Last Tuesday, State Representative Kenneth Paschal was presenting a bill, House Bill 6, a bill on parental rights. Paschal, the lone African American lawmaker elected as a Republican in over 130 years, was attacked by Democratic lawmakers.
One Representative, Juandalynn Givan of Birmingham, went over the line when she referenced a song by the sometimes divisive performer Jay-Z to make a racial smear of Paschal, calling him the N-word by using the lyrics of the song – The Story of O.J.
In response to the incident on the House floor, the Montgomery Republican Party has passed a resolution urging legislators to punish Givan for her conduct.
“THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE JUANDALYNN GIVAN BEING REMOVED FROM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS ANDFORMALLY CENSURED BY THE ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.”
The “Montgomery County Republican Executive Committee hereby formally condemns and censures State Representative Juandalynn Givan of Jefferson County for public behavior which is obscene, racially charged, morally crude, inconsistent with House Rule 50, and beneath the decorum of public office.”
As punishment, the Montgomery County Republican Steering Committee is calling on “The Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives and the House Membership to formally remove State Representatives Juandalynn Givan from committee assignments and formally censure State Representatives Juandalynn Givan for her unprovoked and outrageous behavior in violation of human decency and the House Rules of Decorum.”
Givan, for her part, has refused to apologize.
“Rep. Paschal was vulgarly referred to as a term that is beneath the dignity and respect of any human being,” said Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl. “We cannot stand by and allow this honorable gentleman who served in uniform and continue to serve as a public servant with duty and commitment to be treated and referenced so vilely in violation of House Chamber decorum.”
There have been other moments of controversial behavior on the floor in Givan’s legislative career.
Paschal, for his part, is still asking for a vote on his bill that was carried over by the House after Givan’s outburst.
“HB6 is a common sense bill,” Paschal said on the floor of the House, defending his legislation. “HB6 is a focus on two principles: God and Country.”
“Parental rights are related to the noble duty of parents to raise their children,” Paschal said. “Parental rights are natural rights that cannot be taken away by any form of government.”
Paschal was the President of the Alabama Family Rights Association (ALFRA) before being elected to the House of Representatives in a special election.
“The child is not the mere creature of the state,” Paschal said.
The Alabama House of Representatives will meet on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. for Day 19 of the 2023 Alabama Legislative Regular Session. HB6 is not on the proposed special-order calendar.
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