U.S. Representative Al Green faced censure from the House after his repeated interruptions during President Donald Trump's Congress address, attributing his treatment to racial discrimination, according to Fox News.
On Tuesday night, Rep. Green disrupted President Trump's joint address to Congress, leading to significant controversy. His actions prompted responses both during and after the event, culminating in a decisive vote in the House.
House members, including ten Democrats, voted on Thursday to censure Green. The final tally showed 224 in favor and 198 against, highlighting bipartisan support for the action.
Rep. Green, in a symbolic gesture, voted "present" during this voting, alongside Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala.
Green accused his colleagues of "invidious discrimination," suggesting that his treatment was harsher in comparison to similar past incidents involving other lawmakers.
His comments brought to light his own experiences with racism and discrimination. He detailed the harsh realities of growing up in the segregated South, from facing segregated facilities to unsettling encounters such as a cross burning in his yard.
Speaker Johnson took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express disdain for Green's actions, labeling them "shameful and egregious." Johnson argued that Green's behavior warranted the censure and emphasized the disgrace it brought to the institution of Congress.
On "The Breakfast Club" radio show, Green advocated for the urgency of impeaching President Trump, asserting that waiting could lead to more severe consequences. He described Trump as a current threat to democracy, emphasizing the danger of inaction.
"I have said that we should not wait until he becomes a dictator to try to remove him. Now I understand that we don't control the House, but that doesn't mean that we can't still bring articles of impeachment," Green stated during the interview, pressing the need for immediate action despite political challenges.
Radio host Charlamagne Tha God echoed some of Green's frustrations, criticizing Democrats for their lack of decisive action against what they perceive as threats to democracy.
He specifically pointed to recent public interactions between former President Barack Obama and Trump, which he argued belied the serious accusations against Trump.
The public and media reacted diversely to the unfolding events. Some aligned with Green's perspective, seeing his actions as a necessary protest against what they view as autocratic tendencies in Trump's presidency. Others agreed with Speaker Johnson, considering Green's disruptions unbecoming of a congressman.
"There is invidious discrimination in the House of Representatives. I’m a son of the segregated South. The rights that the Constitution recognized for me, my friends and neighbors denied," Green explained in a statement, defending his actions as rooted in a deep historical and personal context.
Green continued to narrate his hardships related to racial discrimination. "I was in filthy waiting rooms and I’ve been in places where I didn’t want to be. And I know what it sounds like. I’ve been called all kinds of ugly names. So I know invidious discrimination," he added, tying his experiences directly to his disruptive actions in Congress.
Looking forward, the implications of Green's censure and his calls for impeachment are likely to stir further debate. The incident showcases the heightened tensions and divisions within American politics, especially on issues of race, justice, and the integrity of democratic institutions.