By STEVEN ERTELT
ATLANTA (LifeNews) — The Georgia State Senate has approved a bill that would create a statue honoring Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The pro-life justice is revered by conservatives and a statue would be a great way to honor Thomas in his home state.
The Georgia State Senate voted 32-20 along party lines on Tuesday, February 14 to support the statue, with Republicans approving the measure and Democrats unanimously opposing the move to honor the Black justice. The statue would be placed on the grounds of the state capitol building in Atlanta.
Senate Bill 69 now moves to the State House for more debate.
Sen. Ben Watson, a Savannah Republican, said he represents Thomas’ birthplace near the coastal city and had known Thomas’ mother.
“This native son of Georgia deserves a place of honor and recognition on our Capitol grounds, a place where future generations of Georgians can learn valuable lessons from his legacy and gain inspiration and belief that their lofty dreams are obtainable too in America, regardless of the circumstances into which they are born,” Watson told senators.
But Democrats who normally claim they support minorities trashed the justice.
Sen. Emanuel Jones, a Decatur Democrat who is Black, called Thomas an “Uncle Tom,” saying the justice is like someone who has “sold his soul to the slave master.”
“There’s a whole laundry list of positions that Justice Thomas has taken that I find offensive,” Jones said. “Sometimes, when I talk to the majority party, I say, ‘Y’all just don’t get it’.”
Republicans countered that the Georgia Capitol grounds has a statue of former Democratic Gov. and President Jimmy Carter.
The Senate approved the bill last year as well but the House never voted on it.
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