[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 171 (Thursday, October 1, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5116-H5118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SPEAKING TO THE SOULS OF AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am so glad that my colleague invoked 
God's name on the floor of the House. As I stand here, I can read the 
words ``In God We Trust.''
  We are blessed by a Nation that has the right and the protections to 
express our faith, our love of the God we love. And so I thought this 
morning I was compelled to come to the floor because I believe in a God 
of love, and my Christian faith believes in the sacrifice He made so 
that we might live and, as well, to recognize that He protects us all.
  As we go through this road of trepidation with COVID-19, as I mourn 
for more than 200,000 Americans, many of whom lost their lives because 
of ill-fated policies by the administration, I thought it was 
imperative that I speak to the souls of America because, as my 
predecessor, the Honorable Barbara Jordan, I have faith in this Nation. 
She was a good mentor for me and many others. She was a patriot, and I 
have tried to be every day of my life.
  I honor the men and women who put on the uniform, young boys and 
girls almost, young men and women throughout the ages. I acknowledge 
the fact that, even with bondage in their DNA, slaves volunteered, ex-
slaves, to fight in the Civil War, but they fought in wars before, 
including the Revolutionary War.
  The heritage of African Americans and Black Americans in this country 
is wrapped in the love of the Nation. The times that we have stepped 
out to be able to demand justice for our Nation and for everyone, it 
has not been against the flag; it has been to empower the flag to 
symbolize the right thing.
  How many people realize the number of African Americans who died 
during the civil rights movement? I didn't say the Civil War. We lost 
many in the civil rights movement.

                              {time}  1000

  Yes, we know, tragically, brave men and women who were not Black who 
came to help lost their lives. The three Mississippi boys, Viola 
Liuzzo, and others lost their lives because they believed in a better 
America.
  Then I am reminded of the beginnings of the takeover of a beautiful 
country called Germany by Nazism. The words that I remember in a 
historical perspective is: It was the silence that killed us.
  Dr. King said that it is not the good people who fail, but it is 
those who

[[Page H5117]]

stand by silently and say nothing--so, too, the head of this Nation.
  It might have been a lot of bickering on Tuesday night in your mind, 
Mr. Speaker, but I can say to you that it was a painful experience for 
so many when we could not hear the simple words of condemnation of 
white supremacy, even when, as the senior member of the Homeland 
Security Committee, I have heard over and over again, a member of the 
Judiciary Committee, Director Wray of the FBI that the most dangerous 
domestic terrorist threat in the United States--not my words, his 
words--is white supremacy, or those words coming, as well, from the 
head of the Homeland Security Department, the Secretary.
  I offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that 
was adopted that directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress 
the extent, if any, of the threat to national security posed by 
domestic terrorist groups and organizations motivated by a belief 
system of white supremacy such as boogaloo boys and proud boys 
extremists. I am proud of the House. Obviously, it was adopted in a 
bipartisan commitment. I am proud that Members joined in by their 
acquiescence and affirmation that this is not America.
  But over these last couple of days, social media is raging. When that 
question was posed to the existing and sitting President of the United 
States, we heard these words when they asked would you condemn the 
proud boys' violence, ``stand back and stand by.''
  Mr. Speaker, as I close, let me say that white supremacy is going to 
strangle us and our values. I beg of this leadership and I beg of all 
of us to stand against it, to fight against it, and to save lives, 
because those lives are precious American lives, and we are not that 
way. We are better than this, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to efforts to legitimize violent 
White Nationalists groups.
  Over the last several months, I have raised concerns over the role 
that Boogaloo and Proud Boys have played in bringing an element of 
violence into the otherwise peaceful protests following the death of 
George Floyd.
  During the House Consideration of the NOAA, I offered an amendment 
that was adopted to directs the Secretary of Defense to report to 
Congress the extent, if any, of the threat to national security posed 
by domestic terrorist groups and organizations motivated by a belief 
system of white supremacy, such as the Boogaloo and Proud Boys 
extremists.
  During the first Presidential debate the President had the 
opportunity to condemn Proud Boys, which he could not or would not do.
  In the light of day, he claims ignorance of who or what Proud Boys 
is--which sounds like the same words he used about not knowing David 
Duke--a former Grand Wizard of the KKK who endorsed him during his 
first Presidential Election.
  The President in the interviews with Robert Woodward has proven 
himself to be anything but ignorant or uninformed.
  He has shown his willingness to use his knowledge for his benefit 
while keeping his knowledge hidden from others at their expense.
  What I know is that Congress has been briefed on the national 
security threat posed by Proud Boys and Boogaloo Boys, which means the 
President has also been briefed.
  On May 30, 2019, the FBI issued an Intelligence Bulletin on Anti-
Government, Identity Based, and Fringe Political Conspiracy Theories 
Very Likely Motivate Some Domestic Extremists to Commit Criminal, 
Sometimes Violent Activity, which includes the activities associated 
with Proud Boys and Boogaloo Boys.
  Proud Boys is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate 
group.
  The ADL describes Proud Boys as:

