Political Quotes

On the recordMarch 18, 2021
I was in the United States Congress when the first hate crimes legislation was written. It was written after the heinous killing of James Byrd in Texas, where a Black man was dragged through the streets of Texas and decapitated. Tomorrow, the President of the United States will go to Georgia, where eight people were killed, six of whom happen to be Asian women. Yet a captain in the Cherokee Sheriff's Department said that the perpetrator had a bad day. Mr. Speaker, wrapped in racism, white supremacy, and hatred, the Georgia law says that if you kill women, it may be a gender hatred crime. I want a full investigation. I believe in the Constitution due process, but this is a hate crime. People are dead, Asian women are dead, and this perpetrator should be held accountable. If you are in law enforcement, the best role that you have is as a fact finder and someone who can offer sympathy that makes sense, not that the perpetrator had a bad day and this is what he did. I am having a bad day because we still have hatred in this country. ____________________
Said by
Sheila Jackson Lee
Democratic · Texas

Share

More from Sheila Jackson Lee

Apr 17, 2024

As you can see, there is just not enough time to speak on these issues. Mr. Speaker, as we go into a number of religious holidays, which brings us together around peace, faith, and harmony, I want us to recognize that racism is raising its…

govinfo.gov
Mar 12, 2024

With a great deal of consternation I rise in opposition to the opposition. H. Res. 1065, here we go again. Rather than solutions, the Republicans are denouncing the Biden administration's immigration policy. What do they have to offer…

govinfo.gov
Feb 29, 2024

I thank Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member DeLauro for their leadership. Mr. Speaker, 331 million Americans are depending on us to save their lives. If we do not vote today, we will cause the loss of life. We did not vote for the…

govinfo.gov
Feb 29, 2024

Let me be very clear: We cannot shut this government down. Mr. Speaker, 4 pages, 5 pages, or 20 pages of a stopgap measure, the government cannot shut down. The rules of this House and Senate require the Congress to do its work. As the…

govinfo.gov

Other voices in this conversation