘has
erate general.
premacist killed nine members of a black a history we should be proud of,’’ according
[From the Huffington Post, Aug. 23, 2017] church in Charleston, South Carolina, two to a 2019 poll by FLAG/YouGov. The poll also
POLLS FIND LITTLE SUPPORT FOR CONFED- years ago, support for the Confederate flag found that half of all Americans agree the
ERATE STATUE REMOVAL—BUT HOW YOU dropped quickly and significantly. United States is a sexist and racist country,
ASK MATTERS That doesn’t appear to have happened yet including two-thirds of millennials.
(By Ariel Edwards-Levy) following the violence earlier this month in Millennials showed the lowest level of agree-
Charlottesville, Virginia, sparked by a white ment with the statement, ‘‘I’m proud to be
Americans are generally unsupportive of
nationalist rally opposing efforts to remove an American.’’ Thirty-eight percent of
attempts to remove memorials honoring
a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. ‘‘younger Americans do not agree that
Confederate leaders, new polling shows—al-
But if the issue remains a flashpoint in the ‘America has a history that we should be
though the way the question is framed may
days to come, its prominence could possibly proud of,’ ’’ according to the poll. 2019’s an-
make a significant difference.
polarize views even further than they al- nual poll from the Victims of Communism
In a new HuffPost/YouGov poll, a third of
ready are. (Charlottesville on Wednesday Memorial Foundation found that 37 percent
Americans favor removing statues and me-
draped black shrouds over the Lee statue and of millennials think the United States is
morials of Confederate leaders, with 49 per-
one for Confederate Gen. Thomas ‘‘Stone- ‘‘among the most unequal societies in the
cent opposed. Just 29 percent of Americans
wall’’ Jackson.) world.’’
favor changing the names of streets, schools Since Trump took office, Democrats have
and buildings commemorating Confederate The anti-American group of recent grad-
repeatedly rallied around opinions that serve uates is not a fringe element. It is a substan-
leaders, while half are opposed. as anti-Trump shibboleths, expressing sharp-
Those surveyed are effectively split on tial and ominously growing group of voting-
ly increased alarm about global warming, age adults.
whether the Confederate flag is more a sym- mistrust of Russia and support for immigra- The recent riots have given us many more
bol of Southern pride (36 percent) or racism tion. While Democrats are already generally indications that America’s education insti-
(35 percent), with the rest unsure or saying it in favor of taking down the Confederate stat- tutions do not merely keep kids ignorant,
represents neither. But even if Americans ues, their level of support for doing so ranges but actively teach them to hate their coun-
don’t overwhelmingly recognize the flag as a between 45 percent and 72 percent in recent try. Just refer to any of the emails and
symbol of racism, there’s also little wide- surveys—far lower than the party’s almost website banners you’ve been subjected to
spread enthusiasm for its use. Just 34 per- unanimous dislike for the president. from every company you’ve ever purchased
cent of Americans say they approve of dis- from online, detailing about how they’re all
playing the Confederate flag in public, while [From the Federalist, June 12, 2020] ‘‘fighting racism’’ by frantically donating to
47 percent disapprove. people and organizations that make a living
Opinions on the Confederate memorials are ABOLITIONIST MONUMENTS DEFACED BY ANTI-
RACISM’ RIOTERS IS WHAT TEACHING FAKE off heightened racial tensions.
divided along racial lines, but to an even These messages reveal that the nation’s
greater degree along political ones. Black HISTORY GETS AMERICA
leadership class has all been re-educated ex-
Americans are 18 percentage points likelier (By Joy Pullmann) tremely successfully to believe a pack of
than white Americans to favor removing The imagery couldn’t be more direct. things that just aren’t true about American
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
statues of Confederate leaders—but the gap Across the nation, rioting and unrest that history and ideals. They are well-catechized
between Democrats and Republicans on the has killed black Americans and destroyed in what is billed as antiracist attitudes and
question is 46 points. And the difference be- black neighborhoods has included the deface- activities that are rooted in false informa-
tween Hillary Clinton voters and those who ment of historic monuments, including those tion and more likely to instead increase ra-
supported President Donald Trump in last to abolitionists. cial tensions.
