Representative Mike Ezell

Dear [salutation],

I was able to be back home in South Mississippi this week to visit constituents across the district. I was able to visit an oyster reef under construction in Hancock County to talk about efforts to preserve and strengthen our coastal resources, and I held a reception to recognize the winner of South Mississippi's 2024 Congressional Art Competition. Here's a recap of both, plus my thoughts on the antisemitic protests going on at some of our nation's top universities:

Protecting Our Coastal Resources

On Wednesday, I joined the Nature Conservancy in Bay St. Louis to visit the construction of the Tony Trapani Reef, named after the legendary Hancock County chef and restaurant owner who passed away a few years ago.

Once finished, the Trapani Reef will provide critical support to nearby commercial oyster reefs (as well as some prime recreational fishing spots).

Congressman Ezell Tours the Construction of the Trapani Reef

The reef is a fantastic example of partnership between local, state, and federal groups with the same goal: protecting our Gulf and its resources. In addition to the Nature Conservancy, the project involves the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, and the Tidelands Trust Fund.

While many on the radical left are pushing for Green New Deal environmental policies that prioritize ideology over Americans, Mississippians are working on real conservation efforts that protect both our resources and our way of life.

As a lifelong resident of the Gulf Coast, I'm excited by the work being done to ensure our coastal resources are protected and improved for future generations, and I'll continue fighting for our Gulf.

Congressional Art Competition Winner

Each year, every Member of Congress hosts an art competition for high school students in their district. The winners from each district have their artwork displayed in the Capitol for the following year.

I'm excited to announce this year's winner, Hui-Hsin (Amelia) Chang of Ocean Springs High School, and I can't wait to see her painting, entitled "Meet Me," every time I walk to the House floor for votes!

Rep. Ezell with 2024 Art Competition Winner Amelia Chang

Here's what Amelia had to say about "Meet Me":

"Dandelions, devoid of the splendor of roses, the elegance of violets, or the captivating fragrance of lilies, require no fertilizer, no fixed estate; they merely need a corner to sprout. They are a delicate yet resilient species. May all strive forward like the little girl in the painting, pacing alongside time, meeting a better self in future, and witnessing how ordinary days gleam like dawn in the vast sky."

– Amelia Chang

I hope you'll join me in congratulating Amelia and her art teacher at Ocean Springs High School, Ms. Shanna Britt!

The Congressional Art Competition, which is now in its 42nd year, is always a great reminder of the many talented young people who call South Mississippi home. Students like Amelia have incredible talents and tremendous potential, and as their Congressman, I'm working to make sure they have the opportunities to stay and build their lives here in our great state.

A Note on Campus Craziness

If you've watched the news or been on social media this week, you've probably seen the protests going on at universities across the country, particularly Columbia University in New York City.

These protestors — some students, some not — have clashed with police, built encampments in the middle of college campuses, chanted antisemitic rhetoric, and harassed Jewish students and others.

Make no mistake. These protestors are not advocating for peace. They're advocating for a terrorist organization that killed more than 1,000 people last fall in the deadliest antisemitic incident since the Holocaust.

They claim that supporters of Hamas, the Iran-backed terrorist organization using hospital patients and children as human shields while shooting rockets at Israelis, are "oppressed" — and that the Jewish targets of these attacks, including the young women raped and murdered at a musical festival on October 7th, are "oppressors".

To be clear, not every student involved in these protests believes these radical things. In fact, some of them don't even know why they're protesting. But others (including "activists" who are being paid thousands of dollars by left-wing dark money groups for leading these protests) have openly embraced horrific rhetoric.

Columbia University is actively negotiating with a student leader who said in a video he released, "[b]e glad, be grateful, that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists...." That student has been through a disciplinary hearing because of his earlier statements about killing "Zionists," yet he is allowed to remain at Columbia and is now leading these protests. When university leaders treat these people and their ideas as legitimate, it simply fans the flames and encourages extremism.

I was glad to see Speaker Johnson and members of the New York delegation travel to Columbia earlier this week, where he called on the university president to handle the situation or resign:

“We just can’t allow this kind of hatred and antisemitism to flourish on our campuses, and it must be stopped in its tracks. Those who are perpetrating this violence should be arrested. I am here today joining my colleagues, and calling on President Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos."

– Speaker Mike Johnson

Thankfully, these sort of incidents haven't occurred on campuses in Mississippi — proof that the Harvards and Columbias of the world have a lot more to learn from us than they think they do.

It's past time for these other university leaders to grow a backbone and defend all their students instead of surrendering to the loudest voices.

Next week, I'll return to Washington, D.C. to continue fighting for our South Mississippi values. We'll likely be voting on natural resources legislation focused on improving America's energy security and protecting our public lands. If you need help with a federal agency or have questions about what's going on in Congress, please contact my team via my website or at one of the offices below.

As always, I'm proud to serve you and all of South Mississippi as your Congressman.

Sincerely,

Mike Ezell
Member of Congress