La. Congressman Clay Higgins’ ‘overtly racist’ tweet sparks calls for censure in U.S. House
30th September 2024 · 0 Comments
By Jacob Fischler
Contributing Writer
(States Newsroom) — Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford of Nevada took to the U.S. House floor on Wednesday night (Sept. 25) to condemn an “overtly racist” tweet against Haitians and Haitian Americans by Louisiana Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins.
Hours before members were scheduled to depart for a recess through the November elections, Higgins posted to X a comment that invoked racist stereotypes about Haitians and said Haitians in the United States should leave the country before Jan. 20, the date the next president will be inaugurated.
Higgins’ post included a link to an Associated Press story about a nonprofit representing Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, that has brought charges against former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, whose campaign for president and vice president has centered on criticism of immigration.
“These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters… but damned if they don’t feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP,” Higgins wrote. “All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th.”
Haitians are generally not among the immigrants living in the country illegally, as they have been granted Temporary Protected Status due to conditions in their home country. Trump and Vance have amplified disproven rumors about the Haitian community in Springfield, leading to hoax bomb threats against schools, government buildings and local leaders.
Horsford, a Democrat, and other members – reportedly including Florida Republican Byron Donalds – approached Higgins on the House floor after the tweet. Higgins deleted the post shortly after.
Democrats condemn post
After a brief period of confusion about the proper process to introduce a censure resolution, Horsford – surrounded by members of the Congressional Black Caucus and other Democrats – spoke on the House floor to condemn the tweet and called for a vote to censure Higgins when the House returns from recess.
“Rep. Higgins used his official account on X to publicly slander, insult and demean all Haitians and Haitian Americans in an overtly racist post,” Horsford said.
Rep. Troy Carter, the lone Democrat and only Black member of Louisiana’s congressional delegation, blasted Higgins’ post in a written statement.
“I am appalled by the racist and reprehensible remarks made by Rep. Clay Higgins about the people of Haiti,” he wrote. “We all owe each other better than this, but as elected officials we should hold ourselves to an even higher standard. We have a solemn responsibility to represent and respect all races of people. Hate-filled rhetoric like this is not just offensive – it is dangerous. It incites division, perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and undermines the core values of our democracy.”
Johnson, Scalise defend Higgins
Two of Higgins’ fellow Louisiana Republicans in House leadership defended him on Wednesday of last week.
Talking to reporters, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he’d spoken to Higgins, who told the speaker he regretted the language of the tweet.
Higgins “was approached on the floor by colleagues who said that was offensive,” Johnson. “He said he went to the back and he prayed about it, and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down. That’s what you want the gentleman to do. I’m sure he probably regrets the language he used. But, you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around here.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana briefly defended Higgins on the floor before the chamber took a short recess.
Scalise noted the post had been taken down and suggested censure was inappropriate because he could find examples of Democratic members making divisive comments.
“If we want to go through every comment, tweet from the other side, we’ll be happy to do it and you’ll be appalled,” Scalise said.
This article originally published in the September 30, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
