Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said his previous theory that the Trump administration would enact “Jim Crow 2.0” is coming true.
Clyburn joined CNN’s Brianna Keilar on Wednesday, when he was asked if he could find a line between the Democratic Party not having a proper primary in 2024 and the party’s current infighting.
“What does DEI have to do with Jackie Robinson and Medgar Evers? And what did it have to do with saying it is no longer persona non grata to have government sponsored events in segregated establishments,” Clyburn said.
“This is the establishment of Jim Crow 2.0,” he continued. “I said that before we ever had the election and it’s coming true.”
Clyburn was referencing remarks from October, when he called the conservative policy agenda Project 2025 a Jim Crow 2.0.
The South Carolina Democrat noted that he was the ninth Black lawmaker elected to Congress from his state, almost 100 years after the previous Black lawmaker was elected. He likened Project 2025 to the segregation of the early 1900s.
While Trump sought to distance himself from the conservative policy agenda, which was drafted by Heritage Foundation, his administration has already been scrutinized for implementing some ideas.
The former leader of Project 2025 recently said the initial actions from the administration align pretty closely with the vision.
On Thursday, baseball legend Jackie Robinson’s career in the Army made headlines. The Department of Defense removed Robinson’s page and baseball insiders accused the department of politicizing his military contributions.
Clyburn gave advice for his fellow Democrats as they continue infighting over the government shutdown, arguing that they need to band together against the administration.
“I would hope that we would stop running around chasing these shiny objects and begin to focus the American people on exactly what this administration is doing,” he said.
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