House Democrat erupts during DEI hearing: 'There has been no oppression for the white man'

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, went on a viral rant Wednesday over the use of the word “oppression” during a House committee meeting.

Her remarks came during a hearing of the House Oversight Committee as it debated the “Dismantle DEI Act.” The measure, proposed by Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, would shutter all federal DEI offices and eliminate federal DEI programs.

Rep. Crockett spoke out in defense of DEI during the hearing, likening diversity of people to a diverse investment portfolio that will “exemplify different strengths and weaknesses.”

“In finance, we always promote this idea of diversity,” she said. “If you know anything about a portfolio, the one thing that you want to do is make sure it’s as diverse as possible.”

In another example, Rep. Crockett made a dessert analogy, saying those who invest in Nilla Wafers should supplement their portfolio with “chocolate cake and Twinkies.” She went on to describe her Republican colleagues’ use of the word “oppression” as "nails on a chalkboard."

“It seems like you don’t understand the definition of oppression and I’d ask you to just refer to Google to help you out,” she said.

The congresswoman then raised her voice as she addressed the legacy of slavery in the U.S.

"There has been no oppression for the white man in this country,” she said. “You tell me which white men were dragged out of their homes. You tell me which one of them got dragged all the way across an ocean and told that you are going to go and work.”

“It is white men on this side of the aisle telling us, people of color on this side of the aisle, that y'all are the ones being oppressed, that y’all are the ones being harmed," she added. “That is not the definition of oppression.”

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., interjected saying “you can start with Exodus,” referring to the biblical book which describes how Jewish people fled slavery in Egypt. The congresswoman did not acknowledge the remark.

Videos of the hearing went viral on X Wednesday afternoon, earning hundreds of thousands of views.

Michael LaRosa, the former press secretary for First Lady Jill Biden, lashed out at Democrats earlier this month over the party’s support of DEI, saying it is causing a growing rift within the party’s voter base.

“This s--- has to stop,” he fumed via X. “Opposing DEI initiatives does not make you a white supremacist. Conversations and demonization like this are a big part of the reason we got our a--es kicked. The answer to extremism is not more extremism.”

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