       Ideology: Primarily alt lite: Misogynistic, Islamophobic, 
     transphobic and anti-immigration. Some members espouse white 
     supremacist and anti-Semitic ideologies and/or engage with 
     white supremacist groups.

  In sum, the Proud Boys is a far-right neo-fascist organization that 
admits only men as members and promotes political violence.
  The group believes men--especially white men--and Western culture are 
under siege; their views have elements of white genocide conspiracy 
theory.
  While the group claims it does not support white supremacist views, 
its members often participate in racist rallies, events, and 
organizations.
  The organization glorifies violence, and members engage in violence 
at events they attend; the Southern Poverty Law Center has called it an 
``altright fight club''.
  The President's message when asked about condemning the White 
Supremist Group--Proud Boys, was to say to them ``Stand Back and Stand 
By.''
  It surprises absolutely no one that ``Stand Back and Stand By,'' 
means to be ready .
  Ready for what?
  The intelligence community has been sending warnings to the White 
House and Congress that groups like Proud Boys are a threat to our 
national security and have been waiting for someone like the President 
to incite others to join them in order to grow their numbers to spread 
violence.
  As I speak, the Internet is ablaze with activity from the Proud Boys 
in celebration and elation of their favorable recognition of the 
President.
  Proud Boys created a new image to signify the President's message to 
them, ``Stand Back and Stand By.''
  We know from experience how people like members of Proud Boys react 
when they believe they have legitimacy from the President; they take it 
as a license to continue their violent activities as we said four years 
ago, culminating in Charlottesville, Virginia.
  Proud Boys may use the phrase ``Stand Back and Stand By'' to describe 
the overwhelming majority of white Americans who are not aware of or 
interested in the activities of the group or any white supremist group, 
but may intend to support this President in November despite his 
obvious flaws.
  The unfortunate truth for voters who think their vote this November 
is not at risk of sending an affirming nod to Proud Boys or groups like 
them--then they should think again.
  President's own acts makes this election no longer about Red or Blue 
States, Democrats and Republicans, but about whether you condone 
racism, misogyny, or political and election violence.
  White Nationalists will interpret every white voter's vote for Trump 
as a vindication of their hate, misogyny, and rage against non-whites 
and independent women.
  Let us not be fooled, these groups hate a lot of things--and the 
color of a person's skin is just one of those things--they also hate 
women who are educated, who are leaders, who dare to think for 
themselves; they hate white men who form families with persons of other 
races, and they hate white men who will hire, promote, and support 
persons of color and women in employment; they hate education, public 
order, peace and justice that adhere to equality for all.
  They do love one thing--violence.
  Our role as Members of Congress is to defend and protect the American 
people, no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or 
country of origin.
  White Nationalists have been busy looking for fights and igniting 
violence at peaceful street protests.
  We saw them in Charlottesville, Virginia and have seen them trying to 
end state and local measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 and 
carrying out violence at George Floyd protests.
  Now the President is inviting Proud Boys to polling locations during 
ballot casting.
  COVID-19 is presenting a heightened barrier and challenge to voting 
in the November 3rd election.
  The validity of the American vote and the ability for Americans to 
exercise their vote is in jeopardy from a President who seems to be at 
war with the free and fair election process.
  Over the years, it has become increasingly hard for citizens to 
realize their voting rights--particularly for African Americans and 
other minorities, as well as for students, the elderly, and individuals 
with disabilities.
  Voter suppression measures across the country in the past included: 
new voter ID laws, reductions and cuts to polling places and early 
voting, and purging of voter rolls, but today there are challenges 
being made to mail-in voting during a time of COVID-19 when in-person 
voting would pose health risks to many voters.
  The doubts the President is seeking to create around mail-in voting 
are resulting in significant burdens for individuals seeking to 
exercise their most fundamental constitutional right.
  With varied systems of election administration and technology, 
polling place practices, and inexperienced poll workers, there is a 
real and dangerous threat that White Nationalists may take this opening 
provided by the President to compromise our nation's electoral process.
  During a time when the voting rights of minorities and all Americans 
are under the greatest attack since the passage of the Voting Rights 
Act, it is imperative that the federal government take all necessary 
steps to ensure that the right to vote and the entire electoral process 
is fully protected and upheld.
  It is important to know and understand that the Voting Rights Act and 
the Civil Rights Act never mention color, ethnicity, or race.
  Both of these laws are to preserve and protect basic human rights and 
dignity owed to each person.

