For Immediate Release: March 10, 2022
Contact: Ryan Hite, Communications Director
Both Parties Fall In Lockstep Virtue Signaling Show Vote
Washington, D.C.: “Whether from devotion to ideology or for fear of reprisal, it seems we can quite literally count the courageous members of Congress on one hand,” said Ed Martin of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles.
The House passed the Emmet Till Antilynching Act (HR 55) this week by a vote of 422 to 3. Only Representatives Thomas Massie (KY), Andrew S. Clyde (GA), and Chip Roy (TX) voted no to the act. The bill aims to amend section 249 of title 18 of the U.S. Code to specify that for the hate crime act of lynching, anyone who conspires to commit such an act should be punished by up to 30 years in jail.
“The whole of the left and even the old guard GOP may be quick to condemn these three,” Martin said, “Let’s be abundantly clear that lynching (especially based on race) is an evil, reprehensible act, and it’s already against federal law under first-degree murder. In fact, lynching someone is also illegal under the laws of every state.
“Why change the U.S. Code, then? Why is it needed? It serves federal power in a particular way: making ‘conspiracy’ a criminal act. If there’s one thing we should know, it’s never to give government overly broad, subjective language under which to exert their will on us.”
In their own words:
- Rep. Thomas Massie — “The Constitution specifies only a handful of federal crimes, and leaves the rest to individual states to prosecute. … Lynching a person is already illegal in every state. Passing this legislation falsely implies that lynching someone does not already constitute criminal activity.”
- Rep. Andrew Clyde — “Simply put, we do not need another duplicate federal law. Carving out a separate distinction for lynching may be symbolic, but it falsely suggests that individuals who commit, or attempt to commit, a lynching do not already face criminal charges and consequences.”
- Rep. Chip Roy — “Lynching is an unspeakably heinous crime. But this bill doesn’t have anything to do with lynching, other than its name. It does not make lynching a federal offense. In fact, it creates no new federal offenses. It simply raises the punishment for things that are already federal crimes, including those that are unrelated to lynching — such as gender identity — in an effort to advance a woke agenda under the guise of correcting racial injustice.”
“I am grateful for elected officeholders who are thoughtful in their legislative decisions,” concluded Martin. “This bill’s passage is virtue signaling at it’s worst. While I am grateful for three Congressmen willing to say so, I’m saddened and disturbed that they stand alone. America needs more truth, more thoughtful action from our leaders and less symbolic inaction.”
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