Public outcry from Michigan Democrats has been swift since state Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) retweeted on X a graphic of the “Great Replacement” theory, which has been linked to white supremacist movements, as well as the racist mass shooting in a grocery store in Buffalo, N.Y, which killed 10 people.
Schriver, who often talks about his Christian beliefs on his social media accounts, retweeted an image Tuesday of a map of the world where Black figures were overtaking white figures which bears the caption, “The Great Replacement!”
The Great Replacement theory is a conspiracy that white Americans and Europeans are being “replaced” by non-white populations, often through immigration or interracial relationships. The theory calls back to similar ideologies from Nazi Germany and has been used in white nationalist demonstrations such as the infamous torch-bearing gathering in Charlottesville in August 2017, where members chanted, “You will not replace us.”
“Representative Schriver has deeply and personally offended the Michigan House of Representatives,” Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) said in a statement Thursday.
Tate, the House’s first African-American speaker, blasted the post in a lengthy statement for being “blatantly racist” and expressed confusion as to why Schriver would, “espouse a deplorable and false theory” spreading “obvious hate.”
“Perhaps most disturbing is that his post uplifts a dangerous and tortured narrative that fosters violence and instability. His callous and reckless act is not within the spirit of what Michigan is, and it contributes to a hostile environment,” Tate said. “His actions are a stark reminder of the importance of commemorating Black History Month to ensure we are true students of history and the racist laws and practices once in place in this country that we must continually guard against in order to ensure a bright future for generations.”
Minutes after Tate’s public statement was released, Schriver tweeted, “Are any other countries being invaded by the millions right now or is it just America? Deny Entry, Detain, Deport…This isn’t rocket science.”
The same day as the great replacement post, hours prior, Schriver also tweeted a section of Mark 13 from the Bible with sections highlighted of Jesus predicting destruction in Jerusalem, captioned, “Arm yourselves.”
“For someone who claims to love God – Rep. Shriver [sic] is blind to the fact this would make Him weep,” Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi) tweeted Wednesday.
Breen added, “This blatantly racist & dangerous rhetoric has no place in our diverse society, let alone the Michigan Legislature. It saddens & infuriates me that a colleague shared this.”
Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield) posted that the “Great Replacement Theory was the impetus for terrorist attacks on Jews in Pittsburgh/Poway, Black people in Buffalo, Muslims in Christchurch. This is the racist, antisemitic, white supremacist ideology that a Michigan State Representative has decided to promote. Repugnant.”
Schriver is celebrating Black History Month “by promoting racist and dangerous conspiracies that there are too many people of color” Rep. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) said on “X”.