The Bigoted Conspiracy Caucus report exposes the normalization of xenophobic “great replacement” and “invasion” conspiracies within the 118th Congress, documenting their historical roots and widespread promotion by members of Congress.
The great replacement conspiracy claims Jews are orchestrating the replacement of white Christian Americans with non-white immigrants, people of color, or others who they think are inferior and “easier to control.” Today’s versions may generally avoid referencing race and religion explicitly, instead emphasizing culture, immigration status, or political power. Invasion conspiracies describe immigrants as “invaders” who pose an existential threat to American “culture,” or “traditions,” and implicitly call for hate-fueled attacks to counter this imagined threat.
The report highlights how members of Congress have explicitly and implicitly amplified these conspiracies—often under the guise of public safety—through legislative actions, hearings, and thousands of social media posts and press releases.
It also underscores the alarming rise of racially and politically motivated extremist violence animated by these conspiracies. It highlights the mass shootings in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Christchurch, Poway, and El Paso, and more recent cases like the arrests of three individuals planning anti-immigrant attacks along the southern border.
Lastly, the report details how the alarming escalation of extremist rhetoric and legislation has created deep fissures within our democratic institutions. It concludes with a call to Congressional leadership to take the necessary and urgent actions needed to address the use of this dangerous rhetoric.
This report shows how members of Congress are, in their official capacity as lawmakers, mainstreaming bigoted conspiratorial rhetoric like claiming migrants and asylum seekers are “invaders.” The report’s aim is to show how widespread this type of rhetoric has become among elected officials and how such ideas are influencing their governing efforts.
It is our hope this report will educate readers and illuminate the influx of bigoted ideas coming from a faction of our elected officials. This is a pressing issue that threatens multiracial democracy. While it is within our rights to debate immigration policy, dehumanizing, bigoted conspiratorial rhetoric targeting people of color, people of different religions, ethnicities, and origin, has no place in such debate. Thus, the report puts forth recommendations by the authors and endorsers to respond to this growing problem. The content of this report aligns with the established work done by the authors and endorsers to call out anti-immigrant hate and bigotry in the immigration debate.
STATEMENT OF INTENT
The “great replacement” conspiracy has European roots but has been adopted by the U.S. hard right. While white supremacy and antisemitism are baked into it, “great replacement” ideas can take various forms and versions. It can range from explicit to more subtle versions, such as avoiding reference to race and religion explicitly and instead emphasizing culture, immigration status, or political power.
The nation saw the explicit form on full display during the deadly “Unite the Right'' march in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, when a motley crew of torch-wielding white nationalists marched through the streets, chanting, “You will not replace us” and “Jews will not replace us.” Mass murderers have cited this conspiracy to justify racialized and antisemitic attacks in places like Buffalo, New York; Poway, California; Christchurch, New Zealand; and Pittsburgh.
BACKGROUND
BCC Congress Hearing Quotes: Scrolling Timeline
RESOURCES
IN THE MEDIA
ENDORSED BY
