Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., a prominent member of “The Squad,” delivered a fiery rebuttal against House Republicans’ proposed Dismantle DEI Act, which aims to abolish diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government.
Speaking during a House Oversight Committee hearing, Pressley accused GOP lawmakers of distorting the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and denying America’s history of systemic racism.
In a passionate address, Pressley urged her colleagues to respect King’s legacy, saying:
“Please keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s name out of your mouths. Your perversion of his words and his mission is an insult when he was a proud and unapologetic Black man fighting for equality.”
The proposed legislation, introduced by Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, seeks to dismantle DEI offices across federal agencies, eliminate DEI requirements for federal contractors, and monitor the use of taxpayer dollars to prevent funding for what the bill’s sponsors describe as “race-based policies.”
Cloud argued that DEI initiatives undermine historical progress against discrimination, stating:
“From the abolition of slavery to the victories of the civil rights movement, Americans have worked tirelessly to right the wrongs of discrimination.”
Pressley: “This Bill Denies Racism Exists While Acknowledging Its Presence”
Pressley described the bill as contradictory and emblematic of a broader denial of racism.
“This bill, titled the Dismantling DEI Act, is an utter disgrace. It denies the sky is blue, water is wet, and racism is real,” she said, highlighting provisions within the bill that simultaneously deny and acknowledge racism’s existence.
She also reminded lawmakers of America’s historical injustices, from the Constitution’s three-fifths clause to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Pressley pointed out systemic policies, such as redlining and the exclusion of Black Americans from the benefits of the GI Bill, that contributed to the racial wealth gap.
“Do you all know your history?” she challenged.
Rep. Crockett Joins the Opposition
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, also took aim at the GOP’s characterization of DEI efforts as oppressive, delivering a sharp critique of historical inequities. Crockett argued:
“There has been no oppression for the White man in this country. You tell me which White men were dragged out of their homes, across an ocean, and enslaved.”
Despite their objections, the Dismantle DEI Act passed the Oversight Committee in a 23-17 vote.
