By Tannistha Sinha
“You have to be disruptive, but you also have to be prepared to suffer the consequences for the actions that you take,” said Houston Congressman Al Green, responding to the U.S. House of Representatives voting to censure him for vocally protesting during President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress.
According to Green, he stood in the well of the House chamber with his colleagues and began singing “We Shall Overcome” when the censure resolution was being read.
The Republican-led House voted 224-198 to censure Green, a Democrat, including votes from 10 Democrats. No Republicans voted against the censure.
Cause for the Censure
Green stated that Trump called Democrats “lunatics” during the joint address without facing repercussions, arguing his protest was beyond personal defiance but was an act of advocacy for his constituents’ health care.
“That act of incivility that he [Trump] imposed upon my colleagues, and they behaved with extreme civility,” Green said. “I’m gonna stand up for my constituents because it’s the only insurance they have. Medicaid is important, it saves lives…We cannot allow healthcare to become wealthcare, not in this country.”
Green’s outburst, when he yelled Trump had “no mandate” to cut Medicaid—a program used by 72 million Americans, drew Republicans’ chants of “USA! USA!” and an order from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to remove him from the chamber.
“There will be times when you may have to stand alone, which is what I do from time to time…It is better to stand alone than not stand at all,” Green said to the Houston Defender in an interview after he was censured.
Green said the Democrats’ “incivility” will be to protect social security, Medicare, Medicaid and jobs, while also addressing the mass firings of federal workers without due process.
“That’s what my indication to the President was all about,” Green clarified. “I never threatened the President in any way…They are very bold, audacious and looking for ways to line the pockets of people who have pockets that are aligned with money.”
10 Democratic Colleagues Vote Against Green
Prior to the vote, Green told his colleagues to “vote your conscience,” clarifying he voted “present” to avoid influencing their decisions.
“I have no animus toward them, nor do I have any animus toward the speaker for having me removed from the chamber,” he said.
When asked if there were double standards referring to Republican House members Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep. Lauren Boebert repeatedly interrupting President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address but not being ejected during the speech, Green said the censure reminded him of the “invidious discrimination” he has experienced for years.
“It is still with us and it is in the House of Representatives,” he added. “I am not as alarmed as many are because I’ve lived this, I have experienced what other people are witnessing.”
Green’s Intentions on Trump’s Impeachment
A few weeks ago, Green said he would file articles of impeachment against the President after Trump suggested that the United States take over the Gaza Strip. This will be his fourth attempt since his first three unsuccessful ones dating back to the President’s first term in the White House.
When asked what grounds his new impeachment attempt is based on, Green said he “will reveal them at the appropriate time,” which is “soon and very soon.”
Allegedly, some of Green’s colleagues in the House want to remove him from the House Financial Services Committee, headed by U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters and chair of Oversight Subcommittee.
“If they are successful with my removal, it will give me more time to work on my articles of impeachment,” Green said.
On DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
Speaking about the threat to diversity, equity and inclusion, Green said, “There are throngs of people, many of whom have been elected to Congress and have this desire to eliminate DEI…The same people who would have us believe that slavery was involuntary relocation…DEI is not about giving anybody any advantage. It is simply about giving people opportunities to be in the mix.”
He said he would continue advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement in public forums and using “woke” language to sensitize people to social justice, all the while being ‘gangsta.’
“My appearance with a ponytail and black shirt and a ‘we the people’ necktie…this was my way of expressing my sorrow for what they were attempting to do,” he said. “I accepted my punishment, but I can do so and express myself in a gangster fashion.”