October 1, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 171 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session
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SPEAKING TO THE SOULS OF AMERICA; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 171
(House of Representatives - October 01, 2020)
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[Pages H5116-H5118] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] SPEAKING TO THE SOULS OF AMERICA The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes. Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am so glad that my colleague invoked God's name on the floor of the House. As I stand here, I can read the words ``In God We Trust.'' We are blessed by a Nation that has the right and the protections to express our faith, our love of the God we love. And so I thought this morning I was compelled to come to the floor because I believe in a God of love, and my Christian faith believes in the sacrifice He made so that we might live and, as well, to recognize that He protects us all. As we go through this road of trepidation with COVID-19, as I mourn for more than 200,000 Americans, many of whom lost their lives because of ill-fated policies by the administration, I thought it was imperative that I speak to the souls of America because, as my predecessor, the Honorable Barbara Jordan, I have faith in this Nation. She was a good mentor for me and many others. She was a patriot, and I have tried to be every day of my life. I honor the men and women who put on the uniform, young boys and girls almost, young men and women throughout the ages. I acknowledge the fact that, even with bondage in their DNA, slaves volunteered, ex- slaves, to fight in the Civil War, but they fought in wars before, including the Revolutionary War. The heritage of African Americans and Black Americans in this country is wrapped in the love of the Nation. The times that we have stepped out to be able to demand justice for our Nation and for everyone, it has not been against the flag; it has been to empower the flag to symbolize the right thing. How many people realize the number of African Americans who died during the civil rights movement? I didn't say the Civil War. We lost many in the civil rights movement. {time} 1000 Yes, we know, tragically, brave men and women who were not Black who came to help lost their lives. The three Mississippi boys, Viola Liuzzo, and others lost their lives because they believed in a better America. Then I am reminded of the beginnings of the takeover of a beautiful country called Germany by Nazism. The words that I remember in a historical perspective is: It was the silence that killed us. Dr. King said that it is not the good people who fail, but it is those who [[Page H5117]] stand by silently and say nothing--so, too, the head of this Nation. It might have been a lot of bickering on Tuesday night in your mind, Mr. Speaker, but I can say to you that it was a painful experience for so many when we could not hear the simple words of condemnation of white supremacy, even when, as the senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, I have heard over and over again, a member of the Judiciary Committee, Director Wray of the FBI that the most dangerous domestic terrorist threat in the United States--not my words, his words--is white supremacy, or those words coming, as well, from the head of the Homeland Security Department, the Secretary. I offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that was adopted that directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress the extent, if any, of the threat to national security posed by domestic terrorist groups and organizations motivated by a belief system of white supremacy such as boogaloo boys and proud boys extremists. I am proud of the House. Obviously, it was adopted in a bipartisan commitment. I am proud that Members joined in by their acquiescence and affirmation that this is not America. But over these last couple of days, social media is raging. When that question was posed to the existing and sitting President of the United States, we heard these words when they asked would you condemn the proud boys' violence, ``stand back and stand by.'' Mr. Speaker, as I close, let me say that white supremacy is going to strangle us and our values. I beg of this leadership and I beg of all of us to stand against it, to fight against it, and to save lives, because those lives are precious American lives, and we are not that way. We are better than this, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to efforts to legitimize violent White Nationalists groups. Over the last several months, I have raised concerns over the role that Boogaloo and Proud Boys have played in bringing an element of violence into the otherwise peaceful protests following the death of George Floyd. During the House Consideration of the NOAA, I offered an amendment that was adopted to directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress the extent, if any, of the threat to national security posed by domestic terrorist groups and organizations motivated by a belief system of white supremacy, such as the Boogaloo and Proud Boys extremists. During the first Presidential debate the President had the opportunity to condemn Proud Boys, which he could not or would not do. In the light of day, he claims ignorance of who or what Proud Boys is--which sounds