Cotton picking': US lawmaker condemned for racist comment about Jeffries

"During the show, host Rich Herrera criticised Jeffries, who is from New York, for his support of an effort to redraw Virginia's congressional map. Herrera said Jeffries should either relocate to Virginia and run for public office, or get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia. That's right. Ditto, Kiggans, a Republican, responded. Yes. Yes to that."

"The term cotton picking is typically seen to have racist roots in the US, where enslaved Black people were used as labour on southern cotton plantations until the mid-19th century. Kiggans later denied approving of Herrera's statement. She argued that she was instead agreeing with the broad sentiment about Democrats' efforts in state redistricting. The radio host should not have used that language and I do not and did not condone it, she said."

"Still, a Jeffries spokesperson, Christie Stephenson, vehemently condemned Kiggans on Tuesday. Extremists who endorse disgusting, vile and racist language are pathetic, Stephenson said. Jen Kiggans has no interest in our nation's progress toward a multiracial democracy and apparently craves a return to the days of Jim Crow racial oppression in the South."

"Top Democrats, including US Minority Whip Katherine Clark and California Governor Gavin Newsom, have called on Kiggans to resign. The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) also posted a clip of the radio exchange on the s"

A conservative radio host criticized top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries for supporting redistricting in Virginia and used language implying racist roots. US Representative Jen Kiggans responded affirmatively, saying Jeffries should stay out of Virginia. Kiggans later denied endorsing the language, claiming she agreed only with the general sentiment about Democrats’ redistricting efforts. Hakeem Jeffries’ office condemned Kiggans, calling the language disgusting and racist and accusing her of seeking a return to Jim Crow oppression. Multiple top Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus called for Kiggans to resign.

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