year’s election is a full 58 points. The last wave of monument destruction, in Hardly a one of them, or any other Amer-
Within the Democratic Party, white and 2017, largely focused on Confederates and ican, can tell you much about George Wash-
black people are about equally likely to slave holders, erasing all the accomplish- ington besides he was a slave owner. Hardly
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H2590 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 2020
one of them can identify Woodrow Wilson It’s time for a new, non-racist boycott, di- front of the old Durham County Courthouse
and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as bona fide, vest, sanction movement—for taxpayer-fund- on Monday. Four have been arrested in con-
deep-dyed racists. Not one of them know one ed education. Liberate public funds from nection to this instance of vandalism. The
of the first acts of Congress—the Congress these institutions with a century-long record Workers World Party released a statement
that existed before today’s Congress, the one of failure. Return it to families. At least half claiming that it should be their right to tear
that pre-dates the Constitution—was to pass of them will be delighted to choose pro- the monuments down.
a massive document outlawing slavery in America schools. That’s a lot more than pick 9. MONUMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
territory newly acquired from Great Britain proAmerica schools now. It would give this NORTH CAROLINA
during postwar negotiations. country a chance to strive toward its ideals
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has called
But they all have heard of Audre Lorde, once more rather than burn them in chaos.
for additional monuments to be torn down
whose great contribution to society is basi-
[From the Federalist, Aug. 17, 2017] and is asking the state legislature to repeal
cally being black and gay. They are all up on
a 2015 law that prevents the destruction of
movies directed by black women like Ava HERE’S A LIST OF ALL THE MONUMENTS
Civil War monuments.
DuVernay and books by pathos-filled but LIBERALS WANT TO TEAR DOWN SO FAR
fact-challenged black writers like Ta-Nehisi 10. MONUMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
(BY BRE PAYTON)
Coates. They all know Michael Brown put VIRGINIA
In the wake of the violence that took place
his hands up and said ‘‘Don’t shoot’’ even in Charlottesville over last weekend, numer- In a statement released Wednesday after-
though he didn’t. They’re passing around dis- ous activists and politicians have called for noon, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is ask-
credited fake history like The New York the destruction of more historical monu- ing state legislators and city officials to tear
Times’s 1619 Project as if it were accurate, ments, although a significant majority of down monuments throughout the Old Do-
and using it to justify supporting totali- Americans (62 percent) think the monuments minion.
tarian thought policing because a black guy should stay put. Only 27 percent of Ameri- 11. ‘OLD JOE’ STATUE IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
says this will solve racism. cans think these statues should be removed In Gainesville, Florida, a statue of a Con-
These people’s heads aren’t empty. Their for fear of offending some people. As usual, federate soldier was removed Monday from
hate isn’t blind. It’s very well-formed. And public opinion’s not stopping liberals from outside a county administrative building.
it’s been deliberately aimed at the very pursuing an unpopular agenda. 12. STATUES IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
country that has paid for and overseen their Though by no means comprehensive, here’s
indoctrination into political violence. The City Council of Lexington, Kentucky
a list of the monuments that are facing calls
I’ve now spent about a decade tracking in- voted unanimously on Tuesday to remove
for removal or have already been torn down.
formation like this, and have researched and Confederate statues from the lawn in front of
1. THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON DC
written about it in more detail than most, an old county courthouse. In response, a
and therefore can assure you there is much In a PBS interview, Al Sharpton called for white nationalist group is reportedly plan-
more to find. Entire books have and could be the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC to ning a protest.
