Firebrand Rep. Jasmine Crockett scolded her white Democratic peers for declining to vote against a resolution honor the legacy of conservative icon Charlie Kirk, which was adopted Friday.
Crockett (D-Texas) grumbled that there were only “two caucasians” who voted against the resolution, which passed with support from 215 Republicans and 95 Democrats. A sizable 58 Democrats voted no and another 64 voted present or didn’t show up.
“One of the things that I want to point out that’s not been laid out that honestly hurt my heart is when I saw the no votes — there were only two caucasians,” Crockett complained on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday. “For the most part, the only people that voted no were people of color.”
“The rhetoric that Charlie Kirk continuously put out there was rhetoric that specifically targeted people of color,” she continued. “It is unfortunate that even our colleagues could not see how harmful his rhetoric was — specifically to us!”
Multiple Dem lawmakers from diverse backgrounds voted for the resolution, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
The two white Democrats who voted “nay” on the resolution were Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), per the roll call vote.
The resolution condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the assassination of Kirk during his Sept. 10 appearance at Utah Valley University.
It also conveyed condolences to his wife, Erika Kirk and family while celebrating Charlie’s “steadfast dedication to the Constitution, civil discourse, and Biblical truth” that “inspired a generation to cherish and defend the blessings of liberty” and asked Americans “to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.”
That last part had drawn some rebellion from Democrats who did not want to praise Kirk’s life’s work. “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) had led the charge against adoption of the resolution.
Notably, the GOP-led House previously adopted a resolution unanimously in June condemning the assassination of former Minnesota state House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband earlier that month. State Rep. John Hoffman (D) was also shot by the alleged shooter but survived.
Charlie was fatally shot in the neck while speaking with college students earlier this month. Since then, authorities have revealed Tyler Robinson, 22, to be the suspect in the assassination.
Robinson is facing seven charges, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and witness tampering.
Prosecutors have said that they are pursuing the death penalty.
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Charlie’s wife, Erika, has since been announced as his successor as CEO and chair of Turning Point USA. A funeral for Charlie will be held later in the day Sunday in Arizona.
“I’m not honoring that kind of stuff,” Crockett added about Charlie. “It’s unfortunate that more of my colleagues, even on my side of the aisle, couldn’t see the amount of harm that this man was attempting to inflict upon our communities.”
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