“Republican leaders are loading the gun and waiting for someone to pull the trigger.”
Washington, DC – Yesterday, Texas county judges, sheriffs, attorneys and mayors held a press conference in Bracketville, TX to declare that the state is being “invaded” by migrants at the Southern border. This dangerous, racist conspiracy theory that claims migrants who are seeking a legal claim for asylum constitutes an “invasion” is inexorably linked to the ‘white replacement’ theory and has inspired multiple mass-murdering terrorists, including in Texas in 2019. The county and local officials were joined by an array of hardline anti-immigrant politicians, many of whom served in key Trump administration positions and are spearheading the national anti-immigrant movement. Following the press conference, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick appeared on Fox News praising the invasion declaration and suggesting that the Constitution gives Texas the power to “put hands on people and send them back,” while comparing the so-called “invasion” to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The following is a statement from Zachary Mueller, America’s Voice Political Director:
“As the Republican Party continues down this dangerous path of invasion rhetoric, they are explicitly encouraging violence by inciting replacement theory. Yesterday’s press conference showed that it is clearly not just local officials who feel this way. Former Trump officials, Mark Morgan and Ken Cuccinelli flew in to be their mouthpieces. And as we have continually documented, leading Republicans and candidates across the country have repeatedly pushed this racist lie.
Following the press conference, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick appeared on Fox News encouraging Texas to take “power to put hands on people and send them back,” as he believes is a right afforded to them by the Constitution.
Republicans do not care that their words will result in loss of life because a self-appointed, well-armed vigilante will take it upon themselves to repel the invasion, as has already happened in Texas at the Walmart in El Paso where two dozen were killed. Republicans want violence and secession. They are driving towards a violent outcome, declaring war on an “invading force” of freedom-seeking people seeking asylum. To them, asylum seekers are enemy combatants. On Fox News, Dan Patrick continued with his war rhetoric and insulted the Americans who died at Pearl Harbor fighting a real enemy. His ignorance of history doesn’t matter, but his goal is to further embolden those who already view immigrants as the enemy. Cucinelli, Morgan, and other Republican leaders are loading the gun and waiting for someone to pull the trigger. When will it stop?”
