AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Three days after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Texas will observe the state holiday of Confederate Heroes Day on Thursday. Democrats within the Texas House say it ought to be the final time.
The Texas legislature established the holiday in 1973 “to honor Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and other Confederate heroes.” Lawmakers on Wednesday morning argued that phrase is an oxymoron.
“We are celebrating a harmful, hateful past,” Rep. Jarvis Johnson (D-Houston) mentioned. “We celebrate things by marking them with holidays and statues. It’s a constant reminder of the supremacy which they are trying to establish… the reminder has to be eradicated.”
Rep. Johnson has now filed laws to abolish the holiday three periods in a row. In 2019, the laws heard testimony within the House State Affairs Committee however was left pending and by no means reached a vote on the House flooring. In 2021, the invoice died in the identical committee with no listening to.
The group of 13 Democrats talking for Rep. Johnson’s newest invoice hope that is the session it passes.
“The momentum has been building,” Sen. Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas) mentioned. “We’re not just making a statement. We’re here to pass the bill. And I do expect [Republicans] to support this. I could be disappointed. I have been in the past. But we’re here and we’re serious.”
Last session, a minimum of seven Republicans coauthored or sponsored Rep. Johnson’s invoice to abolish the holiday, together with Justin Holland, Matt Shaheen, John Cyrier, Matt Krause, Jeff Leach, Jim Murphy, and Scott Sanford.
“There are those that will stand with you, there are those that will stand and fight,” Rep. Johnson mentioned, concerning Republican assist of the invoice. “But oftentimes, the apprehension may be there because of their own constituents.”
“Why aren’t the Republicans standing up here? We’re in a fairly difficult political environment,” Sen. Johnson mentioned. “Right now, if a Republican comes and stands up here, they’re making some kind of message and they’re going to get in trouble, probably. But that’s different than casting a vote.”
story by Source link