‘Blatantly racist’: Michigan Democrats condemn GOP lawmaker’s ‘great replacement’ post
By Beth LeBlanc
On February 10, 2024
Lansing — Democratic lawmakers are condemning a social media post from Republican state Rep. Josh Schriver of Oxford that promoted “the great replacement” theory, a racist ideological belief that there’s a coordinated global effort to diminish the influence of White people.
On Tuesday, Schriver shared a post of a graphic that depicted black figurines covering most of a map of the world, with white figures occupying smaller sections of Australia, Canada, northern Europe and the northern United States. The bottom of the graphic read “The great replacement!”
The graphic, initially posted by right-wing pundit Jack Posobiec, was reposted by Schriver with an emoji of a chart showing a downward trend on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
In a statement Wednesday to The Detroit News, Schriver said he loved “all of God’s offspring” and believed “everyone’s immense value is rooted in the price Christ paid on the Cross when he died for our sins.
“I’m opposed to racists, race baiters, and victim politics,” Schriver said in the statement. “What I find strange is the agenda to demoralize and reduce the white portion of our population. That’s not inclusive and Christ is inclusive! I’m glad Tucker Carlson and Jack Posobiec are sharing links so I can continue my research on these issues.”
The “great replacement” conspiracy theory asserts there is a coordinated effort to dilute the influence of White people through immigration and through low birth rates among White individuals, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The theory has been linked to anti-Semitism, with some versions alleging it is Jews coordinating the so-called replacement.
‘Blatantly racist’: Michigan Democrats condemn GOP lawmaker’s ‘great replacement’ post
The Detroit News
Lansing — Democratic lawmakers are condemning a social media post from Republican state Rep. Josh Schriver of Oxford that promoted “the great replacement” theory, a racist ideological belief that there’s a coordinated global effort to diminish the influence of White people.
On Tuesday, Schriver shared a post of a graphic that depicted black figurines covering most of a map of the world, with white figures occupying smaller sections of Australia, Canada, northern Europe and the northern United States. The bottom of the graphic read “The great replacement!”
The graphic, initially posted by right-wing pundit Jack Posobiec, was reposted by Schriver with an emoji of a chart showing a downward trend on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
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In a statement Wednesday to The Detroit News, Schriver said he loved “all of God’s offspring” and believed “everyone’s immense value is rooted in the price Christ paid on the Cross when he died for our sins.
“I’m opposed to racists, race baiters, and victim politics,” Schriver said in the statement. “What I find strange is the agenda to demoralize and reduce the white portion of our population. That’s not inclusive and Christ is inclusive! I’m glad Tucker Carlson and Jack Posobiec are sharing links so I can continue my research on these issues.”
The “great replacement” conspiracy theory asserts there is a coordinated effort to dilute the influence of White people through immigration and through low birth rates among White individuals, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The theory has been linked to anti-Semitism, with some versions alleging it is Jews coordinating the so-called replacement.
The shooter in a 2022 Buffalo, New York supermarket shooting that killed 10, most of whom were Black, raised the theory in a manifesto as a motive for the killings, the Associated Press reported. The killer in the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh blamed Jews for bringing non-white immigrants to the U.S.; a 2019 Poway, California synagogue shooter claimed Jews were responsible for the killing of White Europeans; and a shooter who killed 23 people at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 talked about a “Hispanic invasion” in his manifesto, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
At least a half-dozen Republican U.S. Senate candidates promoted the “great replacement” conspiracy theory in the 2022 elections, the AP reported.
House Speaker Joe Tate, a Detroit Democrat and Michigan’s first Black speaker, said Schriver’s “blatantly racist social media post” and later statement on the issue do not align with the chamber’s values and are “deeply and personally” offensive.
Schriver’s insistence that the issue was worthy of consideration “puts his ignorance on full display,” Tate said in a statement, but is not an excuse for “proliferating obvious hate.”
“Perhaps most disturbing is that his post uplifts a dangerous and tortured narrative that fosters violence and instability,” Tate said. “His callous and reckless act is not within the spirit of what Michigan is, and it contributes to a hostile environment.”
House Republican Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, did not respond to a request Wednesday night for comment about Schriver’s post.
Several Democratic lawmakers took to social media to condemn Schriver’s post, with some questioning his continued service in the House.
Rep. Jason Hoskins, a Black Democratic lawmaker from Southfield, also criticized the post Wednesday night.
“Michigan House Republican celebrates Black History Month by promoting racist and dangerous conspiracies that there are too many people of color,” Hoskins wrote on X.
Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi, condemned the post as “blatantly racist” and “dangerous rhetoric” that has no place in society or in the state Legislature.
“It saddens & infuriates me that a colleague shared this,” Breen wrote on X. “For someone who claims to love God – Rep. Schriver is blind to the fact this would make Him weep.”
The Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes, who is Black, said Schriver’s post had “no place in Michigan” and should be called out by Republicans.
The Michigan Republican Party faction led by Chairwoman Kristina Karamo, who also is Black, responded by stating the Democratic Party had “officially started their ‘race hustling’ season.”
Elected in 2022, Schriver represents the 66th District in the Michigan House of Representatives, which includes Addison, Brandon, Oxford townships and most of Oakland Township in Oakland County and Bruce and Washington townships in Macomb County. The Warren native is a graduate of De La Salle Collegiate High School.
Schriver serves on the House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Committee.
In social media posts Thursday, Schriver indicated Tate was “being forced to politically attack” him, reiterated that he was not racist and drew attention to issues at the U.S. border.
Condemnation of Schriver’s post extended beyond Michigan political circles.
The Northern Guard Supporters, a fan group supporting the Detroit City Football Club, also condemned the post and said the first term lawmaker was not welcome among the fan group. Schriver’s wife plays for the Detroit City Football Club women’s team, which plays in the Premier Arena Soccer League.
Nick Finn, who helps run communications for the group, said fans “won’t tolerate that in our stands.” On X, Northern Guard Supporters noted that the league included “players from all ethnic backgrounds in a high minority population city.”
“It’s very upsetting to see something like that, one, from any representative in Michigan, let alone one directly connected to a member our team,” Finn told The News on Wednesday.
The Detroit City FC clarified Thursday that the Northern Guard Supporters was independent from the club, but worked with them “towards creating a safe, equitable, and inclusive environment within our club and at our events.”
Still, DCFC said, “there are no prerequisites or tests to become a DCFC player, staff member, or supporter or to attend our events.”
This piece was republished from The Detroit News.