Rep. Al Green (D-TX-09) has been making news after disrupting Trump’s speech during a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. The next day, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04) introduced House Resolution 189 titled “Censuring Representative Al Green of Texas,” more than 30 Republicans immediately cosponsored the resolution. On Thursday, the House voted mostly along party lines 224-198 to censure Green with ten Democrats voting with Republicans.
While Green had said from moments after his act of civil disobedience that he would accept whatever punishment came his way, he wasn’t going to take it lying down. After being called to the House floor for a public reading by House Speaker Mike Johnson, several Democrats surrounded Green and began signing the renowned civil rights song, “We Shall Overcome”. Censuring a congressperson is essentially a denunciation of their actions and not much else.
About an hour later, Green took to the House floor and gave an over 30-minute speech about the importance of speaking up while defending his actions. He made no apology.
The ten Democrats who voted with Republicans to censure Green are Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Laura Gillen (D-NY-04), Jim Himes (D-CT-04), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03).
Democrats Speaking Out
Despite handfuls of Democrats “working with” Republicans in Congress to pass laws like the Laken Riley Act and confirm President Trump’s cabinet appointments, many Democrat lawmakers have been speaking out against the administration’s policies. Behind representatives like Al Green, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett, and others who have been getting much of the attention on social media, many others appear to be trying.
While it may not appear on the surface to be enough to fight back, one could argue that it is having an impact as it seems fewer Democrats are willing to appease the slight conservative majority in Congress so easily. Below you’ll find some video during one-minute speeche on the House floor yesterday highlighting what Democrats are saying and trying to do.
Rep. Morgan Garvey (D-KY-03)
Rep. Garvey talks about the impact Trump’s policies are having on Veterans.
Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02)
Rep. Tokuda highlights the impacts of Trump’s policies on disaster aid.
Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC-02)
Rep. Ross spoke out about helping Ukraine defend itself.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-WA-12)
Rep. Tlaib spoke up against defunding Medicaid.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01)
Rep. Bonamici defends the Department of Education.
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04)
Rep. Dean spoke up for Veterans.
Is it Enough?
Whether what Democrats are doing is enough is the subject of much debate and will likely be for many years. However, if they are speaking to their constituents and the message is getting out there, it’s a good step forward. I am of the opinion that messages like these need to get out more in hope of reaching as many people as possible, this is why I share them so often across all of my social media channels. The country needs everything we can muster.
I may be nonpartisan in my critiques of political parties but Democrats are the only people we have with any kind of power to fight back. We must keep pushing them to do so.
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