A Democratic lawmaker in Louisiana might need to take a middle school civics class again. State Rep. Barbara Norton (D-Shreveport) said on the House floor last week that the Declaration of Independence is racist.
Norton made the remarks in opposition to a bill that would require all public school students in Louisiana to learn and recite this portion of the founding document:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
Norton and fellow representative Pat Smith (D-Baton Rouge) argued that because the declaration was written at a time when slavery existed in the United States, its statements are false.
“One thing I do know is, all men are not created equal.
When I think back in 1776, July the 4th, African-Americans were slaves, and for you to bring a bill to request that our children will recite the Declaration, I think is a little bit unfair to us to ask those children to recite something that’s not the truth.”
Norton also might want to look into retaking an English grammar class, based on this next statement:
“For the Declaration of Independence, only Caucasians was free. And for you to bring a bill to request that our children will recite the declaration, I think it’s a little bit unfair,” Norton said.
“Fox and Friends” welcomed conservative author and commentator Deneen Borelli on its show last week to discuss Norton’s stance. She argued that Norton’s party is the one with a history of discrimination, slavery, and KKK support.
“For her to be attacking the Declaration of Independence, that is attacking liberty. That’s attacking freedom. Why not attack the history of the Democratic Party, which she is a member of?” Borelli said. “I find it is selective outrage on her part.”
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