Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) delivered a fiery rebuke to Republican lawmakers during a Capitol Hill hearing on Wednesday. The GOP-backed bill in question seeks to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives by terminating employees working in related roles. Proponents of the bill argue that DEI programs “oppress white men.”
Texas Representative Takes Aim at “Misuse” of Oppression Claims
Crockett, a former civil rights attorney, opened her remarks with what she called a “vocabulary lesson” on the true meaning of oppression. “Let me tell you that the reason my colleagues wanted you to understand the same Black history that your side of the aisle wants to delete out of classrooms is because you can then misuse words like ‘oppression,’” Crockett stated. “There has been no oppression for the white man in this country.”
Crockett’s speech highlighted America’s fraught racial history, contrasting it with claims of oppression against white Americans. “You tell me which white men were dragged out of their homes, shipped across an ocean, and told, ‘You are going to go and work. We are going to steal your wives, we are going to rape your wives,’” she said. “That didn’t happen to the white community. That is oppression.”
The Texas Democrat’s remarks gained traction online, with a video of her speech circulating widely on social media. Crockett later shared a clip on her Instagram, further amplifying her pointed critique of the proposed legislation.
Jasmine Crockett Pushes Back on Trump’s DEI Stance
Crockett also addressed former President Donald Trump’s stance on diversity initiatives. Trump has vowed to penalize higher education institutions supporting DEI efforts, claiming such programs are discriminatory. Crockett dismissed these views, arguing that DEI is essential to fostering equality in a diverse society.
“Diversity works,” she said emphatically. “Until you can show me data that says otherwise, we need to get back to being a country that listens to experts, recognizes racism is real, and stops pretending it’s not.”
Crockett concluded by calling for unity rooted in truth. “If we truly want a more perfect union, we must confront the problems we face instead of denying them.”