like the same words he used about not knowing David Duke--a former Grand Wizard of the KKK who endorsed him during his first Presidential Election. The President in the interviews with Robert Woodward has proven himself to be anything but ignorant or uninformed. He has shown his willingness to use his knowledge for his benefit while keeping his knowledge hidden from others at their expense. What I know is that Congress has been briefed on the national security threat posed by Proud Boys and Boogaloo Boys, which means the President has also been briefed. On May 30, 2019, the FBI issued an Intelligence Bulletin on Anti- Government, Identity Based, and Fringe Political Conspiracy Theories Very Likely Motivate Some Domestic Extremists to Commit Criminal, Sometimes Violent Activity, which includes the activities associated with Proud Boys and Boogaloo Boys. Proud Boys is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group. The ADL describes Proud Boys as: Ideology: Primarily alt lite: Misogynistic, Islamophobic, transphobic and anti-immigration. Some members espouse white supremacist and anti-Semitic ideologies and/or engage with white supremacist groups. In sum, the Proud Boys is a far-right neo-fascist organization that admits only men as members and promotes political violence. The group believes men--especially white men--and Western culture are under siege; their views have elements of white genocide conspiracy theory. While the group claims it does not support white supremacist views, its members often participate in racist rallies, events, and organizations. The organization glorifies violence, and members engage in violence at events they attend; the Southern Poverty Law Center has called it an ``altright fight club''. The President's message when asked about condemning the White Supremist Group--Proud Boys, was to say to them ``Stand Back and Stand By.'' It surprises absolutely no one that ``Stand Back and Stand By,'' means to be ready . Ready for what? The intelligence community has been sending warnings to the White House and Congress that groups like Proud Boys are a threat to our national security and have been waiting for someone like the President to incite others to join them in order to grow their numbers to spread violence. As I speak, the Internet is ablaze with activity from the Proud Boys in celebration and elation of their favorable recognition of the President. Proud Boys created a new image to signify the President's message to them, ``Stand Back and Stand By.'' We know from experience how people like members of Proud Boys react when they believe they have legitimacy from the President; they take it as a license to continue their violent activities as we said four years ago, culminating in Charlottesville, Virginia. Proud Boys may use the phrase ``Stand Back and Stand By'' to describe the overwhelming majority of white Americans who are not aware of or interested in the activities of the group or any white supremist group, but may intend to support this President in November despite his obvious flaws. The unfortunate truth for voters who think their vote this November is not at risk of sending an affirming nod to Proud Boys or groups like them--then they should think again. President's own acts makes this election no longer about Red or Blue States, Democrats and Republicans, but about whether you condone racism, misogyny, or political and election violence. White Nationalists will interpret every white voter's vote for Trump as a vindication of their hate, misogyny, and rage against non-whites and independent women. Let us not be fooled, these groups hate a lot of things--and the color of a person's skin is just one of those things--they also hate women who are educated, who are leaders, who dare to think for themselves; they hate white men who form families with persons of other races, and they hate white men who will hire, promote, and support persons of color and women in employment; they hate education, public order, peace and justice that adhere to equality for all. They do love one thing--violence. Our role as Members of Congress is to defend and protect the American people, no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or country of origin. White Nationalists have been busy looking for fights and igniting violence at peaceful street protests. We saw them in Charlottesville, Virginia and have seen them trying to end state and local measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 and carrying out violence at George Floyd protests. Now the President is inviting Proud Boys to polling locations during ballot casting. COVID-19 is presenting a heightened barrier and challenge to voting in the November 3rd election. The validity of the American vote and the ability for Americans to exercise their vote is in jeopardy from a President who seems to be at war with the free and fair election process. Over the years, it has become increasingly hard for citizens to realize their voting rights--particularly for African Americans and other minorities, as well as for students, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. Voter suppression measures across the country in the past included: new voter ID laws, reductions and cuts to polling places and early voting, and purging of voter rolls, but today there are challenges being made to mail-in voting during a time of COVID-19 when in-person voting would pose health risks to many voters. The