By Sahar Chmais

HAYS COUNTY – “The victims of race-based violence and their families deserve justice,” said Congressman Chip Roy at an anti-Asian violence hearing. “There’s old sayings in Texas about find all the rope in Texas and get a tall oak tree; we take justice very seriously. And we ought to do that, round up the bad guys.”

Roy’s comment alluding to lynching stirred up a few protestors to stand in front of the “Coffee with Chip Roy” event in the Hays County Republican Party Welcome Center, located west of Kyle. Protestors and press were not allowed into the meeting because it was by invitation only, according to Nathan McDaniel, who works for the congressman.

The event was posted online on the Hays County GOP website, but did not specify that it was a closed event. The Hays Free Press was able to get commentary from protestors and also saw that no one inside of the building was wearing a mask or face covering.

Protestors stated that they were “disgusted” by this rhetoric and believe Roy does not support them.

“I know Texas has a [lynching] history and I believe our beauty is going to come from moving past that, not trying to glorify our past like Chip Roy has done,” said protestor and Texas State student Gabriel Guerrero. “We saw terrible attacks against Asian American citizens and they are disgusting. [Roy’s] comments only support and help those acts grow and therefore, I’m standing against that.”

“[Roy] didn’t specifically use lynching, he made the reference,” McDaniel said. “He misspoke, it’s a song by Willie Nelson.”

When a protestor asked if Roy would apologize for his comment, McDaniel responded with “I have no comment on that.”