Katherine Clark
Role at the time: U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 5th district and House Democratic Whip, posting on X
Statement summary
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark wrote that if a speaker has to say "I don't mean it in a racist way," what they are saying is racist, and called the language used about Jeffries "disgusting."
“If you have to mention “I don’t mean it in a racist way,” what you’re saying is racist. This language is disgusting and should be called out for what it is.”
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark's own post on X, quoting a post that shared the video of Rula Jebreal's remarks about Hakeem Jeffries.
Why we used this label
The case asks whether Rula Jebreal's remarks about Hakeem Jeffries were racist. Clark quote-posted the clip and rejected Jebreal's disclaimer, calling the words racist and disgusting. That is an express condemnation, so we labeled it Condemned. Challenged the characterization loses because Clark does not dispute a description; she rejects the remarks themselves. Evidence level: the speaker's own post on X.