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Wisconsin State Senator Glenn Grothman actually composed and sent out a press release calling for an end to the African American holiday, Kwanzaa.

He asks in a press release:

“Why must we still hear about Kwanzaa? Why are hard-core left wingers still trying to talk about Kwanzaa – the supposed African-American holiday celebration between Christmas and New Year’s?”

Characterizing Kwanzaa as a fake holiday conjured up by a rascist professor and perpetuated by hard-core liberals, Grothman goes on to say Kwanzaa was put forth to separate Americans. The senator continues,

“Of course, almost no black people today care about Kwanzaa – just white left-wingers who try to shove this down black people’s throats in an effort to divide Americans,” Grothman said.

“Irresponsible public school districts such as Green Bay and Madison … try to tell a new generation that blacks have a separate holiday than Christians,” says Grothman; who adds Karenga “didn’t like the idea that Christ died for all of our sins, so he felt blacks should have their own holiday – hence, Kwanzaa.”

“With tens of millions of honorable black Americans in our country’s past, we should not let a violent nut like Karenga speak for them,” he said.

Grothman, whose district includes most of Ozaukee County, including Port Washington and Saukville, received national attention earlier this year when he proposed legislation that listed single parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse.

Needless to say, the contents of his press release caused outrage and a flurry of critism, the message below calls for an immediate retraction from the treasurer of the Ozaukee Democratic Party.

“Senator Grothman seems to outdo himself every time he opens his mouth,” said Meg Moen, treasurer of the county Democratic Party. “His recent press release about Kwanzaa was absolutely jaw-dropping. Not only does Senator Grothman seem to find his inherit racism acceptable, he implores people to follow his lead and question a holiday that African-Americans have been celebrating for years. “He, as usual, blames progressives and teachers, for respecting all traditions, and having the audacity to include every holiday and tradition that occurs around this time every year,” Moen added. “That press release is absolutely disgusting and drips with disdain for African-Americans and, therefore, I am calling on him to retract his statements.”

State Sen. Lena Taylor, an African-American lawmaker from Milwaukee, couldn’t be reached for comment on Monday. But she said the seven days of Kwanzaa bring with it the principle of “Umoja,” the Swahili term for unity, in an editorial printed in the Milwaukee Courier on Dec. 29.

Kwanzaa is an African American holiday created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and chair of Africana studis at California State University, Long Beach. The holiday was first celebrated in 1967. The weeklong cultural celebration takes place December 26 through January 1st and celebrates the 7 principles of the Nguzo Saba: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), Imani (Faith).  Click here to learn more about this African American holiday from the Official Kwanzaa website.