The publication is reproduced in full below:
REPLACEMENT OF BUST OF ROGER BROOKE TANEY WITH BUST OF THURGOOD
MARSHALL
______
speech of
HON. KEVIN HERN
of oklahoma
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Mr. HERN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to shed some light on history.
In 1854, members of the Whig Party met to begin discussions on a new political party--the primary platform being the abolition of slavery.
The idea spread like wildfire, and just six years later, the newly formed Republican Party successfully elected their first President, Abraham Lincoln.
Republican leadership fought to eradicate the scourge of slavery, defeat the racist Southern Democrats, and forge a new future for America where all were equal--no matter the color of their skin.
Republicans, as the Speaker of the House so eloquently explained earlier, voted to pass the 14th amendment to give Black Americans the right to vote. Against the will of the Democrats. This history is integral to the discussion we're having today, as the men who fought to perpetuate slavery, impose racist policies, and oppress newly freed Black Americans were all Democrats.
Now, the Democrats of today don't want you to know that.
They've worked hard to hide their history and supplant the accurate story of their party with the narrative of the Democratic savior. What they're attempting to do today is further bury their racist past and hide it from the American people.
I represent Tulsa, a city that knows something about Democrats hiding their past. Just this month, we observed 100 years since the horrific race massacre that destroyed Black Wall Street and killed hundreds of Black Tulsans. These attacks were orchestrated by Oklahoma Democrats and subsequently hidden by Oklahoma Democrats for decades, until we began to seek out the truth.
Tulsa no longer hides this shameful part of our history. Under Republican leadership, Tulsa has worked hard to honor the memories of the race massacre victims and share the accurate history of the horrific, racist attack that took place 100 years ago.
We are stronger now because of our commitment to shine a light on our history . . . even the painful pieces. We do not hide it, obfuscate it, or rewrite it--like my Democratic colleagues are attempting to do today.
There are men on display in the Capitol Building who did terrible things. They should never have been placed in such positions of prominence, but it was Democrat leaders at the state level who sent them here. Many such states are now working to remove their statues under the proper process, led by Republican leaders at the state level.
Congressional Democrats are attempting to usurp the authority given to our states and claim it as a moral victory for themselves.
For the statues and busts under Congressional jurisdiction, I fully support efforts to remove terrible men from positions of prominence, but I cannot justify usurping power from the states--states that are already working to rectify the decisions made generations ago by racist Democrats.
I urge my colleagues to join me in opposition to this bill.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 114
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