See some of the most explosive quotes from the House debate on unelected Jackson courts

As millions of Americans tuned in to President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech Tuesday, the most explosive political event of the night may well have been taking place in a different house chamber, on the floor of the Mississippi House of Representatives.

The state House spent nearly five hours debating a bill to create an unelected court system within the city of Jackson. The bill's sponsor said it would help fight crime, but city leaders and the chamber's Black Democrats call the proposal racist.

The bill passed 76-38.

More: House passes House Bill 1020Over accusations of racism, Mississippi House passes bill to create unelected court system

Here are some of the most remarkable quotes from the debate.

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, a Democrat, has been a vocal critic of House Bill 1020 for weeks, saying it "reminds me of apartheid."

“This is probably the most oppressive legislation that I have seen in my history here in the state of Mississippi,” Lumumba told WLBT on Tuesday. “I do want to commend those of the Hinds County delegation, those in the Black Caucus who have held the fight all day and stayed here for hours, making certain that they made clear what was going on here. For the other legislators, I was surprised they came half-dressed because they forgot to wear their hoods.”

Rep. Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia

The bill's sponsor, Trey Lamar, fended off questions and criticism for hours, claiming that the bill is not racialy motivated in any way.

"I don't know what you've heard, I'll say that, but this bill is designed to help make our capital city of Mississippi a safer city. This bill is designed to assist the court system of Hinds County, not to hinder it. It is designed to add to our judicial resources in Hinds County, not to take away. To help, not to hurt," Lamar said.

"I'm going to stand here and I'm going to take the bullets, and everything else that comes my way, and try to answer as many questions I can, but keep in mind, this is about helping Hinds County court system and helping make our capital city safer," Lamar said.

The idea of "our capital city" was one that came up often, as detractors pointed out that Lamar lives more than two hours from Jackson.

"The city of Jackson is the capital city of the state of Mississippi, whether you are from Southaven or Gulfport. It is our capital city. It does not belong solely to the citizens of Jackson, OK?" Lamar said.

Responding to an amendment that would require the court's judges to be Hinds County residents, Lamar said the chief justice of the supreme court should pick whoever they want.

"If we're going to make an additional court in the city of Jackson, do we not want our best and brightest sitting in judgment, whether that may come from Holmes County or Madison County or wherever they may be? Why would we limit the talent pool to here?" Lamar said.

After accusations that the "best and brightest" language was referencing the racial demographics of Hinds County, Lamar said he had been "misconstrued."

"That's not what I'm saying at all. The best person for the job may very well come from Hinds County, and if so the supreme court can appoint that person," Lamar said.

Lamar did not directly answer a question as to whether he had consulted Jackson residents of color when crafting the bill.

"All God's children are unique. We're all God's children," Lamar responded.

Rep. Edward Blackmon, D-Canton

Rep. Edward Blackmon, one of the most senior members of the House, recalled being jailed as a younger man for seeking his right to vote.

"Only in Mississippi would we have a bill like this, with our history, where you say solving the problem is taking the vote away from Black people because we don't know how to choose our leaders. That's the problem. And the Trojan Horse that has been brought forward in this bill is called crime," Blackmon said. "I'm old enough to know and understand that the right to vote has not always been ours, and perhaps I'm a little more sensitive to the idea that that vote can be taken away."

Blackmon was one of many lawmakers to claim the bill is unconstitutional.

"This bill is going to pass, make no mistake about it. We'll be back in federal courts again doing what we were doing in the '60s and the '70s, to regain our rights again," Blackmon said.

Blackmon questioned what Lamar meant by "best and brightest."

"What does it imply when you say have a city of 83, that's 83% African American, when you have a statement made from that podium that the desire, the reason you want to go outside of Jackson, is because you want to have the 'best and brightest' in the state?" Blackmon asked.

Rep. Solomon Osborne, D-Greenwood

Rep. Solomon Osborne said after his 74 years of life, he can recognize racism.

"I've been here for 74 years and one thing I can do is recognize a racist when I see one ... racist actions when I see them, and this is a racist bill," Osborne said, to cheers from those in the gallery, which were quickly gaveled down by House Speaker Pro Tempore Jason White, R-West.

"People come up with all kinds of measures to take away our rights and to oppress the Black folks in Mississippi. I don't even know why I'm down here, frankly, because it's like being at a Klan rally with people with suits on. That's the only difference I see between these people here. They wear suits rather than sheets," Osborne said. "Every day we get up here and open this body with prayer. I wonder what God are these people praying to?"

Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Natchez

Rep. Robert Johnson, the chamber's minority leader, responded to Blackmon's question about "best and brightest."

"What is says to me is, maybe because you've got a Black county with Black judges, maybe they might not be the best and the brightest. Well, I will tell you, I disagree," Johnson said. "They've got the same training, the same education, (and they) probably had to work a little harder to get it."

Johnson said when people like Blackmon and Osborne speak about racism, they do so based on decades of experience.

"We don’t talk about race because it’s convenient. We talk about race because it’s factual," Johnson said.

Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson

Rep. Zakiya Summers said the bill would create a "separate but unequal" court system within Jackson. She questioned why the state wouldn't give the Hinds County court system more funds, rather than creating a separate system.

"Why wouldn't you just provide more money to the existing court system to reduce the backlog?" Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson, asked Lamar.

Summers later put a call out to Jackson residents.

"I'm going to speak to the citizens and the voters of the city of Jackson. We may lose the battle today, but I want you to know that the people of your Hinds County delegation have been fighting very hard against this bill. The victory belongs to God. We have elections coming up this year. Keep in mind what happens today," Summers said.

Rep. Earle Banks, D-Jackson

Rep. Earle Banks also took issue with Lamar's "our capital city" remarks.

"This is your capital city, as many of you say, but this is my home. This is the home that I grew up in. This is the home where I was born," Banks said.

Banks thanked the representatives from other areas that spoke up against the bill.

"The city of Jackson and Hinds County has some friends who have stepped up and spoken for this city and spoken against House Bill 1020, and to those of you, I thank you on behalf of my constituents, the city of Jackson, that you have spoken up. You have spoken up, and you have let your voices be heard and you have helped us carry the message about how we feel about 1020," Banks said.

Rep. John Hines, D-Greenville

Rep. John Hines said the legislature needs to do more to support people in need if it wants to see crime decrease.

"If you really want Jackson safe, put the resources in place where we can put mental health services in place, where we can have quality housing for people, where we can insure and where we can make it so kids got somewhere to go and play and something to do. We ain't doing it. We have not done it at all," Hines said. "What we have done is find a way to do what a few folks want to do so they can get some money in their campaign accounts, and so they can run for their next office, and so they can do some other things that has nothing to do with improving the quality of life. It's a shame."

Hines went on to say that this action will only reinforce Mississippi's poor reputation on race.

"Again, we end up being the laughingstock of America because of what we do here today," Hines said.