Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) is taking aim at the Declaration of Independence, the United Statesâs 245-year-old founding document.
In a tweet on July 4, Waters wrote, âSo, the Declaration of Independence says all men are created equal. Equal to what? What men? Only white men? Isnât it something that they wrote this in 1776 when African Americans were enslaved? They werenât thinking about us then, but weâre thinking about us now!â
She continued, âFurther, the says we hold these truths to be âself-evident,'â adding, âYet: 17 states have enacted voter suppression laws; Supreme Court gutted Sec. 5 of the Voting Rights Act; George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice. Need I say more?â
Additionally, National Public Radio (NPR) wrote in an article about the Declaration of Independence, âIt famously declares âthat all men are created equalâ even though women, enslaved people and Indigenous Americans were not held as equal at the time.â
âThe declaration is a document with flaws and deeply ingrained hypocrisies. It also laid the foundation for our collective aspirations, our hopes for what America could be,â the publication also wrote.
Another Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), made headlines with her tweet on Sunday, âWhen they say that the 4th of July is about American freedom, remember this: the freedom theyâre referring to is for white people.â
Bush, who is a member of âthe Squad,â added, âThis land is stolen land and Black people still arenât free.â
Her remarks drew a response from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who replied, âHateful, divisive lies.â
However, President Joe Biden thanked frontline and essential workers in his message on the Fourth of July, as IJR reported on.
âThis Fourth of July, America is back. Weâre headed into a summer of joy â of freedom â thanks to the millions of Americans who stepped up to get vaccinated,â Biden tweeted. âTo the frontline and essential workers who have made this day possible: thank you.â
Additionally, Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted, âThis Independence Day, we honor the servicemembers who protect our nation. And we say thank you to the frontline workers â and all Americans â who are doing the work to end this pandemicâ
