Civil rights attorney Leo Terrell blasted funding in the American Rescue Plan that gives aid to black and minority farmers, arguing Democrats have “turned racism upside down.”
“As a civil rights attorney, for my entire life, I fought for equality and what the Democrats have done with this bill, they have turned the farming industry — I want everyone of your viewers to understand what happened. If you’re white and you need financial help and you’re a farmer, you don’t get it. Not because you don’t need the help, but because of skin color,” Terrell told Fox News' Sean Hannity. “That is racist, it’s unfair, it’s what we fought against for hundreds of years.”
He said Democrats are the ones “who talk a good game about equality,” but they’re the “racists.”
Terrell argued the $1.9 trillion legislation is unconstitutional and should be challenged.
“It violates the equal protection and my heart goes out to farmers regardless of color because they are discriminated against. When did the farm industry become a source of racial discrimination?” he wondered.
LEO TERRELL on skin color based COVID stimulus bill: "If you are white farmer and you need financial help, you don´t get it because of skin color. That is racist, it´s what we fought against for hundreds of years. We need to challenge that bill in the court of law." pic.twitter.com/XBySSfcDgr
— Martin Martin (@martin1812963) March 16, 2021
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham has characterized this funding as “reparations.”
“In this bill, if you’re a farmer, your loan will be forgiven up to 120 percent … if you’re African American, some other minority,” Graham recently told Fox News. “But if you’re a white person … no forgiveness.
“That’s reparations,” he added. “What does that have to do with COVID?”
When Hannity asked Terrell if the funding is tantamount to reparations, he agreed.
LEO TERRELL on skin color based COVID stimulus bill for farmers: "This is a giveaway to people simply because of their skin color. I want the Democrats to hear this – you are racist by passing that bill." pic.twitter.com/tOwraz9fCN
— Martin Martin (@martin1812963) March 16, 2021
"I want to be clear," Terrell said. " I want the Democrats to hear this: You are racist by passing that bill."