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Massachussetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D) warned House Republicans to keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s name out of their mouths amid their efforts to dismantle DEI.
During Wednesday's (November 20) House Oversight Committee hearing, Pressley condemned Republicans for backing the Dismantle DEI Act, a new bill seeking to weaken diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the government.
Pressley called out the anti-DEI supporters for twisting King's words to advance their agenda.
"And I’d also just like to take a personal note of privilege to say, please keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s name out of your mouths," Pressley said, per Fox News.
The Dismantle DEI Act, which is set to eliminate DEI offices in the federal government, end DEI requirements for federal contractors and grant applicants, and provide oversight to ensure tax dollars aren’t being used to pay for DEI initiatives, ultimately passed in 23-17 vote.
During the hearing, Pressley gave House Republicans a lesson on the country's history of racism.
"Do you all know your history? Do you know American history?" she asked. "The original Constitution counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person. During World War II, the federal government forcibly relocated and incarcerated 110,000 Japanese Americans. The FHA practiced redlining in the 1930’s and 60’s to deny mortgages to Black Americans, which is why we have a racial wealth gap today."
Pressley noted that King's family has called for politicians to stop wrongfully referencing the civil rights leader.
"Your perversion of his words and his mission when his children have asked you to stop invoking his name and perverting his work when he was a proud and unapologetic Black man fighting for equality for Black Americans and all marginalized people," she said.
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