MTG’s State of the Union Shirt: ‘Say Her Name’ Slogan Sparks Controversy

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Say Her Name Shirt Sparks Controversy at State of the Union

During President Biden’s State of the Union address, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia drew attention by wearing a shirt emblazoned with the phrase “say her name” alongside a pin featuring the photo of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student tragically killed by an individual authorities stated entered the country without authorization.

The shirt’s slogan, an appropriation of the Black Lives Matter movement’s chant, aims to give voice to women who have lost their lives, particularly in encounters with law enforcement. Biden addressed Riley’s family during his speech, leveraging their presence to advocate for a bipartisan border deal passed by the Senate, stating, “We can fight about fixing the border or we can fix it. I’m ready to fix it.”

Greene’s choice of attire marks another in a series of political stunts at the State of the Union, following her heckling of President Biden during the 2023 speech. Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas sported a T-shirt featuring former President Trump’s booking photo with the caption “NEVER SURRENDER,” adding to the spectacle of the evening.

The phrase “say her name” gained prominence in the wake of deaths like Sandra Bland’s and Michelle Cusseaux’s, aiming to highlight the often overlooked experiences of Black women and girls affected by police violence. Laken Riley’s tragic case serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding immigration policy and its intersection with violent crime.

While politicians like Governor Brian Kemp and former President Donald Trump have sought to blame current immigration policies for violent crime, studies suggest a more nuanced reality. Despite such claims, research indicates that native-born U.S. residents are more likely to be arrested for violent crimes than undocumented immigrants, challenging simplistic narratives surrounding immigration and crime.