The House Resolution To Censure Marjorie Taylor Greene

 

House Passes Condemnation Of Trump's Racist Remarks

Here is the powerful speech by Rep. John Lewis in favor of the House Resolution:

“I rise with a sense of righteous indignation to support this resolution.”

“I know racism when I see it. I know racism when I feel it. And at the highest level of government, there’s no room for racism.”

“It sows the seeds of violence and destroys the hopes and dreams of people.”

“The world is watching. They are shocked and dismayed because it seems we have lost our way as a nation, as a proud and great people.” 

“Some of us have been victims of the stain, the pain, and hurt of racism. In the 1950’s and during 1960’s, segregationists told us to go back when we protested for our rights. They told ministers, priests, rabbis, and nuns to go back. They told the innocent little children seeking just an equal education, to go back.”

“As a nation and as a people we need to go forward and not backward. With this vote, we stand with our sisters, three were born in America and one came here looking for a better life. With this vote, we meet our moral obligation to condemn hate, racism, and bigotry in every form.”

"Thank you for the time. Do what is right, what is fair, and what is just."

And here is the Resolution passed by the House of Representatives:

RESOLUTION

Condemning President Trump’s racist comments directed at Members of Congress.
Whereas the Founders conceived America as a haven of ref- uge for people fleeing from religious and political persecution, and Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison all emphasized that the Nation gained as it attracted new people in search of freedom and liveli- hood for their families;

Whereas the Declaration of Independence defined America as a covenant based on equality, the unalienable Rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and government by the consent of the people;

Whereas Benjamin Franklin said at the Constitutional con- vention, ‘‘When foreigners after looking about for some other Country in which they can obtain more happiness, give a preference to ours, it is a proof of attachment which ought to excite our confidence and affection’’;

Whereas President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, ‘‘Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists’’;
Whereas immigration of people from all over the Earth has defined every stage of American history and propelled our social, economic, political, scientific, cultural, artistic and technological progress as a people, and all Americans, ex- cept for the descendants of Native people and enslaved African-Americans, are immigrants or descendants of im- migrants;

Whereas the commitment to immigration and asylum has been not a partisan cause but a powerful national value that has infused the work of many Presidents;

Whereas American patriotism is defined not by race or eth- nicity but by devotion to the Constitutional ideals of equality, liberty, inclusion, and democracy and by service to our communities and struggle for the common good;

Whereas President John F. Kennedy, whose family came to the United States from Ireland, stated in his 1958 book ‘‘A Nation of Immigrants’’ that ‘‘The contribution of im- migrants can be seen in every aspect of our national life. We see it in religion, in politics, in business, in the arts, in education, even in athletics and entertainment. There is no part of our nation that has not been touched by our immigrant background. Everywhere immigrants have en- riched and strengthened the fabric of American life.’’;

Whereas President Ronald Reagan in his last speech as President conveyed ‘‘An observation about a country which I love’’;

Whereas as President Reagan observed, the torch of Lady Liberty symbolizes our freedom and represents our herit- age, the compact with our parents, our grandparents, and our ancestors, and it is the Statue of Liberty and its val- ues that give us our great and special place in the world;

Whereas other countries may seek to compete with us, but in one vital area, as ‘‘a beacon of freedom and opportunity that draws the people of the world, no country on Earth comes close’’;

Whereas it is the great life force of ‘‘each generation of new Americans that guarantees that America’s triumph shall continue unsurpassed’’ through the 21st century and be- yond and is part of the ‘‘magical, intoxicating power of America’’;

Whereas this is ‘‘one of the most important sources of Amer- ica’s greatness: we lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people -- our strength -- from every country and every corner of the world, and by doing so we continuously renew and enrich our nation’’;

Whereas ‘‘thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we’re a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge’’, always leading the world to the next fron- tier;

Whereas this openness is vital to our future as a Nation, and ‘‘if we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leader- ship in the world would soon be lost’’; and

Whereas President Donald Trump’s racist comments have le- gitimized fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color: Now, therefore, be it

1. 1  Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
   
   
2. 2  (1) believes that immigrants and their descend-
   
   
3. 3  ants have made America stronger, and that those
   
   
4. 4  who take the oath of citizenship are every bit as
   
   
5. 5  American as those whose families have lived in the
   
   
6. 6  United States for many generations;
   
   
7. 7  (2) is committed to keeping America open to
   
   
8. 8  those lawfully seeking refuge and asylum from vio-
   
   
9. 9  lence and oppression, and those who are willing to
   
   
10. 10  work hard to live the American Dream, no matter
    
    
11. 11  their race, ethnicity, faith, or country of origin; and
    
    
12. 12  (3) strongly condemns President Donald
    
    
13. 13  Trump’s racist comments that have legitimized and
    
    
14. 14  increased fear and hatred of new Americans and
    
    
15. 15  people of color by saying that our fellow Americans
    
    
16. 16  who are immigrants, and those who may look to the
    
    
17. 17  President like immigrants, should ‘‘go back’’ to
    
    
18. 18  other countries, by referring to immigrants and asy-
    
    
19. 19  lum seekers as ‘‘invaders,’’ and by saying that Mem-
    
    
20. 20  bers of Congress who are immigrants (or those of
    
    
21. 21  our colleagues who are wrongly assumed to be immi-
    
    
22. 22  grants) do not belong in Congress or in the United
    
    
23. 23  States of America.

U.N. General Assembly Rebukes Trump's Jerusalem Action

Since World War II, the United States has been the leader of the free world. It had strong allies, and nations of all sizes looked to the U.S. for direction and help. Sadly, that is no longer true.

Donald Trump has shown the world that the United States can no longer be trusted to keep its word and abide by agreements it has entered into (TPP, Paris Accords, Iran Agreement, NAFTA). By violating these agreements, Trump has angered even our most reliable allies. And he is making this country a pariah among nations -- a nation that cannot be trusted to do what is best on the world stage.

This was never more clear than in Trump's decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. The move made the Mid-East a more volatile place, threatening the peace, and making it clear to the world that the United States cannot act as an impartial party to bring a solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Recently, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution to condemn the United States Jerusalem action. The United States had vetoed such a resolution in the Security Council, but the General Assembly gives all nations a vote and none a veto.

Using the only tool in the Trump administration diplomatic pouch, the United States tried to threaten the nations of the world into voting against. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley to the nations before the vote:

"The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation." 

"We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world's largest contribution to the United Nations. And we will remember it when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit."

That threat didn't have the desired effect. Only eight nations (Israel, Honduras, Guatemala, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Togo) voted with the United States against the resolution. Another 35 refused to cast a vote. But the overwhelming number of nations voted for the resolution condemning the United States -- 128 nations, including all of our best allies (United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Italy, France, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, etc.).

The resolution can't force the United States to change its position, but it does make it very clear that the world is not going to blindly follow Trump down a road to disaster. Trump is making the world a more dangerous place for everyone -- and the nations of the world know that.

The era of U.S. leadership is over. That is not good for the U.S. or the world.