doubts the President is seeking to create around mail-in voting are resulting in significant burdens for individuals seeking to exercise their most fundamental constitutional right. With varied systems of election administration and technology, polling place practices, and inexperienced poll workers, there is a real and dangerous threat that White Nationalists may take this opening provided by the President to compromise our nation's electoral process. During a time when the voting rights of minorities and all Americans are under the greatest attack since the passage of the Voting Rights Act, it is imperative that the federal government take all necessary steps to ensure that the right to vote and the entire electoral process is fully protected and upheld. It is important to know and understand that the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act never mention color, ethnicity, or race. Both of these laws are to preserve and protect basic human rights and dignity owed to each person. [[Page H5118]] This may be the election year when the voting rights of a majority of Americans may need both of these laws. That is why I am asking the Department of Justice, pursuant to its statutory authority and consistent with its historic role as a guardian of civil rights and liberties, to take immediate action and investigate the full scope of vulnerabilities, security threats and breaches to our electoral and voting process posed by groups like Proud Boys. This President finds it too difficult to call out those among us who are the truly abhorrent and objectionable because they are at the heart of his political base. The violence seen during the recent national movement to end the deaths of unarmed black men while in police custody is not the start of the events that have led to the Boogaloo movement or Proud Boys activity. Groups like these have been around for over a century, most notable is the KKK, which is why they should not be invited to visit polling locations during a public election. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), in the immediate aftermath of Election Day, a wave of hate crimes and lesser hate incidents swept the country with 1,094 bias incidents recorded in the first 34 days following Trump's Election on November 8, 2016. Of these incidents, the SPLC reports that anti-immigrant incidents (315) remain the most reported, followed by antiblack (221), anti- Muslim (112), and anti-LGBT (109). Anti-Trump incidents numbered 26 (6 of which were also anti-white in nature, with 2 non-Trump related anti-white incidents reported). The threats from White Nationalist groups range from decentralized and leaderless accelerationist networks using social media platforms, such as the Boogaloo movement, to more structured, far-right militia extremist groups. The ideologies undergirding these movements or groups have some similarities to other anti-government and white supremacist beliefs but are often not tied to a single, monolithic ideology. In addition, in many cases, their adherents' decentralized, and coded use of digital tools poses unique challenges for law enforcement and government officials to identify and track their activity. These developments in domestic terrorism, as reported in the media and government intelligence reports--coupled with recent arrests and successful violent attacks carried out by ``Boogaloo boys'' and militia extremists--are troubling. My concern is that as the nation moves towards a historic national election, the activity of violence instigators like Boogaloo Boys or Proud Boys will increase and lead to attacks becoming more frequent. This view is heightened given the President's instructions to Proud Boys to ``Stand Back'' and ``Stand By.'' The domestic terrorism issues of greatest concern to me are: The number of incidents, although small in number, that have involved government employees, contractors or military personnel; The targeting of places of worship; Politically motivated attacks or attempted attacks; and Use of Social media for domestic and international hate groups to collaborate and stoke hate. Icreasingly everyday the President confirms his candidacy as candidate of white supremacy. A quote from Lincoln's address to Congress in December 1862 come to mind, when he said to this body: ``Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. We say we are for the Union. The world will not forget that we say this. We know how to save the Union. The world knows we do know how to save it. We--even we here--hold the power and bear the responsibility.'' Due to the rise in online activity of these groups spurred by the President's comments many law enforcement jurisdictions around the nation must prepare for the violence that may come as these groups seek to act out in advance of the election. This will put additional strain on the budgets of local and state law enforcement agencies already burdened with COVID-19 emergency measures and tight budgets caused by the economic collapse due to this Administration's mismanagement of COVID-19. Congress must send a unified message that there is no place in the body politic for these groups or these views. I invite my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what the President did not do by joining me and Vice President Biden and millions of Americans in condemning the White Supremist Groups. ____________________
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