WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) today penned an op-ed in the Washington Examiner outlining the egregious humanitarian crimes committed by the Communist Chinese Party (CCP) against the Uyghur Muslims.

“As all eyes are on Communist China for the Olympics, I encourage you not to overlook what the Chinese Communist Party would rather keep in the shadows- mass genocide and slavery of the Uyghur Muslims,” Scott wrote.

Scott also called out Speaker Pelosi for a recent request for American Olympians not to speak out against the Chinese Communist Party's blatant human rights abuses, stating that the CCP is "ruthless" and that she worries what they might do to "their reputations or their families."

“Speaker Pelosi’s warning to silence our athletes is exactly what enables Communist China to continue their torture and religious persecution of the Uyghurs,” Scott continued. “Our great nation was founded on religious freedom, and to gloss over the severe persecution and abuse of the Uyghur Muslims is immoral and un-American. It is the First Amendment right of these athletes to say whatever they would like- and we should encourage our athletes to speak out against slavery and genocide.”

The full op-ed can be found here or below.

Communist China's Olympic distraction

By Rep. Austin Scott

As all eyes are on Communist China for the Olympics, I encourage you not to overlook what the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would rather keep in the shadows- mass genocide and slavery of the Uyghur Muslims.

The Chinese Communist Government has detained more than one million Uyghur Muslims in "re-education" camps where they are exploited for their forced labor. During a recent press conference, Speaker Pelosi urged American Olympic athletes not to speak out against the Chinese Communist Party's blatant human rights abuses, stating that the CCP is "ruthless" and that she worries what they might do to "their reputations or their families."

Speaker Pelosi’s warning to silence our athletes is exactly what enables Communist China to continue their torture and religious persecution of the Uyghurs. According to the U.S. Department of State's 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in China: "Genocide and crimes against humanity occurred during the year against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. These crimes were continuing and include: the arbitrary imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty of more than one million civilians; forced sterilization, coerced abortions, and more restrictive application of China's birth control policies; rape; torture of a large number of those arbitrarily detained; forced labor; and the imposition of draconian restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement."

Our great nation was founded on religious freedom, and to gloss over the severe persecution and abuse of the Uyghur Muslims is immoral and un-American. It is the First Amendment right of these athletes to say whatever they would like- and we should encourage our athletes to speak out against slavery and genocide. America is the land of the free, and our Olympic champions carry our principles of freedom with them abroad. Although they are not competing on U.S. soil, our Olympians are citizens of the home of the brave, and it is our ethical duty as Americans to speak out against China's egregious crimes against humanity.

Unfortunately, Pelosi's remarks are part of a long and disturbing trend in displaying weakness toward China. Just last week, the Speaker brought the COMPETES Act to the floor, which was an almost 3,000-page unserious attempt to combat China. This legislation creates a new immigration program with unlimited green cards for high-skilled foreign nationals, a documented Chinese espionage source, and no national security safeguards. It also mentions the words "coral reefs" more than China and allocated over $8 billion for a "Green Climate Fund" to fund environmental projects abroad. This disastrous legislation also included $3 billion for a solar manufacturing program that could subsidize Chinese solar panels produced through slave labor.

For a party that claims ensuring "equity" is a priority, Democrats give far too much political grace to the CCP. In addition to their persecution of the Uyghurs, their government openly spies on their citizens using invasive surveillance mechanisms. Privacy is not an option in China, and if the Communist government does not like what it sees, they make you pay a price. The State Department noted that in China, "there were numerous reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings," and that "there were multiple reports authorities disappeared individuals and held them at undisclosed locations for extended periods."

While Democrats continue to make excuses for Communist China's persecution of its people, Republicans have created the China Task Force of which I am a member. The China Task Force recognizes that the Communist Chinese Party is this generation's greatest national and economic security challenge. In order for our nation to remain superior to China, we must lead by example and hold them accountable for their human rights abuses. Rather than working to silence our athletes competing in Beijing, perhaps Speaker Pelosi should focus her efforts on seriously competing with the corrupt Chinese government.

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