Condemning All Forms of Anti-Asian Sentiment As Related to Covid-19

Floor Speech

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Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my dear friend from Ohio, for yielding.

I am listening to my colleagues and the recent speaker. Where is that passion, where is that indignation over the violent mobs that are terrorizing our communities, that are assaulting our law enforcement officers?

People are being killed in cold blood in once great American cities, and not nigh a word is said in this great Chamber about what is happening to our fellow Americans whose rights are being trampled. Instead, they want to hyperventilate over this pettiness.

We know what it is about, and the American people know what it is about, Madam Speaker. They know good and well this is about scoring political points. They have seen it over and over, day in and day out for the last 2 years under the Pelosi leadership of this great representative body; obstruction, more political theater, and just dividing us.

This is dividing our country. This is opportunism like I have never seen before. You can't refer to a virus by its place of origin? We have been doing that for time immemorial. And now we can't call it the ``Chinese virus,'' somehow that is offensive?

This is about dividing our country. This is about stoking the flames of racial dissension. It is un-American. It is unacceptable for our leaders to do what is happening today. I trust the American people; they are watching this.

This is the stark contrast in leadership that we have been talking about. Do you want more of this, America?

Do you want more resolutions to condemn calling the virus the ``Wuhan virus?'' Or do you want to condemn what is happening in Portland, in Seattle, and the rise in crime and the mass exodus by our police officers, who feel that they have jeopardized their livelihoods and their lives? We have disrespected them. We have demonized them.

What are we doing in this Chamber? God save the Union. God have mercy that we can't just come together, solve a few problems, I don't know, like the unprecedented crisis that we are facing to get our fellow American citizens and families back on their feet. To hold China accountable for what they have done.

There are real problems to solve, and I want to work with my colleagues. And they know we condemn racism. They know we don't stand for making light of something so serious. But they are seizing on this political opportunistic moment. It is the wrong time. They are on the wrong side of history here, Madam Speaker. And the ultimate judge of what happens today in this Chamber and what has happened over the last 2 years will be in the hands of we the people. And that is my faith, that is my confidence.

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