A day after overseeing Republican obstruction of voting rights laws within the Senate, Senator Mitch McConnell made a racially disparaging remark about Black voters, setting off a torrent of backlash on-line.
In a press convention held on Wednesday (January twentieth), the Senate Minority Chief spoke at a press convention concerning the day gone by’s debate and failed votes to advance a invoice that contained the Freedom To Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Development Act which included an try to vary the filibuster guidelines to take action. A query was posed by a reporter honing in on considerations from Black voters and different voters of coloration about this obstruction to Senator McConnell. “Properly, the priority is misplaced as a result of should you have a look at the statistics, African American voters are voting in simply as excessive a proportion as Individuals,” the senior Senator from Kentucky stated. “A latest survey, 94% of Individuals thought it was simple to vote. This isn’t an issue.” The implication in these phrases set off a firestorm on-line, with the Congressional Black Caucus sharing the clip of his feedback with the caption: “It’s undoubtedly giving #MitchPlease. African Individuals are ARE Individuals, three hundred and sixty five days a yr!”
A spokesperson for McConnell claimed that the Senator meant to say “different Individuals” and never simply “Individuals” in a press release to the press on Thursday. However many weren’t shopping for it, given McConnell’s previous historical past of disparaging feedback in the direction of Black folks. Virginia Consultant Donald McEachin posted a letter to the Senate Minority Chief by way of his Twitter account, condemning his feedback saying partially: “That is 2022, and being American is just not synonymous with trying or considering such as you. African Individuals are, in truth, Americans deserving of our recognition, respect, and equal protections below the regulation.”
Presently, Senator McConnell has made no additional remark about his remarks. We’re not holding our breath.
