State Rep. Compares Black Lives Matter To Ku Klux Klan On House Floor

An Oklahoma representative compared Black Lives Matter and the Ku Klux Klan during debate over House Bill 1775.

Representative Justin Humphrey's comment not only caused a reaction on the House floor but also outside of his office where a group confronted him.

“The KKK, everybody agrees on this floor that they have burned, they have threatened, they have destroyed, that is what they are famous for. Would you agree that when people burn, threaten, kill, intimidate that they are a terrorist group and that Black Lives Matter reads that same description?” said the Republican representative of Lane, OK.

“I would agree,” replied Representative Kevin West, R-Moore, the author of the bill.

Minority Democratic leader Emily Virgin reminded her colleagues about the code of conduct.

“Profane, obscene, indecent language is prohibited in the House,” she said.

“I will apologize for using offensive language,” Humphrey said.

The comment all started with debate over HB 1775. It directs Oklahoma educators not to teach the concepts that “one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex."

The bill caused debate over how it will be enforced or how educators will teach topics like segregation, the south and the KKK.

Another “Can you please calm my fears, huge fears, that this bill will lead to censorship?” House Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, R-Norman said during the discussion.

“Those kinds of things, this type of curriculum is being taught that we are trying to put some guardrails on.” West said.