written to detail more. Each generation of be abandoned because the third president of 13. STATUES IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
American children has learned less real his- the United States and author of the Declara-
tion of Independence was a slave owner. On Monday, protesters gathered in favor of
tory than the generation before it. Each gen- removing a statue of Civil War officer John
eration of American children has instead 2. STATUES IN THE CAPITOL
B. Castleman from Louisville, Kentucky.
been subject to greater levels of indoctrina- Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D–Calif.) and Sen. Cory
14. STATUES IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE,
tion in place of genuine education. The Booker (D–N.J.) have both called for statues
INCLUDING ONE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
alarms have been sounded for decades, even a commemorating Confederates to be removed
century, and nothing effective has been done. from the U.S. Capitol. In Nashville, Tennessee, protestors gath-
So now we have riots and unfettered monu- ered to call for the removal of a monument
3. MOUNT RUSHMORE
ment smashing. This is no accident. It is a depicting Nathan Bedford Forrest, a lieuten-
Vice News’s Wilbert L. Cooper called for ant in the Confederate army, from the state
logical consequence of convincing ourselves, Mount Rushmore to be destroyed because
against all evidence, that America’s public capitol on Monday. People have also called
the U.S. presidents whose visages are carved for a memorial of Forrest, which sits on pri-
education institutions are largely sound out- into the mountainside are problematic by to-
side a few crazies who never happen to be in vate property, to be hidden from view of the
day’s standards. nearby highway.
one’s own school district, and even if they
4. MONUMENTS IN BALTIMORE
were, one’s own children would of course be 15. TWO STATUES VANDALIZED IN WILMINGTON,
impervious. Not like their stupid dupes of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh had Civil NORTH CAROLINA
classmates, who in just a few short years War monuments removed from the city in
‘‘A white flag was hung on the gun of the
will go on to vote and tear down monuments the cover of night, without any public hear-
statue and its head and feet were spray
to American abolitionists in the name of ings or any public discussion process. Pugh
painted,’’ WECT reports. ‘‘Officers were
anti-racism. told The New York Times that she used her
called back to the scene and found a rope
This is what happens when conservatives emergency powers as mayor to take down
tied to the statue’s neck. Upon examination,
spend 120 years complaining about the left statues of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jack-
officers said they believe it was likely tied to
controlling academia while the politicians son from a public park—surprising even
a vehicle in an attempt to pull the statue
conservatives vote for and cheerily profile in some members of the city council.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan also called for over.’’ Another statue was marked with graf-
our publications keep increasing funding for fiti.
these intellectual enemies of our country. a statue memorializing Roger B. Taney, a
Supreme Court justice who penned the infa- 16. A CEMETERY MARKER IN LOS ANGELES
Seventy years later, God and man are still
mous Dred Scott decision. which determined A statue that stood in the Confederate sec-
objects of scorn at Yale, and so is our nation,
that anyone descended from a slave could tion of Hollywood Forever Cemetery for
but still we keep sending them our kids and
not be an American citizen, be removed from more than 90 years was toppled on Wednes-
money, hiring their graduates to teach our
the pedestal where it had been erected since day, Los Angeles Times reports. A plaque
children and rule us, and funding their stu-
1887. commemorating Jefferson Davis was also re-
dents.
The postwar convention of Minnesota nice- 5. STONE MOUNTAIN moved from a park this week.
ness in politics has been a disaster. That’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I will
because cowardice ultimately is not nice. It Stacey Abrams called for a frieze depicting say that as we go forward, if we con-
leaves the innocent and the vulnerable de- Confederate soldiers to be removed from tinue to denigrate all police officers be-
fenseless. And, as with Stockholm Syn- Stone Mountain in Georgia. cause of a few police officers, if we
drome, some of the preyed upon ultimately 6. ALBERT PIKE STATUE IN WASHINGTON DC denigrate all of our society because of
turn predator themselves after identifying In Washington DC, a group of protestors a few in our society, we will see this
too strongly with their captors. gathered on Sunday to call for the statue of
How many more statues and American
Nation, the ideals of individual free-
Albert Pike, a Confederate general, to be dom, erased from this Earth.
