Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D-Texas), specifically the 18th District/ Central Houston, had something to say to tRump and her fellow colleagues. And she was speaking for all of us when she did so.
During the day’s special order of the Congressional Black Caucus, a passionate Rep. Lee condemned Trump’s remarks on those that are taking a stand.
“I kneel in front of the flag and on this floor, I kneel in honor of the First Amendment, I kneel because the flag is a symbol for freedom, I kneel because I am going to stand against racism, I kneel because I will stand with those young men and I’ll stand with our soldiers and I’ll stand with America because I kneel.”
“There is no basis in the First Amendment that says that you cannot kneel on the National Anthem or in front of the flag,” she said.
“There is no regulation that says that these young men cannot stand against the dishonoring of their mothers by you calling them to fire the son of a B. You tell me which of those children’s mothers are a son of a B.
That is racism.”
After her remarks, came a series of tweets from fellow Black Caucus member, Rep. John Lewis, who said that there is…
“nothing wrong with kneeling down to stand up against injustice.”
Earlier Monday, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-La.), soundly condemned tRumps attack on the those taking a knee for injustice.
“They are taking a knee to protest police officers who kill unarmed African Americans — men and women, adults and children, parents and grandparents — with impunity. They are taking a knee to protest a justice system that says that being black is enough reason for a police officer to fear for his or her life.
In the NFL, 70 percent of players are black, which means they and their families and friends have experienced racial profiling by police that leaves too many unarmed African Americans injured or dead.”
Later in the day, Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) also took a knee behind the podium, denouncing President Trump and called for his impeachment.
Thank you, Colin Kaepernick.
And to everyone ‘taking a knee’.