Racism

More than 100 advocacy groups urge Congress to denounce anti-immigrant rhetoric

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More than 100 advocacy groups urge Congress to denounce anti-immigrant rhetoric

Published

11 months ago

on

December 29, 2023

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WASHINGTON — On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, in which 23 people were murdered, more than 160 religious, civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups called on congressional leaders to denounce lawmakers who use white supremacist, anti-immigrant rhetoric, arguing that it can lead to violence for marginalized communities.

Organizations from 24 states and the District of Columbia wrote an Aug. 1 letter to top congressional leaders from both parties asking them to not only “unequivocally denounce white supremacist, anti-immigrant rhetoric and its use by Members of Congress,” but to also “encourage Members of your caucuses to refrain from using this dangerous rhetoric.”

That rhetoric is known as the great replacement theory, a racist conspiracy theory that claims the growing numbers of immigrants and people of color will lead to the extinction of the white race.

It’s led to multiple mass shootings, such as the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, where 11 Jewish worshipers were killed. On Wednesday, a jury sentenced the gunman to the death penalty.

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“The rhetoric we’re seeing in that same Congress points to a new wave of xenophobic politicians who want to … take our country in a dangerous direction,” said Democratic U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas during a Wednesday call with reporters.

The organizations, which include the Southern Poverty Law Center and Immigrant Legal Resource Center, among others, noted that dozens of lawmakers have referred to migrants as “invaders” or an “invasion,” invoking the great replacement theory.

“Despite this repeated violence across the U.S., Members of Congress continue to invoke the antisemitic and anti-immigrant conspiracy theories that have inspired multiple violent attacks,” according to the letter.

The white supremacist shooter in Buffalo, New York, killed 10 Black people last year, and cited the theory as his reason for attacking a grocery store in a predominantly Black neighborhood. Survivors of the Buffalo shooting have urged Congress to address domestic terrorism from white nationalists.