Derrick Van Orden U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 3rd district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Derrick Van Orden U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 3rd district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Congressman Derrick Van Orden has publicly criticized Representative Al Green for his conduct on the House floor. The incident occurred during a vote to censure Green over his actions at President Trump's Joint Address to Congress.
Van Orden expressed his disapproval in a statement, highlighting his family's history of involvement in civil rights. He stated, "Both of my parents were Freedom Riders in the 1960s who went to Alabama to register African Americans to vote during the Jim Crow era." He further commented on Green's actions and those of some Democratic colleagues, saying it was inappropriate for them to "cloak themselves under the mantle of racial oppression."
Van Orden also remarked on the public's perception, stating that Americans are tired of being labeled as racist. He emphasized that Green's behavior warranted censure due to its lack of decorum, calling it "disgraceful" and a "direct affront."
He concluded by stressing the need for accountability among legislators: "Mr. Green’s inability to comport himself as an adult on the floor is the antithesis of what a serious legislator would do, and he must be held accountable or we will never be able to function as the body designed by our founding fathers."
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