Veteran civil rights activist Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., lashed out Monday at Rep. Steve King's, R-Iowa, inflammatory tweet and support of a more "homogenous" America as "deeply disturbing" remarks.
Lewis issued a statement, calling out his fellow lawmaker's comments as "bigoted and racist."
"Western civilization did not create itself," the statement read. "It was founded on traditions that emerged from Africa, Iran, China, Greece and Rome and other nations.
"Rep. King's statement is bigoted and racist. It suggests there is one cultural tradition and one appearance that all of humanity should conform to. These ideas have given rise to some of the worst atrocities in human history, and they must be condemned."
In a tweet Sunday, King praised far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who has criticized Islam and supported curbing immigration – and asserted "We can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies."
Then, King doubled down Monday, telling CNN, "I meant exactly what I said," adding: "I'd like to see an America that's just so homogenous that we look a lot the same, from that perspective."
"With the exception of Native Americans, we all came to this land from some other place in the world community, and this country is a melting pot of cultures, traditions, appearances, and languages," Lewis countered.
"In order to live together as one people, we must come to respect the dignity and the worth of every human being. It is that understanding that will make us one nation, not a homogenous appearance."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.