Rep. Chip RoyCharles (Chip) Eugene RoyHouse Republicans Vote To Support Ear Tags Some Republicans Say Proxy Voting Advances Democrats House Through Comprehensive Protections For LGBTQ People MORE (R-Texas) opened a hearing on Thursday devoted to the rise of violence against Asian Americans with a reference to lynching.
“We believe in justice. There’s an old saying in Texas … find all the rope in Texas and take a tall oak,” Roy said in his opening statement at the House Judiciary Committee hearing two days after the meeting. murders in the Atlanta area of eight people, including six Asian women.
“We take justice very seriously, and we should. Collect the bad guys. That’s where we believe, ”he said.
Roy’s comments did not lead to any investigation at the hearing, although Rep. Grace Meng
Grace Meng Lawmakers warn of rise in violence against Asian Americans after Georgia shooting Schumer, Gillibrand calls on Cuomo to resign How two controversies collided for Cuomo MORE (DN.Y.) she seemed to notice when he said, “Some of us seem to get off the subject a little bit. I’m not sure why. “
Later, other lawmakers also took note of the comment.
Chip Roy glorified lynching at a hearing on violence against Asians, Rep. Ted Location
Ted W. Lieu Atlanta Murders Underscore Disturbing Rise in Anti-Asian Violence Officer Faces Criticism for Allegations Shooter in Georgia Had “a Really Bad Day” Lawmakers Warn About Increasing Violence Against Asian Americans Following Georgia Shootings MORE (D-Calif.), Speaking at the hearing, tweeted. “The largest mass lynching in US history was against Chinese immigrants. I served on active duty in the US military to defend [Roy’s] rightly so to say stupid, racist things. I wish he wouldn’t say it again. “
Chip Roy glorified lynching at a hearing on violence against Asians. The largest mass lynching in US history targeted Chinese immigrants.
I served on active duty in the United States Army to defend @chiproytxIt’s right to say stupid, racist things. I wish he wouldn’t say it again. https://t.co/9pHb3ERgaN
– Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 18, 2021
In addition, other Democratic lawmakers pushed back against Roy during the session by blaming the coronavirus on China and GOP members who continued to use inflammatory language to describe COVID-19.
Robert Aaron Long, 21, has been charged with eight murders for the murders in three Atlanta spas.
While police have said they are still investigating the suspect’s possible motivation, the murders have highlighted the dangers facing Asian Americans amid the coronavirus, which has seen a spike in violent crime targeting the community.
Roy’s “old saying” seemingly comes from a controversial text from a 2003 Toby Keith song.
“Take all the rope in Texas, find a tall oak, get all those bad guys, hang them high in the street for all the people to see,” the song goes.
Roy later responded to complaints circulating about his reference to lynching.
Apparently some people are crazy that I used an old phrase about finding all the rope in Texas and a tall oak tree about doing justice against bad guys. I meant it, ”said Roy.
“We need more justice and less thought police. We need to stop evildoers like those who carried out the attack in Atlanta this week, or cartels abusing small children, or those who murder our police in the street. We need to keep order. “By eliminating evil actors, don’t turn America into an authoritarian state like the Chinese communists trying to destroy us. No excuses.”
At the last session of Congress, the House passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which would have made lynching a federal hate crime. Roy voted in favor of the bill, which eventually languished in the Senate.