Censuring The President’s Post-Charlottesville Comments

After the scenes of violence and hatred in Charlottesville last month, including the killing of Heather Heyer, I like so many of you was appalled by the comments made by the President. Many media outlets also criticized attempts to create a moral equivalency between the white supremacist, Ku Klux Klan, and neo-Nazi groups responsible for actions of domestic terrorism and those counter-protesting the "Unite the Right" rally.
 
I believe the President’s remarks were a moral outrage.  Refusing to completely and unambiguously denounce white supremacist groups and individuals provides encouragement for their bigoted, nationalist ideology and policies. This is not the position of the United States government, and I believe it is incumbent upon Congress to send a clear message that these comments are not only wrong but an affront to the moral convictions and ideals of our country.

That is why I, along with Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), introduced a censure resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to formally condemn the President and make clear that his comments do not reflect the views of Congress or of the United States government.

You can read the full text of the resolution, which currently has over 130 cosponsors, if you click here.

History will remember how we responded to, what I believe is the President’s failure to adequately condemn the Charlottesville hate groups.  If Congress does not send a clear message, the world will see us as complicit and groups peddling in white supremacy, racism and anti-Semitism will feel vindicated and emboldened to continue down their path of hate and violence. This is not an issue of politics – it is an issue of principles.

I am hopeful more of my colleagues will agree to cosponsor this resolution and help send a clear message to the President and the world about the events in Charlottesville and I will continue to push for Congress to take action on this important issue.