Global Courant
A California Democratic lawmaker accused his Republican colleague, the first Muslim member of the state assembly, of white supremacy for refusing to support a bill that would allow state funds to go to programs based on race in what critics call state-sanctioned discrimination .
Democratic Assembly member Corey Jackson who proposed ACA-7 said it is intended to address “persistent disparities in health, education and economic outcomes for certain communities” in California.
Jackson’s bill would amend the state’s constitution to allow taxpayers’ money to “fund culturally specific programs in any industry, if those programs are created or otherwise administered by the state for the purpose of increasing life expectancy of, improving educational outcomes for, or eliminating poverty-specific groups based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, or marginalized genders, genders, or sexual orientations.”
The bill was passed along party lines by the state assembly’s judicial committee on Tuesday and was referred to the state appropriations committee.
California State Assemblymembers Corey Jackson, left, and Bill Essayli, right. (California State Legislature)
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During the vote, Jackson and California Assemblyman Bill Essayli, a Republican, got into a tense argument after Essayli tried to voice his disagreement.
“I appreciate your perspective, I just fundamentally disagree,” Essayli said,
“No perspective,” Jones fired back. “This is a fact. So let’s not twist it here. This is a fact. There is no opinion that I am exercising. This is not something that, you know, that I am willing to participate in a cultural story about The fact is that this is the right thing to do.”
California Assemblyman Corey Jackson joins fellow legislators to honor women in California who make an impact during Women’s History Month on Monday, March 20, 2023 in Sacramento, CA. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“I appreciate your comments,” Essayli said. “I respectfully disagree. I think fifty-seven percent of Californians disagree…”
“But you’re wrong!” Jones interrupted.
“Excuse me, I’d like to finish,” Essayli continued. “Fifty-seven percent of Californians disagree with who passed Prop 209. I believe it is a mistake in the United States of America to backslide and inject race into government policy.”
California Assemblyman Bill Essayli joins fellow legislators to honor California women who make an impact during Women’s History Month on Monday, March 20, 2023 in Sacramento, CA. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“I believe that all people are created equal and that government should treat people equally,” he continued. “And we can provide services to underprivileged communities without making race a factor, and I support that. I think everyone should have equal opportunity in the United States. I’m a minority, I came from a minority background, and I don’t want the government to, you know, treat me differently than anyone else. I want to be treated equally. And in doing so I respect your point of view. I respectfully disagree. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
After the vote, fighting continued on Twitter after Essayli labeled Jones’ account “backwards”.
“The Judiciary Committee just voted to allow the government to discriminate on the basis of race in the provision of services as proposed by #ACA7,” wrote Essayli. “I fundamentally disagree with this backward policy, as do 57% of Californians who voted to ban affirmative action when they adopted #Prop209.”
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Jackson then accused Essayli of trying to win favor with white people.
“This is a perfect example of how a minority can become a white supremacist by doing everything possible to gain white supremacist and fascist affection,” Jackson wrote. “History will judge him badly. His politics are dangerous and must be fought every step of the way. #anti-racism.”
Essayli did not directly respond to Jackson, instead retweeting a critic who called his attack “disgusting.”
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Jessica Chasmar is a digital writer on the Fox News and Fox Business political team. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
