[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 30, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    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.

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