minds have to get smashed before people who torn down.
genuinely love their country gain the cour- I used to do work at multilateral in-
7. CHICAGO PARKS NAMED AFTER WASHINGTON stitutions and at the United Nations,
age to start fighting effectively for her res-
AND JACKSON
toration before it’s too late? Here’s part of and I will tell you this: This country,
what that would look like: Civil authorities A Chicago pastor has asked the mayor to to me, is special and unique; imperfect,
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
first stopping vandalism and pursuing the remove the names of two former presidents—
George Washington and Andrew Jackson—
but the idea, the ideals, the people who
vandals to mete out their just, legally deter- have gone before us, how can we erase
mined penalties; second, politicians who from city parks because both men owned
slaves. what they have done? Some made mag-
claim to love America fighting for her by re-
fusing to send public funds to institutions 8. CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS MONUMENT IN nificent sacrifices that we might enjoy
that fail to prove their graduates honor the DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA the freedoms we enjoy today, and yet
country that pays for their education. At The Confederate Soldiers Monument was they were wrong on other issues in
this point, that’s just about all of them. torn down by protesters from its spot in their lives.
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June 26, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2591
How can we erase our history? We I rise tonight because 51 years ago, the original sponsor of this resolution.
must face our history squarely and there were few openly gay politicians I am grateful to all who have become
openly and build upon that history to or public figures in this country. original cosponsors. It is not too late
the great promise of the ideals of this I am honored to say that the Honor- for persons to cosponsor the resolution,
Nation if we are going to persist as a able Barney Frank, whom I served with and I would beg that persons would do
Nation. in Congress, has been and continues to so.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- be a part of this resolution. Each reso- So now, having finished my com-
ance of my time. lution that I have sponsored has hon- ments on the Pride Month resolution, I
f ored the Honorable Barney Frank, a would like to step over to the next
JUNE IS LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH Member of Congress from 1981 to 2013, microphone.
and recognized him as an honorary co- VALUING ORDER AND LAW INSTEAD OF LAW AND
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under sponsor of this resolution. ORDER
the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- I rise because 51 years ago, being Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speak-
uary 3, 2019, the gentleman from Texas openly gay was a finable offense, a er, I rise because now I must say it was
(Mr. GREEN) is recognized for 60 min- crime, in many Federal agencies and a most difficult to sit in this House and
utes as the designee of the majority per se bar to obtaining a Federal secu- hear some of the comments made by
leader. rity clearance. my colleagues tonight. They seem to
Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speak- But today, thanks to the resolution value statues above human life.
er, and still I rise. and thanks to the revolution that All the vandalism and crimes that
I am here for a special purpose, and I
began this month 51 years ago at have been committed, I don’t support
shall not deviate from the cause that
Stonewall, I am proud to say that sev- that, and I don’t think that the pro-
has brought me to this podium tonight,
eral openly gay persons serve proudly testers who were out there peacefully
but I do assure you there are things
on my congressional staff. I am proud protesting supported it either.
that have been said that at an appro-
to have them, and I am proud of the I don’t think you ought to paint all
priate time, I will respond to.
work they do. protesters with one brush, just as I
Tonight, I rise to call to the atten-
Today, I am even more proud that as don’t paint all peace officers with one
tion of this House H. Res. 1014, Encour-
of last Monday, when the Supreme brush. I never conclude that all officers
aging the celebration of the month of
Court decided Bostock v. Clayton are bad, but those who are bad ought to
June as LGBTQ Pride Month.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the County, each member of my staff and be punished.
