Several top Democratic lawmakers are responding to the news of the horrific anti-gay and racist hate crime attack against “Empire” star Jussie Smollett.
Smollett was reportedly attacked by two men who beat him, poured bleach on him, and wrapped a noose around his neck. They also told him, “This is MAGA country,” according to TMZ. He suffered a fractured rib and has since been released from a Chicago hospital.
Top Democrats were among the first to respond. Among them, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Kamala Harris of California. Former Obama Cabinet Secretary Julián Castro of Texas spoke out as well.
“We are all responsible for condemning this behavior and every person who enables or normalizes it,” Senator Gillibrand said on Twitter.
Senator Booker called it “an attempted modern-day lynching,” and urged members of Congress to support his legislation “designating lynching as a federal hate crime.”
The Advocate’s Zach Stafford reports Senator Kamala Harris of California took to the Senate floor, saying, “It’s outrageous. I know Jussie – he is one of the kindest most gentle people I have ever met. It’s awful.”
She is co-sponsoring the anti-lynching bill with Sen. Booker and “is using the incident to highlight” it.
This from former HUD Secretary Julián Castro:
U.S. Rep. Mark Takano of California also responded, calling the attack “a hate crime, and saying: “We must confront it and protect our communities against violence and hate.”
And U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois:
No word from President Donald Trump or any Republicans at all.
UPDATE: 9:43 PM ET –
Speaker Pelosi:
NCRM will update this story with additional responses from lawmakers as we find them. If you see one we have not included, email us at editor at thenewcivilrightsmovement.com
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