(RepublicanJournal.org) – Michigan Republican Josh Schriver recently reposted an image on social media that many people have interpreted as racist rhetoric. The picture, which promotes the “great replacement theory,” led to the representative losing a key committee position along with the resources and staff that went along with the seat.
Schriver shared the offending post, which appeared on X, the social media outlet formerly known as Twitter, on February 6. It features a crude map of the world, with figures apparently meant to represent white people and those of color. The image places Caucasians as the minority, indicating that the majority of human beings in North America, Europe, and Australia are composed of other races. It portrays the other continents as containing only people of color and includes text that reads, “The great replacement!” Schriver posted an emoji of a downward trend graph along with the picture.
Democratic House Speaker Joe Tate, who also took offense to the post, disciplined the Michigan representative by revoking his leadership position in the House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee. Schriver also lost an annual budget of $132,000, which will go to his replacement.
The “great replacement” is based on a conspiracy theory started by Austrian neo-Nazi Gerd Honsik, who twisted the words of mixed-race Austrian philosopher Richard Nikolaus Graf von Coudenhove-Kalergi. The philosopher believed racial integration was vital to Europe’s future, but Honsik misinterpreted his ideas to mean that the continent would eventually become overrun by Jews, who would commit virtual “genocide” of white people via mass immigration and interracial marriage. Honsik was also reportedly a Holocaust denier until his death in 2018.
Schriver’s critics include Michigan Republican Rep. Donni Steele and Sen. John Damoose. Steele stated that he and his peers must uphold a higher standard as part of their job, adding that it’s their responsibility to stand up “against hate” as it surfaces. Damoose noted his “great horror” in reading Schriver’s assertion. He said the country “should know better” by now and insisted that such rhetoric isn’t in line with current conservative ideals.
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