[[Page H5118]]

  This may be the election year when the voting rights of a majority of 
Americans may need both of these laws.
  That is why I am asking the Department of Justice, pursuant to its 
statutory authority and consistent with its historic role as a guardian 
of civil rights and liberties, to take immediate action and investigate 
the full scope of vulnerabilities, security threats and breaches to our 
electoral and voting process posed by groups like Proud Boys.
  This President finds it too difficult to call out those among us who 
are the truly abhorrent and objectionable because they are at the heart 
of his political base.
  The violence seen during the recent national movement to end the 
deaths of unarmed black men while in police custody is not the start of 
the events that have led to the Boogaloo movement or Proud Boys 
activity.
  Groups like these have been around for over a century, most notable 
is the KKK, which is why they should not be invited to visit polling 
locations during a public election.
  According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), in the immediate 
aftermath of Election Day, a wave of hate crimes and lesser hate 
incidents swept the country with 1,094 bias incidents recorded in the 
first 34 days following Trump's Election on November 8, 2016.
  Of these incidents, the SPLC reports that anti-immigrant incidents 
(315) remain the most reported, followed by antiblack (221), anti-
Muslim (112), and anti-LGBT (109).
  Anti-Trump incidents numbered 26 (6 of which were also anti-white in 
nature, with 2 non-Trump related anti-white incidents reported).
  The threats from White Nationalist groups range from decentralized 
and leaderless accelerationist networks using social media platforms, 
such as the Boogaloo movement, to more structured, far-right militia 
extremist groups.
  The ideologies undergirding these movements or groups have some 
similarities to other anti-government and white supremacist beliefs but 
are often not tied to a single, monolithic ideology.
  In addition, in many cases, their adherents' decentralized, and coded 
use of digital tools poses unique challenges for law enforcement and 
government officials to identify and track their activity.
  These developments in domestic terrorism, as reported in the media 
and government intelligence reports--coupled with recent arrests and 
successful violent attacks carried out by ``Boogaloo boys'' and militia 
extremists--are troubling.
  My concern is that as the nation moves towards a historic national 
election, the activity of violence instigators like Boogaloo Boys or 
Proud Boys will increase and lead to attacks becoming more frequent.
  This view is heightened given the President's instructions to Proud 
Boys to ``Stand Back'' and ``Stand By.''
  The domestic terrorism issues of greatest concern to me are:
  The number of incidents, although small in number, that have involved 
government employees, contractors or military personnel;
  The targeting of places of worship;
  Politically motivated attacks or attempted attacks; and
  Use of Social media for domestic and international hate groups to 
collaborate and stoke hate.
  Icreasingly everyday the President confirms his candidacy as 
candidate of white supremacy.
  A quote from Lincoln's address to Congress in December 1862 come to 
mind, when he said to this body:
  ``Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and 
this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No 
personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of 
us. The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor 
or dishonor, to the latest generation. We say we are for the Union. The 
world will not forget that we say this. We know how to save the Union. 
The world knows we do know how to save it. We--even we here--hold the 
power and bear the responsibility.''
  Due to the rise in online activity of these groups spurred by the 
President's comments many law enforcement jurisdictions around the 
nation must prepare for the violence that may come as these groups seek 
to act out in advance of the election.
  This will put additional strain on the budgets of local and state law 
enforcement agencies already burdened with COVID-19 emergency measures 
and tight budgets caused by the economic collapse due to this 
Administration's mismanagement of COVID-19.
  Congress must send a unified message that there is no place in the 
body politic for these groups or these views.
  I invite my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what the 
President did not do by joining me and Vice President Biden and 
millions of Americans in condemning the White Supremist Groups.

                          ____________________