many original cosponsors of this reso- all LGBTQ persons in the United I find it quite fascinating that my
lution. There are 60. I would like to States of America now enjoy the same colleagues who came here and spoke so
thank the Human Rights Campaign for legal protections against employment eloquently tonight, I haven’t heard
the work that it has done to help us discrimination as all other persons them on the floor in prior times talk-
construct this resolution. I would like without regard to sex, sexual orienta- ing about all of the atrocities being
to thank the Center for Transgender tion, or gender identity. committed against people of color at
Equality, the Equality Caucus, and In that historic 6–3 decision, the the hands of the constabulary. I just
Dignity Houston. Bostock court resoundingly affirmed question why is it that they don’t come
I rise tonight because 51 years ago, that the prohibitions of Title VII bar to the floor and stand up for people of
the Stonewall riots in New York her- all discrimination in employment on color.
alded in the beginning of the end of a the basis of sex, including sexual ori- I stand up for all people. It doesn’t
shameful period in our history, because entation or gender identity. matter your color, your sex, your sex-
51 years ago, Madam Speaker, in June Today, we recall the painful, bloody, ual orientation. I have been on this
1969, police raided The Stonewall Inn, a and often deadly toll of the 51 forma- floor consistently doing this, but I
gay bar in Greenwich Village, New tive years between Stonewall and don’t see that from the other side.
York, causing a civil uprising and Bostock. I see them here for what I call order
clashes between the police and thou- Today, we remember each LGBTQ- and law, not law and order, and here is
sands of protesters. plus victim of discrimination, violence, how that works: You have a President
Those historic events catalyzed a and prejudice in the intervening who goes before members of the police
generation of activists who birthed a years—51 years, I might add—who were community, and he says to them: When
civil rights movement for LGBTQ shut out, subjugated, or even killed. you arrest a person, you don’t have to
equality. Today, we mourn each one of the be so nice.
I rise tonight because I am an ally of Black transgender women who have Now, he is talking about a person
the LGBTQ-plus community. been murdered in this year alone. who is in the care, custody, and control
I rise tonight because I didn’t get And today, with consideration of this of the police, and that person does not
here by myself. There were people of Pride resolution, we continue the tra- have to be treated so nice.
all stripes who made it possible for me dition that I began as an original spon- He sent a message. That message
to stand here in the House of Rep- sor of Congress’ Pride Month resolu- was, you maintain order, do whatever
resentatives. tion. you have got to do, and I will provide
I rise tonight because 51 years ago I am proud of how far we have come the law to support you. That is order
being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or as a Nation in our struggle for full and law.
transgender was illegal in most States LGBTQ-plus equality. And in this sea- I support law and order. I have an
in this country. Another way of put- son of Pride, it is fitting to celebrate uncle who was a deputy sheriff. He in-
ting it is this: It was illegal to be who that remarkable hard-won progress. fluenced my life. I am probably in Con-
you were in this country. gress today because of words that he
b 1830 spoke to me, so I support policing. I
Fifty-one years ago, no Federal or
State laws existed to secure the rights But today, I also recognize that, al- understand the necessity to have per-
of lesbian and gay people to live openly though we have come a long way in 51 sons who are going to assure us that we
in a relationship with their partner. years, we still have far to go. Today, can be protected.
Fifty-one years ago, no law precluded we must ensure that full inclusion for But what I don’t support is a belief
even the most overt discrimination on LGBTQ-plus persons does not take an- that peaceful protesters are all some-
the basis of sexual orientation or gen- other 51 years or even 51 weeks. It is how a part of a mob. You can peace-
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
der identity. now time that we must complete the fully protest and go to jail. I know; I
Fifty-one years ago, our legal system march toward full legal equality for all have been there. I was there with the
afforded LGBTQ-plus persons no pro- persons, without regard to sexual ori- Honorable JOHN LEWIS. We were peace-
tections under the law to live free from entation or gender identity. fully protesting, but we went to jail.
discrimination in employment, in Today, I call upon the Senate to take Peaceful protesters go to jail. Peace-
housing, in finance, in education, or in up and pass the Equality Act, H.R. 5, ful protesters get in the way. Peaceful
healthcare. without further delay. I am proud to be protesters disrupt. That is what protest
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