This historic and unprecedented walkout was over a vote on an academic theory that Republican legislators and state education officials acknowledged is not taught in Mississippi. The Senate is controlled by Republicans with a supermajority, which means they can pass any bill without the need for a single Democratic vote. State Senator John Horhn (D-Jackson) said that the unusual action was taken by “we walked out as means to demonstrate a visible protest against these proceedings”. 1993 was the year that Black caucus members walked out of the building before the then-Gov. Kirk Fordice gave his State of the State speech to protest his policies. No Capitol observer can recall any instance in which members walked out in protest of a bill being voted on. “We felt that it was not worthy of our vote,” stated Sen. Derrick Simmons (D-Greenville). “There are so many problems in the state that must be addressed. This was not something we needed to do. Simmons said that even the bill’s author (Michael McLendon of Hernando), stated that this is not happening in Mississippi. As they call it, this is chamber now. I can still see a few Dems. pic.twitter.com/ZMsK7QddA5 McLendon, who handled the bill during more than 90 minutes of debate on the Senate floor, did concede that he could not point to an instance of critical race theory being taught in Mississippi. McLendon said that he had heard from constituents who learned about critical race theory on the “national news” and wanted it to be stopped in Mississippi. McLendon stated that his bill only “prohibits a child from being told they’re inferior or superior to another” and would allow for the teaching of history, as well as multiple instances of segregation, racism and violence against African Americans. READ MORE: The Senate anti-CRT bill was likely to be unconstitutional. Opponents claim that it is. Friday’s debate saw a flashpoint when members based on their lives had different definitions of critical racism theory. Critical race theory, in general, is an academic discipline that studies the effects of racism on society. Many conservative media outlets claim that critical race theory teaches white students that they are inferior to minorities. Senator Chris McDaniel (R-Ellisville) said that critical race theory doesn’t deal with facts but rather in subjective theory. McDaniel stated that facts should be taught to all students in public schools. McDaniel stated that children need objective facts, not theories. Black members stated that it was not an assumption that systemic racism existed in America, and continues to exist in the areas of health care, criminal justice and many other areas. Horhn stated that “we are the only country without a fair housing law.” Senator Barbara Blackmon (D-Canton) asked members why they wouldn’t listen to concerns from the Black senators, even if all 14 were questioning the legislation. The bill was supported by no white Republican. Several did not vote. Two white senators voted against the bill: Hob Bryan of Amory and David Blount from Jackson, Democrats. “It’s sad that we waste so much time on something not even necessary,” said Senator David Jordan, D.Greenwood, a veteran from the Civil Rights movement, and son of a sharecropper. Jordan, who was a former teacher in public schools, said that if anyone is suffering from racism, it is those of color. He added that the bill is unnecessary and that he is satisfied with it. Why do you need it? It has been a tragedy.” It was surprising that the Senate leadership voted to approve the bill on Friday. As they return home for the weekend, legislators often avoid having to debate controversial topics on Fridays. Simmons stated that African American members didn’t know Dennis DeBar, Education Chair, was taking up the controversial bill until Friday morning. They were concerned that the bill would erase the goodwill created in 2020, when the Legislature removed the Confederate battle symbol from the flag’s design. Jordan stated, “We cannot continue to stumble forward into the future backwards.” “This bill accomplishes that.”