Representative Sheila Jackson Lee accused the Trump administration of being racist and a threat to the national security of the U.S.
According to The Hill, Rep. Lee was speaking during a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee where she said that last week’s attack in Texas, which is her home state, was a prime example of ignoring white supremacy.
“I believe that racism … should be declared a national security threat,” Jackson Lee said.
“Racism is a national security threat. Before, we would say, ‘you have a right to your racist views. You have a right to believe that slavery was right. That segregation was right.’ We live in an era where that can no longer be allowed,” she continued.
Jackson Lee’s comments came following the mass shooting in a Walmart in El Paso, in which 22 people died. Police said that the shooter was “an espoused racist and white supremacist .”
The Trump administration as well as the President himself have faced condemnation by many Democrats who are arguing that Trump’s rhetoric and remarks on immigrants and communities of color play a great factor in the shootings.
Trump has called for the House and Senate to pass bills supporting “intelligent background checks” after the shootings, while adding that he is hopeful for “meaningful” action on gun violence in Congress.
“I think with a lot of success that we have, I think I have a greater influence now over the Senate and over the House,” he said last week. “I think we can get something really good done. I think we can have some meaningful background checks.”
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