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Elizabeth Warren Native American Heritage Controversy

Elizabeth Warren Native American Heritage Controversy

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Updated Feb 11, 2019 at 04:42PM EST by Don.

Added Feb 06, 2019 at 12:28PM EST by Don.

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Overview

Elizabeth Warren Native American Heritage Controversy refers to disputes over United States Senator Elizabeth Warren's claimed Native American ancestry. While initially arising due to a 2012 report by the Boston Herald, the issue reemerged following her release of a controversial DNA test in late 2018.

Background

On April 27th, 2012, the Boston Herald[1] reported that Warren listed herself as a Native American in the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) directories from 1986 to 1995. Scott Brown, her opponent in that year's Massachusetts Senate race, speculated that she faked being Native American to advance her career. During an interview with NPR[2] in May, Warren claimed she had always been told she was "part Cherokee" by her family, and that she was "very proud of her heritage."

Developments

"Pocahontas" Nickname

In late May 2016, Trump mocked Warren using the nickname "Pocahontas," a Native American of historical significance for her association with the colonial settlement Jamestown, in reference to her Native American heritage scandal in an interview with The New York Times.[3]

"When I asked if he had been chided by any Republicans for his Twitter feud with Elizabeth Warren, he replied, 'You mean Pocahontas?'"

On June 10th, Trump posted a tweet referring to Warren as "Pocahontas" and "goofy" (shown below, left). Following Warren's speech at the Democratic National Convention on July 25th, Trump tweeted that the Senator was "often referred to as Pocahontas" (shown below, right).


Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump Following Pocahontas is at it again! Goofy Elizabeth Warren, one of the least productive U.S. Senators, has a nasty mouth. Hope she is V.P. choice. RETWEETS LIKES 9.709 29.808 8:07 AM -10 Jun 2016 9.7K 雙30K Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump Following Elizabeth Warren, often referred to as Pocahontas, just misrepresented me anod spoke glowingly about Crooked Hillary, who she always hated! RETWEETS LIKES 11,547 40,872 삐 罰里蘧 11:12 PM 25 Jul 2016 12K 41K

DNA Test

On October 15th, 2018, Warren released a video announcing the results of a DNA test, claiming it showed "strong evidence" of her Native American heritage (shown below). According to the Boston Globe,[4] the test revealed that Warren had a "Native American in her family tree dating back 6 to 10 generations." The results suggest that Warren is "between 1/64th and 1/1,024th Native American."




The same day, Warren tweeted[5] "I never expected my family’s story to be used as a racist political joke, but I don’t take any fight lying down" (shown below). The follow-up tweet received more than 13,000 likes and 3,100 retweets over the next several months. The tweet linked to a page[6] citing The Boston Globe's report that her ethnicity "played no role in her hiring" at Harvard Law.


Elizabeth Warren e @elizabethforma m US Senate candidate, MA I never expected my family's story to be used as a racist political joke, but I don't take any fight lying down. I want you to have the power to fight lies with the truth, so here's a new site for you to review every document for yourself. FACT: ELIZABETH WARREN'S HERITAGE PLAYED NO ROLE IN HER HIRING. FACT SQUAD Elizabeth Warren's Heritage Played No Role in Her Hiring Elizabeth released her personnel files, and in an exhaustive review of her professional history, the Boston Globe found clear evidence that her bac... elizabethwarren.com

Some criticized Warren for her decision to take and release a DNA test. Twitter @EmmyNawjoopinga tweeted, "That's not how this works, that's not how any of this works. Can Warren just stop? I would much rather it said Warren meets with Cherokee women to apologize. This is NOT how you make amends to Natives FYI. #ElizabethWarren." The tweet received more than 560 retweets and 1,600 likes in 24 hours (shown below, left).

Twitter user @serena_graves tweeted, "As a Ntv person in academia I cant prove my Ojibwe and Lakotah lineage via DNA tests for scholarships. I have to provide tribal documentation and written proof that I’m connected to my community. @elizabethforma gets to take a DNA test to prove 'lineage' & it’s cool tho? 👀💀" The tweet received more than 100 retweets and 300 likes in 24 hours (shown below, center).

Others attempted to call attention to President Trump's offer to donate $1 million to charity if Warren released the DNA test. CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins tweeted, "Trump denies offering to pay $1 million to the charity of Elizabeth Warren’s choice if she proved her Native American heritage. He did." The tweet received more than 1,000 retweets and 2,200 likes in 24 hours (shown below, right).


That's not how this works, that's not how any of this works. Can Warren just stop? I would much rather it said Warren meets with Cherokee women to apologize. This is NOT how you make amends to Natives FYI #ElizabethWarren Warren releases DNA test suggesting distant Native American ances.. The senator's action, meant to push back against critics, comes as she prepares for a possible 2020 Democratic presidential bid. washingtonpost.com As a Ntv person in academia I cant prove my Ojibwe and Lakotah lineage via DNA tests for scholarships. I have to provide tribal documentation and written proof that I'm connected to my community. @elizabethforma gets to take a DNA test to prove "lineage" & it's cool tho? Trump denies offering to pay $1 million to the charity of Elizabeth Warren's choice if she proved her Native American heritage. He did thehill.com/homenews/admin... "We will very gently take that kit and we will slowly toss it, hoping it doesn't hit her and injure her arm, even though it only weighs probably 2 oz," he said. 'And we will say, 'I will give you a million dollars, paid for by Trump, to your favorite charity if you take the test and it shows you're an Indian," Trump said. "And we'll see what she does. I have a feeling she will say no but we will hold it for the debates.

