Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) delivered an emotional response on the floor of the United States Senate last week in response to what many believe were dismissive and hurtful remarks by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL.) Durbin’s comments came during a discussion about a bill Senator Scott proposed which is aimed at curbing violence against minorities by law enforcement.
According to Faithwire, Senator Durbin believed the bill did not go far enough. He said the bill proposed by Senator Scott was a “token, half-hearted approach.” The term token carries weighty baggage in discussions about race, as it is often used to describe minority hires that companies make in order to give the impression that they are committed to diversity. The comments were also considered especially insensitive since they were used by a white Senator to describe a bill proposed by one of only three Black Senators.
Senator Scott stood and first acknowledged that the day was painful for residents of South Carolina because it was the fifth anniversary of the massacre at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Senator Scott took issue not only with the phrase Senator Durbin used, but also with the idea that his legislation was merely a token.
Senator Scott said, “To think that anti-lynching that’s a part of this legislation would be considered a token piece of legislation because perhaps I’m African American and…
… Read More
Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.