Social media users on platforms used by extremists, Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters and conspiracy theorists have expressed outrage at reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz for voting in favor of recognizing Junetheenth as a federal holiday.
Greene and Gaetz, who have formed an alliance and held a number of “America First” rallies in recent weeks, were among 415 lawmakers to approve the Senate Bill 475, or the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act” on Wednesday.
Greene even acted as Gaetz’s designate to vote in favor of creating the holiday for the Florida congressman.
In a statement to Newsweek, Greene said: “I’m in support of celebrating important days in American history and the emancipation of slaves is important. Plus, any day that we can shut down the federal government is a good day for the American people.”
The 14 representatives who opposed the motion to recognize June 19—the day when the last slaves were told they were free in 1865—as a holiday were all Republicans.
On Gab, the infamous “free speech” social media site beloved by neo-Nazis and those banned from other platforms, a number of people condemned the pair for approving the legislation, suggesting they are failing their more extremist followers.
“Rep. Paul Gosar and Rep. Thomas Massie voted against making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Based,” wrote GAB CEO Andrew Torba.
“Matt Gaetz and MTG voted for it. Cringe. The absolute state of America First.”
While sharing the post, Black conservative podcast host William Hall wrote: “Give them an inch, they take a mile. We don’t need anymore racial holidays!”
Among some of the hundreds of racist and anti-Semitic replies under Torba’s post were more people expressing their disappointment in Greene and Gaetz for backing the bill.
“Very disappointed in Gaetz and MTG. They HAD to know in light of this marxist push with Critical Race Theory and other tools to divide Americans, they just added fuel to the fire,” one Gab user wrote.
“I find it repugnant that we are wasting time and money voting on another fake holiday and no I’m not being insensitive or racist,” @Palmeroy added. “MTG and Gaetz should be ashamed. So much more important matters.”
Talulah57 said: “Well, whadyknow? Gaetz and MTG are pandering politicians, after all. Whatever. I’ll just ignore Juneteenth like I do black history month and Kwanza.”
Another Gab user @Dobermanmamma wrote: “See now why I do not appreciate politicians going on social media honking their horns? They cannot be trusted. Actions speak louder than words, and MTG was all words, and will continue to be.”
On encrypted messaging service Telegram conspiracy theorist Jacob Wohl posted to his 3,339 followers that Gaetz and Greene voted to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.
“Stop believing we are represented, we represent ourselves only,” Telegram user Simon Galarneau wrote in reply.
Gaetz has been contacted for comment.
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