This Republican Wants a Civil Rights Organization for White People

by Goldie Taylor

A member of the Tennessee House of Representatives says she was “misunderstood” when she called for a new civil rights organization that supports white people. Rep. Sheila Butt posted a Facebook comment suggesting that “…It is time for a Council on Christian Relations and an NAAWP in this country.”

She later said she made up the controversial acronym and explained that she was not referring to the National Association for the Advancement of White People, the group once led by white supremacist and former KKK leader David Duke.

Butt was responding to “an open letter to Republican leaders” that urged Republican presidential candidates to “engage Muslim voters, reject Islamophobia.” Butt, who has since apologized, said her remarks were intended to mean “Western people” or “Western culture.”

“I strongly believe that this nation is better off when we all adhere to our Christian values and beliefs,” she told her colleagues on the House floor. “…And this being divisive, and this trying to make something intentionally that was inclusive to be divisive, is something that should not happen in this body, and I am disappointed if it was misunderstood by many of you or some of you.”

Butt said her Facebook post was about the First Amendment: “Our religious beliefs, our religious liberty in this body, in this state, and in this country.”

Some of her colleagues, including several Republicans, say the apology fell short and demanded that Butt be censured. Black Caucus Chair Rep. Brenda Gilmore of Nashville said she was “left very sad…because we expected stronger leadership. The Republican Administration is not taking any action, so by their silence we take it they condone this behavior.”

Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada disputed that, saying he stands with Butts. “The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Black Caucus need to stop this foolishness and quit acting like they do in Washington, D.C.”

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Editor's Note: This is not a bad idea in the scope of things - Civil Rights, that is, however the approach is not what they are trying to make it out to be. 

Civil Rights should apply to ALL and any group advocating for any particular sub-set of US citizens is doing it wrong. 

Yes, that means ALL groups.

Just as there is one 'Race' the Human Race advocates should be advocating for humans, not any particular sub-group misnamed as a 'Race'.