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Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) responded to widespread outrage about his comments extolling the virtues of lynching at a Judiciary Committee hearing on violence against Asian Americans Thursday.
Speaking today’s hearing, held two days after a gunman shot dead eight people — including six Asian women — at Atlanta area massage parlors, Roy extolled the virtue of justice.
“All Americans deserve protection and to live in a free and secure society,” Roy said, adding the victims of the Atlanta shootings deserve justice.
“There’s old sayings in Texas about find all the rope in Texas and get a tall oak tree,” he continued. “You know, we take justice very seriously, and we ought to do that. Round up the bad guys. That’s what we believe.”
The comment sparked some outrage on social media as it was seen as an endorsement of lynching.
In a statement to multiple news outlets, Roy stood by his comment and refused to apologize.
“Apparently some folks are freaking out that I used an old expression about finding all the rope in Texas and a tall oak tree about carrying out justice against bad guys,” he wrote in a text to Mediaite’s Sarah Rumpf. “I meant it. We need more justice and less thought police. We need to stop evil doers – such as those who carried out the attack in Atlanta this week, or cartels abusing little children, or those who kill our cops on the streets. We should restore order by tamping out evil actors… not turn America into an authoritarian state like the Chinese Communists who seek to destroy us. No apologies.”
Actor and LGBTQ activist George Takei tweeted: “One of the worst lynching incidents in our history was perpetrated against the Chinese community of Los Angeles when some 20 people were killed and hanged by an angry white mob. This language is unacceptable, and Chip Roy is an ignorant inciter.”
One of the worst lynching incidents in our history was perpetrated against the Chinese community of Los Angeles when some 20 people were killed and hanged by an angry white mob. This language is unacceptable, and Chip Roy is an ignorant inciter. https://t.co/6EROMC2B9G
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 18, 2021
Rep. Ted Lieu tweeted: “Chip Roy glorified lynching at a hearing on violence against Asians. The largest mass lynching in US history was against Chinese immigrants. I served on active duty in the US military to defend @chiproytx’s right to say stupid, racist stuff. I just wish he would stop saying it.”
Chip Roy glorified lynching at a hearing on violence against Asians. The largest mass lynching in US history was against Chinese immigrants.
I served on active duty in the US military to defend @chiproytx’s right to say stupid, racist stuff. I just wish he would stop saying it. https://t.co/9pHb3ERgaN
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 18, 2021
Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) delivered a powerful response to Roy’s comments criticizing the Chinese government during today’s anti-Asian violence hearing, saying, “You don’t have to do it by putting a bullseye on the back of Asian Americans …”
.@RepGraceMeng’s (D-NY) powerful response to Rep. Chip Roy’s (R-TX) comments criticizing the Chinese government during today’s anti-Asian violence hearing:
“You don’t have to do it by putting a bullseye on the back of Asian Americans …” pic.twitter.com/wcYUuVS8G6
— The Recount (@therecount) March 18, 2021
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