CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Nikema Williams

Interview

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ACOSTA: And with me now is Democratic Congresswoman Nikema Williams of Georgia.

Thanks so much for joining us.

What's your response to what Senator Tim Scott said about this new voting law in Georgia?

REP. NIKEMA WILLIAMS (D-GA): Jim, thank you for having me and having this conversation.

[15:30:00]

Tim Scott, as I listened to him, I was embarrassed for him to be reading the rhetoric he was given knowing he is a black man in the south, who did not even have the right to vote in this country if it were not for the federal government making sure everyone had the opportunity to vote in this country.

First and foremost, I think he needs to read a history book. I've read the law. But perhaps he needs to read the history on how he got the right to vote in this country.

Talking about New York or other states, I don't know what the laws are in New York. I don't know what the laws are in South Carolina. But what I do know is, no matter where you live in this country, Jim, you should have the same access to the ballot. That's why I am working in Congress to pass H.R.-1 and H.S.-1 to make

sure no matter what state you live in or zip code you have the same access to the ballot and it's standardized across the board.

That's one thing he said is right. It shouldn't matter where you live. We should all have the same access to the ballot.

ACOSTA: I want to ask you about something. Senator Scott said America is not a racist country.

You tweeted in response to that, "I bet Tim Scott's grandfather that came from," quote, "cotton, wouldn't say America isn't a racist country, just because he made it to Congress."

As you know, Congresswoman, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, they seem to agree with Tim Scott when they were asked about it. What's the point you were trying to make there?

WILLIAMS: It's semantics. I think he's saying the country is not racist. Yet, during his speech, he went through an outline of the times he's been racially profiled. And he talked about his grandfather coming from cotton.

I don't know. It took me to believe he was talking about his ancestors picking cotton, coming from slavery in this country, which was absolutely rooted in racism.

Maybe the country is not racist. But it's clear to me every day that I'm operating in a system not designed by or for people who look like me.

I'm in Congress right now to make sure our government works for all of us. That includes Tim Scott.

ACOSTA: Let me ask you about Democratic strategist, James Carville, who made headlines saying Democrats have a problem with "wokeness." I want to ask you about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES CARVILLE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: In my view, if you want to -- in politics, you should speak the language of the people. Speak clear, direct English and address people as they address each other, not like the Humanities Department at Amherst wants you to address everybody.

The number of people that have contacted me or had people contact me after this has been enormously gratifying. Everybody wanted it to break. I get tired of being woke.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: What's your reaction to that? Do you think James Carville has a point about people tired of wokeness in America?

WILLIAMS: I don't know about tired of being woke or what he means by that, Jim. What I do know is we have to meet people where they are. We saw that

in the elections in Georgia. We have to go and meet everyday people on the ground, talking about issues that matter to them.

He might be onto something there because, yes, absolutely, we have to make sure that the things we're describing to people they understand.

We don't need to talk about an economic recovery check that is coming your way, a stimulus check. That's what people understand.

We absolutely have to meet the voters where they are and talk about the issues that matter to people. I agree with him on that.

Whether he wants to call me woke or not, that might be a badge I'm willing to wear with pride.

ACOSTA: You're woke, is that what you're saying, Congresswoman? You're woke and proud?

WILLIAMS: If it means I'm standing up for my people and for those most marginalized, yes, Jim, I guess you have to color me woke.

ACOSTA: Let's go too January 6th, coming up on the four-month anniversary of that. That was your third full day being a member of Congress if I'm not mistaken.

Right now, in Arizona, they're literally recounting ballots for a fourth time. I'm sure you heard about this because there are Republicans who still believe Trump could win by virtue of this additional recount.

What do you make of what's happening in Arizona? And what does it say about where things stand right now.

WILLIAMS: Jim, Republicans in Arizona are recounting the ballot. I think you had a statistic early on 70 percent of Republicans still don't believe Joe Biden won. The country knows Joe Biden won.

In the first 100 days, he has done so much for people. Two million people vaccinated and children are back safely. All Georgians received a $1400 stimulus check in lair bank account and there's more on the way.

Joe Biden has a bold visionary jobs plan and family plan and cutting poverty in half and making sure people get the money they need and while they're counting ballots we're doing the work of the people.

[15:35:06]

ACOSTA: And Republicans in more than 50 states -- I want to ask you about something that is really picking up across the country. More than 30 states have introduced bills targeting protesters.

In Indiana, GOP lawmakers want to penalize people for funding protests. Another bill in Minnesota would cut off many public benefits, like

state loans or assistance, to a person convicted of an offense during a protest.

Republicans in Iowa have proposed granting immunity to some drivers who hit protestors blocking roads.

I'm sure you've been following this. What do you think about this? And can anything be done at the federal level to counteract some legislation coming out of the state level?

WILLIAMS: Jim, as I told my colleagues in Georgia when I was arrested for standing with my constituents as they protested the aftermath of the 2018 gubernatorial election, today, it's my people protesting and, tomorrow, it might be your people.

Be careful of the laws you're passing. We all have a right to make sure our voices are heard and it doesn't necessarily have to agree with the party in power at that time. Be careful of the law you're passing because they will come back on you.

I believe in free speech in this country. What we saw on January 6th went way beyond the line of free speech.

I hope they're making sure we're holding those people accountable who literally had a domestic terrorist attack on the United States capitol. That's what they should be focused on.

ACOSTA: A lot of those state laws being passed right now do not appear to be targeting what happened on January 6th.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it. Thanks for your time.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

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