Yvette Clarke: “This evening the Congressional Progressive Caucus is going to be sharing some thoughts with the American people about…”

“This evening the Congressional Progressive Caucus is going to be sharing some thoughts with the American people about this extremely horrible zero-tolerance policy that Mr. Trump has subjected our Nation to. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this administration's cruel and inhumane zero-tolerance policy at the border that has resulted in the separation of more than 2,000 children from their families and their loved ones. This policy calls to mind the worst of our history, including the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, our refusal to grant safety to Jewish refugees during the Holocaust, and the treatment of Africans who were brought here as chattel slaves during and throughout the Middle Passage. Unlike what the administration says, this policy is not required by law, and I think that has been made plain to all Americans. It is not President Obama's doing, and I think that has been made plain to all Americans. It is not in any way justified by the Bible. In fact, as a Christian and someone who grew up in the church, I know that these very same verses were falsely used to justify four centuries of chattel slavery, and that the Bible teaches us to welcome the stranger and to beware of spiritual wickedness in high places. So don't be deceived.…”