Rep. Chip RoyCharles (Chip) Eugene RoyHouse Republicans vote to support targets Some Republicans say proxy voting gives Democrats an advantage. (R-Texas) opened a hearing on Thursday dedicated to increasing violence against Asian Americans with a reference to lynching.
“We believe in justice. There is an old saying in Texas … find the whole rope in Texas and get a tall oak,” said Roy in his opening statement at the House Judiciary Committee hearing, which took place two days after the murders in the Atlanta area of eight people, including six Asian women.
“We take justice very seriously and we must do that. Gather the bad guys. That’s where we believe, ”he said.
Roy’s remarks did not provoke scrutiny during the hearing, although Rep. Grace Meng
Grace MengLawmakers warn of increased violence against Asian Americans after shootings in Georgia Schumer, Gillibrand ask Cuomo to resign As two controversies collided by Cuomo MORE (DN.Y.) seemed to notice them when he stated moments after he spoke: “Some of us seem to be getting off the subject a little. I’m not sure why. “
Later, other lawmakers also took note of the comment.
“Chip Roy glorified lynching at an audience on violence against Asians,” the representative. Ted Lieu
Murders of Ted W. LieuAtlanta underscore a worrying rise in anti-Asian violence Official faces criticism for saying the alleged Georgia sniper had ‘a very bad day’. (D-Calif.), Who spoke during the hearing, tweeted. “The greatest mass lynching in the history of the United States was against Chinese immigrants. I was active in the United States armed forces to defend [Roy’s] right to say stupid and racist things. I just wanted him to stop saying that. “
Chip Roy glorified lynching at an audience on violence against Asians. The biggest mass lynching in the history of the United States was against Chinese immigrants.
I served on active duty in the US armed forces to defend @chiproytxit is right to say stupid and racist things. I just wanted him to stop saying that. https://t.co/9pHb3ERgaN
– Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 18, 2021
In addition, other Democratic lawmakers during the session protested Roy, blaming the coronavirus on China and members of the Republican Party who continued to use incendiary language to describe COVID-19.
Robert Aaron Long, 21, has been charged with eight counts of homicide for the deaths at three spas in the Atlanta area.
Although the police said they were still investigating the suspect’s possible motivation, the murders highlighted the dangers for Asian Americans amid the coronavirus, which saw an increase in violent crimes against the community.
Roy’s “old saying” apparently comes from a controversial lyric from a 2003 Toby Keith song.
“Take all the rope in Texas, find a tall oak, gather all those bad boys, hang them high on the street for everyone to see,” says the song.
Roy later responded to complaints that circulated about his reference to lynching.
“Apparently, some people are freaking out because I used an old expression about finding the whole rope in Texas and a tall oak tree about doing justice against the bad guys. I meant it, “said Roy.
“We need more justice and less thought-out policing. We need to stop the wrongdoers, like those who carried out the attack in Atlanta this week, or cartels that abuse young children, or those who kill our policemen on the streets. We must restore order by eliminating evil actors, not transforming America into an authoritarian state like the Chinese communists who seek to destroy us. No excuses. “
During the last session of Congress, the House passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which would make lynching a federal hate crime. Roy voted in favor of the bill, which ended up languishing in the Senate.