That day, ABC this week released a video of Trump responding to the DNA test and denying the $1 million challenge. The post received more than 170 retweets and 330 likes in 24 hours.


Apology to Cherokee Nation

On February 1st, 2019, The New York Times[9] reported that Warren had privately apologized to a Cherokee Nation leader for releasing a DNA test to prove her Native American ancestry.

Texas Bar Registration

On February 5th, 2019, The Washington Post[7] published an article containing a 1986 registration card for the State Bar of Texas, in which Warren identified herself as an "American Indian" (shown below).


$60.00 (Prorated) REGISTRATION CARD STATE BAR OF TEXAS P.O. Box 12487 Austin, Texas 78711 ELI2A SETH WARREN Sex Name (Please print name as you wish it to appear on card) City City Address:Office: O Home: (Please check address to use fer mailing Place Date of Birth Schools Attended Degrees April 1986s Date Admitted to Practice in Texas Date Admitted in Other States The following information is for statistical purposes only and will not be disclosed to any person or organization without the express written Year) (Month) (Day) EU JERSEY (Month) Day) (Year) State consent of the attorney: Race AMERICAN IARIA쇼Origin Physical Handicap if any Date sual Signatu (Use Reverse Side if Necessary)

That evening, Twitter published a Moments[8] page highlighting various reactions to the article on the social media platform. Meanwhile, several posts about the registration card reached the front page of the /r/The_Donald[10][11][12] subreddit. The following day, YouTuber Timcast uploaded a video reacting to the story, which gained more than 40,000 views and 1,200 comments within four hours (shown below).



Also on February 6th, RNC national spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany tweeted that she received a warning from Instagram for posting an image of the registration card (shown below).


Kayleigh McEnany @kayleighmcenany I have been warned by @instagram and cannot operate my account because l posted an image of Elizabeth Warren's Bar of Texas registration form via @washingtonpost. I'm warned that I am "harassing," "bullying," and "blackmailing" her. (See below!) Your Post Has Been Deleted We removed your post because it doesn't follow our Community Guidelines on harassment or bullying. If you violate our guidelines again, your account may be restricted or disabled Post Details Posted on February 5 at 5:22 PM Community Guidelines We want to keep Instagram a safe place for everyone, and we ask that you treat other members of the community with respect. Even if you didn't mean to offend, remember that we created these guidelines to support and protect our community on Instagram. We remove content that targets private individuals to degrade or shame them. . We remove content with personal information shared to harass or blackmail people. . We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to posts or threats to post intimate images of others. OK

Donald Trump's "TRAIL" Tweet

On February 9th, 2019, Trump posted a tweet[13] responding to Warren's official 2020 presidential run announcement, in which he referred to her as "Pocahontas" and joked about her running as "our first Native American presidential candidate" before signing off with the line "See you on the campaign TRAIL, Liz." Within 48 hours, the tweet garnered upwards of 188,000 likes and 38,700 retweets. Following the tweet, many criticized Trump for posted what they considered to be a mockery of the Trail of Tears, referring to forced relocations of Native Americans during the 1800s. In response, author Michael Malice replied[14] to the tweet with "The Native American genocide continues with another murder by the president." Shortly after, Donald Trump Jr. posted a screenshot of Malice's response to his father's tweet to Instagram,[15] along with the message "Savage!!! Love my President." (shown below).


Donald J. Trump @realDonald... 10m donalditrumpr # . Follow Today Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to by me as Pocahontas, joined the race for President. Will she run as our first Native American presidential candidate, or has she decided that after 32 years, this is not playing so well anymore? See you on the campaign TRAIL, Liz! donaldjtrumpjr Savage!!! Love my President. Load more comments gregory_duke @landondonovan8 oh 3,938 3,535 14.5K cindy.lamarr You might be calling your new "friends" in prison that very name when they make you their boo imagi EVER! Michael Malice @michaelmalice inehvn Beast! Best president Replying to @realDonaldTrump The Native American genocide continues with another murder by theQ u 56,249 likes president 1 DAY AGO PM 2/9/19 Twitter Web Client Add a comment..

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1/1024 is a fraction used in jokes mocking reports that a DNA test for Elizabeth Warren determined that she was between 1/64th and 1/1,024th Native American.



Search Interest

External References

[1] Boston Herald – Harvard trips on roots of Elizabeth Warrens family tree

[2] NPR – In Mass Senate Race

[3] The New York Times – The Mogul and the Babe

[4] Boston Globe – https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2018/10/15/warren-addresses-native-american-issue/YEUaGzsefB0gPBe2AbmSVO/story.html

[5] Twitter – ewarren

[6] Elizabeth Warren – No Role in Hiring

[7] The Washington Post – Elizabeth Warren apologizes for calling herself Native American

[8] Twitter Moments – Elizabeth Warren claimed Native American heritage on state bar form

[9] The New York Times – Elizabeth Warren Apologizes to Cherokee Nation for DNA Test

[10] Reddit – /r/The_Donald

[11] Reddit – /r/The_Donald

[12] Reddit – /r/The_Donald

[13] Twitter – @realDonaldTrump

[14] Twitter – @michaelmalice

[15] Instragram – donaldjtrumpjr

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