Hank Johnson’s Remarks Invoke Holocaust Allusions During House Judiciary Committee Meeting

During a recent House Judiciary Committee markup meeting, Representative Hank Johnson, a Democrat from Georgia, sparked controversy with comments that drew parallels to the Holocaust. Johnson’s remarks centered on his criticism of the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the arrest of Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan, and what he perceives as a broader erosion of constitutional rights, particularly concerning immigration enforcement and due process.

Johnson’s speech was structured around a paraphrase of Martin Niemöller’s famous confession. Niemöller, a German Lutheran pastor who initially supported the Nazi Party, later became a vocal critic and was imprisoned in concentration camps. His confession reflects on the silence and inaction of many Germans who failed to speak out against the Nazi regime’s persecution of various groups.

In his adaptation, Johnson began by referencing the targeting of Latinos seeking work outside of Home Depot stores. He stated, "You know, first, they came for the Latinos outside of the Home Depots, trying to get work so that they could feed their families, and I didn’t say anything about it because I’m not a Latino at the Home Depot." This statement, mirroring Niemöller’s "First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist," set the tone for his broader argument.

He then continued, "Then they came for the Hispanic-looking folks [with] hats backward with tattoos. And they deported them to El Salvador. And I didn’t say anything about that because I don’t wear my [hat] backward, and I don’t have any tattoos, and I don’t look like a Latino." Johnson extended this theme to Latinas caring for children, some of whom were American citizens, who were allegedly swept up and deported, including one undergoing cancer treatment. He emphasized his silence in each instance, citing his lack of personal connection to the targeted group.

Johnson further likened the situation to the treatment of students protesting in support of Hamas on college campuses, asserting that they had become targets of the Trump administration. "They sent jackbooted thugs wearing masks to pick them up, take them thousands of miles away and put them in a private for-profit detention center where they languish at taxpayer expense. And I didn’t say anything about it because I’m not a student on a foreign visa," he said.

The Georgia congressman also referenced the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan, who was accused of aiding an undocumented immigrant in evading federal immigration authorities, adding, "But then they came for me. And I looked around, and there was nobody left because I had remained silent."

Johnson concluded by explicitly stating that he was paraphrasing a poem from Germany, underscoring its resonance in the present day. He stated, "It’s important that the people understand what is happening with our constitutional rights in this country. Everyone is entitled to due process, whether or not you are documented or undocumented, whether or you are a citizen or not. You’re entitled to due process."

Johnson’s remarks were made during a markup meeting concerning an amendment aimed at preventing the use of certain funds to remove an alien in violation of their Fifth Amendment rights. The amendment was ultimately voted down.

The reaction to Johnson’s remarks was swift and divided. The official House Judiciary Committee Republican account on X (formerly Twitter) criticized Johnson, writing, "Wow, Hank Johnson just implied that all Latinos hang out at Home Depot."

This incident is not the first time Johnson’s remarks have drawn attention. In 2010, during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, he expressed concern that Guam could "tip over and capsize" due to overpopulation, a statement that was widely mocked.

In the wake of the controversy, Fox News Digital reached out to both Johnson and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, for comment.

Recently, Democrats have shifted their focus regarding the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case to concerns about due process, particularly after the release of a Tennessee police video allegedly showing Garcia trafficking migrants.

The comments from Johnson highlight the deeply polarized political climate surrounding immigration and the broader issues of due process and constitutional rights. By invoking allusions to the Holocaust, Johnson has amplified his message and brought historical weight to his criticisms of current policies and actions. However, these allusions have also drawn significant criticism and accusations of trivializing the Holocaust, a sensitive and highly charged topic.

The debate surrounding Johnson’s remarks underscores the complexities of political discourse and the challenges of effectively communicating concerns about human rights and due process while avoiding potentially offensive historical comparisons.