MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 1st Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th), Frazier, Witherspoon, Norwood, Barnett, Jordan, Horhn
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING PROFOUND OUTRAGE AT THE RECENT FACEBOOK REMARKS BY MISSISSIPPI REPRESENTATIVE KARL OLIVER (DISTRICT 46) AND CALLING UPON REPRESENTATIVE OLIVER TO RESIGN FROM THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE IMMEDIATELY.
WHEREAS, Mississippi Representative Karl Oliver (District 46) posted the following weekend Facebook post on May 21, 2017, regarding the removal of Confederate monuments in New Orleans: "The destruction of these monuments, erected in the loving memory of our family and fellow Southern Americans, is both heinous and horrific. If the, and I use this term extremely loosely, "leadership" of Louisiana wishes to, in a Nazi-ish fashion, burn books or destroy historical monuments of OUR HISTORY, they should be LYNCHED! Let it be known, I will do all in my power to prevent this from happening in our State." His decision to use the word "lynched" to describe what should happen to those taking down monuments was abhorrent; and
WHEREAS, these remarks have caused a social media and print media uproar in our state and nationally, as evidenced by the following quotes from Mississippi Legislators of both Houses:
· House Philip Gunn, R, Clinton, condemned Oliver's words in an e-mailed statement, writing "They do not reflect the views of the Republican party, the leadership of the House of Representatives or the House as a whole. Using the word "lynched" is inappropriate and offensive. At a Stennis Capitol Press Forum, Gunn told a room full of press, lobbyists and other government stakeholders that he revoked Oliver's position as Vice Chairman of the House Forestry Committee. "Oliver's post does not reflect the values of the leadership in the House, and for that reason he will no longer be part of the leadership," Gunn said. "I've done what I believe is appropriate and immediate and I will continue to monitor that";
· Senator Derrick T. Simmons' statement on Representative Karl Oliver's recent Facebook post: "I am offended and outraged that a public official in 2017 would, with an obvious conviction and clear conscience, call for and promote one of the most cruel, vicious and wicked acts in American history";
· "The shameful, but seemingly extremely comfortable choice of words used by my colleague, Representative Karl Oliver, were offensive to me as the act of lynching was commonly used and mostly targeted toward African-American men, women and children in the South and especially in our state," said Representative Sonya Williams-Barnes, D-Gulfport, head of the Legislative Black Caucus. "I commend Louisiana's leaders for taking the brave stance to remove the offensive monuments from public areas in their city. It is time for Mississippi to make similar strides as many in our state find the state flag offensive and nonrepresenting of all Mississippi residents." "Lynch" is defined as "to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal approval or permission." In the South, the term is most commonly associated with violence by whites against blacks in the late 19th Century through the Civil Rights era;
· Senator Sollie Norwood, D-Jackson, rejected Oliver's apology and said the leadership should call for his resignation: "I think Representative Karl Oliver meant it, and I think it's irresponsible for him to apologize for something that he meant. The term 'lynching' has long-lasting, penetrating hurt. Having dealt with cross burnings and intimidation, we can't just sit idly by and let this happen," Norwood said in a statement. "I think if the leadership in Mississippi state government wants to be responsible they should join the call for Representative Oliver's resignation";
· Governor Phil Bryant released a statement in an e-mail: "Representative Oliver's language is unacceptable and has no place in civil discourse"; and
WHEREAS, Representative Oliver apologized for his hate language on May 22, 2017, however the damage to the institution of the Mississippi Legislature and to the national image of the State of Mississippi was irreparable and cannot be reversed by an apology; and
WHEREAS, Section 55 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 provides "Each house may determine rules of its own proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present, expel a member...." It is under the general authority of this section of the Mississippi Constitution that we formally request that Representative Oliver resign and avoid the necessity of a proceeding to expel him:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby express profound outrage at the recent Facebook remarks by Mississippi Representative Karl Oliver (District 46) and call upon representative Oliver to resign from the Mississippi Legislature immediately.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to Representative Karl Oliver and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.