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Praising Bobbi Wilson and Condemning Racism

Floor Speech

Date: April 27, 2023
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise Bobbi Wilson and her attempts to rid our neighborhoods of the invasive spotted lantern flies.

Bobbi Wilson is 9 years old and a young lady from Caldwell, New Jersey. When she learned about the dangers of spotted lantern flies, she made it her mission to collect and kill as many of them as possible.

This invasive species is so dangerous to local plants and trees that ecologists urge residents to squash them on sight.

Unfortunately, a local Republican Party leader called the police on her. He said that he was scared when he saw a young, 9-year-old Black female in his neighborhood.

I am livid that even Black children doing good deeds are subjected to the abject racism that infects this country.

Luckily, Bobbi Wilson was praised locally and nationally for her efforts. She earned recognition during a city council meeting and even from Yale University. No child in America should have to face the police for doing good deeds in their community.

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