Tea party protesters call John Lewis 'nigger'

WASHINGTON — Demonstrators outside the U.S. Capitol , angry over the proposed health care bill, shouted "nigger" Saturday at U.S. Rep. John Lewis , a Georgia congressman and civil rights icon who was nearly beaten to death during an Alabama march in the 1960s.

The protesters also shouted obscenities at other members of the Congressional Black Caucus , lawmakers said.

"They were shouting, sort of harassing," Lewis said. "But, it's okay, I've faced this before. It reminded me of the 60s. It was a lot of downright hate and anger and people being downright mean."

Lewis said he was leaving the Cannon office building across from the Capitol when protesters shouted "Kill the bill, kill the bill," Lewis said.

"I said 'I'm for the bill, I support the bill, I'm voting for the bill'," Lewis said.

A colleague who was accompanying Lewis said people in the crowd responded by saying "Kill the bill, then the n-word."

"It surprised me that people are so mean and we can't engage in a civil dialogue and debate," Lewis said.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver , D- Mo. , said he was a few yards behind Lewis and distinctly heard "nigger."

"It was a chorus," Cleaver said. "In a way, I feel sorry for those people who are doing this nasty stuff - they're being whipped up. I decided I wouldn't be angry with any of them."

Protestors also used a slur as they confronted Rep. Barney Frank , D- Mass. , an openly gay member of Congress . A writer for Huffington Post said the crowd called Frank a "faggot."

Frank told the Boston Globe that the incident happened as he was walking from the Longworth office building to the Rayburn office building, both a short distance from the Capitol. Frank said the crowd consisted of a couple of hundred of people and that they referred to him as 'homosexual.'

"I'm disappointed with the unwillingness to be civil," Frank told the Globe. "I was, I guess, surprised by the rancor. What it means is obviously the health care bill is proxy for a lot of other sentiments, some of which are perfectly reasonable, but some of which are not."

"People out there today, on the whole, were really hateful," Frank said. "The leaders of this movement have a responsibility to speak out more."

 

Its just another day.

 

Didn't see this thread when I posted mine. My bad.

 

Sad to see John Lewis taking this racial abuse.

 

True because he's gone though this in the past and he doesn't deserve it. We still gotta have mad respect for those old-school brothas who stood toe-to-toe in the face of Jim Crow.

 

John Lewis faced racism for many years and it is not surprising in this day and age that things had not changed much in the form of indecent discourse by the tea baggers. Where is the GOP? Talking junk and faking outrage.

 

Black conservatives? Care to comment? Hello? Bueller???

 

This is America. She will never change.

 

For the most part, but she is changing everyday.

 

yep the tea party has shown its colors. I bet most of them are good christian folks that are good american patriots

dont forget the spitting they did

 

I am a black moderate. Close enough.

But seriously, a few people dont represent a whole group. Are you a black man? If so, you should know that. Lets not stereotype all of them.

Personally, I think the Tea Baggers are pretty ridiculous but not all conservatives are racist bigots. A lot of them are great people.

NAACP members have been on record saying anti-semetic comments. Cant hold that whole group responsible.

 

Changing into mexico that is.

 

Look at this ass-eater..lol..showed-up just in time to lie and coon.

 

Jesus Christ, I almost choked with my own bodily secretions. Jesus:smt081

 

Nice personal attack.

And I like the ol' Uncle Tom comment too. So 90s but great touch.:smt015

 

:smt003

United States of Amexico

 

Hahaha, damn. FH keeps it real.