An investigative committee in Topeka today decided to dismiss complaints that had been filed against Rep. Valdenia Winn, D-34th Dist.
A motion to dismiss the complaints was made by a Republican representative from Wichita, who cited legislators’ First Amendment rights. The legislative hearing room today was overflowing with supporters for Rep. Winn.
“It was quite an outpouring of support; it was quite humbling,” Rep. Winn said after the hearing.
The committee played an audio recording and had a written transcript of Rep. Winn’s comments during the earlier committee meeting in March.
“I felt, of course, relieved, but I knew that I had done the right thing and I felt that I told the truth, and I had a First Amendment right to speak up for the rights of these students,” Rep. Winn said after the hearing. “So I at no time felt I had done anything wrong.”
Rep. Winn had been discussing a bill to repeal in-state tuition for children of undocumented immigrants in committee in March when she referred to the bill as institutionally racist and sexist. Her comments were not aimed at any individuals, she said.
Rep. Winn said she did not apologize, as she felt that she had not made any comments aimed at individuals.
Several groups had announced their support for Rep. Winn, including Women for Kansas and the ACLU. In a statement issued recently, the ACLU said that “Legislators ought to encourage a robust discussion of all issues before them, not be in the business of policing one another’s speech.”
Rep. Winn, who is a history professor, said after the hearing that she wondered if people knew what she meant when she referred to institutional racism. That refers to a system that is in place that discriminates against people.
For example, institutional racism, she said, can happen when redlining takes place and housing is denied on the basis of race or gender. On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Fair Housing Act, allowing people to file lawsuits over housing actions that do not necessarily have discriminatory intent, but turn out to have discriminatory effects.