In yesterday’s session, Freedom Caucus members were the only representatives of the Michigan House who refused to support a resolution condemning Rep. Schriver for spreading racist conspiracy theories
LANSING — In case you missed it yesterday, members of Michigan’s House Freedom Caucus doubled down on their refusal to denounce their fellow MAGA Republican Rep. Josh Shriver’s racist comments. While almost every other Democrat and Republican in the House voted in favor of passing a resolution to denounce basic forms of vitriol by House members, Freedom Caucus members Representatives Carra, Friske, DeSana, Maddock, and of course, Schriver himself, all voted against the resolution; other Republican Representatives Fox, Johnsen, Kuhn, and Smit chose the ‘remain complicit and silent’ route and simply didn’t vote.
Prior to the resolution being brought to a vote, these members had avoided saying anything, with Rep. Maddock even standing up for Schriver. Now, they have failed to show even a modicum of human decency by voting against the condemnation of racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and anti-Semitism rife in this language. Refusing to admonish this blatant bigotry is a new low, even for them.
The 98 House members who supported the resolution showed that this is not a partisan moment, but a moment to come together and stand up against hate. What’s clear is Rep. Schriver’s bigoted rhetoric is dangerous and it has no place in the People’s House.
And, let’s not forget, while MAGA Matt Hall voted for the resolution, he has failed to publicly say anything denouncing Rep. Schriver’s behavior. His refusal, as a so-called “leader” in his party, to publicly hold Schriver accountable has continued even as Schriver digs himself into a deeper hole of racist, conspiracy theories.
Read more about the bipartisan House resolution below:
Detroit News: House votes to condemn racism, anti-Semitism after GOP lawmaker’s ‘great replacement’ post
- The resolution — which did not mention Rep. Josh Schriver, R-Oxford, by name — passed 98-5 with support from House Republican Leader Matt Hall, who has so far been silent on Schriver’s social media activity…
- The resolution argued lawmakers are held to a higher standard and such posts reflect a “failure of decorum” and dereliction of duty.
- “Such language and images often draw on stereotypes and conspiracy theories that do not reflect the reality of the world or its people,” the resolution introduced by Rep. Jason Hoskins, D-Southfield, said. “Such discourse has been used to incite and justify deadly violence against individuals and communities of color.”..
- On the House floor, Tate said people watch how members of the “people’s House” conduct themselves and see racist or anti-Semitic rhetoric as roadblocks to accessing state government. “Attempting to govern through hate, through fear or through the marginalization of groups of people is unsustainable and it is reckless,” Tate said…
- The “great replacement” conspiracy theory asserts there is a coordinated effort to dilute the influence of White people through immigration and through low birth rates among White individuals, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The theory has been linked to anti-Semitism, with some versions alleging it is Jews coordinating the so-called replacement.
- It has been referenced, in varying degrees, by shooters in several mass shootings, such as a shooting of 10 people, including several Black individuals, in Buffalo New York in 2022; in the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh; in a 2019 synagogue shooting in Poway, California; and in a 2019 shooting at an El Paso Walmart.
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