March 13th 2024.
During the State of the Union address, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene made quite the statement. Not only did she show up wearing MAGA gear, but she also boldly sported a phrase that has significant meaning in the Black community: "Say Her Name." This phrase was created to bring attention to the mistreatment of Black women by police. However, Greene used it for her own agenda, shocking even President Joe Biden with her choice of attire.
Greene's shirt read "Say Her Name, Laken Riley," in reference to a nursing student from the University of Georgia who was allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant in Georgia. This was seen as a ploy by Republicans to criticize Biden's handling of border patrol. In fact, Greene even posted a video on Twitter, blaming Biden for what she called a "national security crisis" and demanding that "Joe must go."
Unfortunately, Greene's actions are just one example of Black-owned phrases being stolen and used for a different purpose. "Black Lives Matter" has been co-opted by phrases like "Blue Lives Matter" and "All Lives Matter," while the term "woke" has been twisted to justify anti-Black legislation.
The phrase "Say Her Name" was first created by civil rights activist and law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 2015, following the death of Sandra Bland who was found dead in a Texas jail cell after being arrested during a traffic stop. Crenshaw wanted to bring attention to the lack of answers surrounding Bland's death, and the phrase gained even more significance when it was used during protests for Breonna Taylor, who was killed by officers of the Louisville Police Department in May 2020.
The statistics speak for themselves - Black women are more likely to experience police violence, including death, than any other group of women. This has severe consequences on their mental and physical health. Yet, despite these facts, Crenshaw's term was mocked by Greene during the State of the Union address.
Crenshaw herself released a statement, expressing her disappointment in Greene's actions. She called out the "deeply offensive trend in right-wing politics" of appropriating justice-seeking demands from marginalized communities. Crenshaw reminded us that #SayHerName was created to bring attention to Black women, girls, and femmes who have been killed by police, and she listed several names that have been part of the movement.
While the fight for justice for Laken Riley continues, civil rights advocates are quick to point out the disingenuous use of the phrase by the GOP. As author Tamika Mallory stated, "If they truly supported the cause, they wouldn't use language that they claim to oppose." It's a sad reality that the same people who demonize the language and organizing styles of marginalized communities are quick to co-opt it for their own political gain.
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