House Dems Introduce Resolution To Censure Schriver

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/13/2025) House Democrats joined Rep. Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy) to announce a resolution to censure, or officially reprimand and condemn the actions, of Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) for "racist statements" made during testimony on the House floor earlier this month.

MacDonell was joined by four other House Democrats and representatives from Rising Voices and American Citizens for Justice, holding signs reading “denounce hate.’”

On May 1, Schriver testified on behalf of a bill package prohibiting sanctuary cities in Michigan on the House floor. During his remarks, Schriver cited the emigration of “all of the races” from Asia, Africa and Latin America to the United States as the largest population transfer in history and stated sanctuary cities are “harboring these illegal aliens.”

“They are not acclimating, they are not melting, and they are not conforming to the American way of life,” Schriver said.

“The chasm in our country is not one of income, ideology or faith, but of ethnicity and loyalty”, he said, quoting the book Death of the West by Paul Buchanan. The package passed along party lines.

The Democrats called on House Republicans and Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) to denounce Schriver’s remarks and reprimand the representative during the conference.

Rep. Morgan Foreman (D-Ann Arbor) said she “isn’t surprised” Schriver felt comfortable saying these remarks on the House floor and that his rhetoric “thrives in the climate House Republicans have created this entire term.” Rep. Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods) said the resolution should not have been the wake-up call to House Republicans to condemn the representative's words.

Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren) criticized the legislation Schriver was testifying in favor of as well as other bills Republicans have been spearheading this term, saying the “dumb bills are a distraction and a tool for Republicans to scapegoat the immigrant community."

“As the only foreign-born state legislator, I will not stand for a Speaker and his caucus when it comes to targeting people like me who came to this country because of war and persecution,” Xiong said.

Last year, when Democrats held the majority in the House, Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) introduced a resolution condemning Schriver. At that time, then-Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) “took swift action,” Hoskins said. Tate stripped Schriver of his committees, office and allotment of his staff in response to the resolution.

Hall said while he “didn’t see” Schriver’s comments that were made on the House floor during session before votes were taken, what he appreciates about Schriver is that he’s changed a lot since last term and mentioned that he was sent back to Lansing by his constituents.

“What I’ve tried to do is put him in positions to succeed,” Hall said. “What a great job he’s doing. You see how he’s stepping up and voting with the caucus.”

“I appreciate how he’s working with our members and the team even though we might have differences at times on how we talk and how we communicate,” Hall said.

For his part, Schriver posted a response on X in which he defended his statements on illegal immigration and demographic change as widely held beliefs among mainstream conservatives. He said they are “far from fringe or racist."

He said unchecked mass migration, particularly involving those who enter the country illegally, undermines national sovereignty and sends a “dangerous message” that the nation is no longer governed by law and order.

“This isn't just a policy failure,” Schriver said. “It's a breakdown of national sovereignty and respect for federal law. What we're focused on is protecting our communities and upholding our customs.”