United States: a Republican leader creates controversy after his remarks on the vote of African-Americans
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
Jim WATSON AFP/Archivos
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
In the United States, the leader of the Republicans in the Senate sparked a huge controversy: after the conservatives blocked the electoral reform wanted by Joe Biden to guarantee access to the vote for minorities and in particular African-Americans, he was asked Mitch McConnell at a press conference to comment on his party's position, the Republicans having precisely restricted this access to the vote in 15 states they govern.
And Mitch McConnell's response sparked outrage on social media.
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“
What is your message to voters in minority communities who are concerned that voting restrictions in many states will prevent them from getting to the polls?
“, wants to know the journalist.
Mitch McConnell replies: “
The concern is unfounded.
Because if you look at the statistics, African American voters vote with just as high a turnout as Americans.
»
► To read also:
United States: the electoral reform project wanted by Joe Biden buried in the Senate
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These remarks aroused the ire of Internet users.
“
I am no less American than Mitch McConnell
,” tweeted former Democratic Senator from Kentucky, African American Charles Booker.
Malcom Kenyatta, Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania Senate, argues that Mitch McConnell's statement was not a slip of the tongue, but accurately reflected the Republican Party's racist mindset against black voters.
I need you to understand that this is who Mitch McConnell is.
Being Black doesn't make you less of an American, no matter what this craven man thinks.
pic.twitter.com/Esk1NgIhD9
—Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) January 20, 2022
Across the United States, African Americans took pictures of themselves on Thursday to post on social media, alone or surrounded by their families, veterans, business leaders, students, workers.
“
We are Americans and we vote
,” they wrote under the hashtag #Mitchplease, Mitch Please.
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