Editing Cynthia McKinney

{{Short description|American politician and activist (born 1955)}}
{{Update|part=political activities since 2012 and recent controversies|date=May 2021}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Cynthia McKinney
| image               = Cynthia McKinney.jpg
| state               = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2005
| term_end            = January 3, 2007
| predecessor         = [[Denise Majette]]
| successor           = [[Hank Johnson]]
| constituency        = {{ushr|GA|4|4th district}}
| term_start1         = January 3, 1993
| term_end1           = January 3, 2003
| predecessor1        = Constituency reestablished
| successor1          = [[Denise Majette]]
| constituency1       = {{ushr|GA|11|11th district}} (1993–1997)<br />{{ushr|GA|4|4th district}} (1997–2003)
| state_house2        = Georgia
| district2           = 40th
| term_start2         = January 9, 1989
| term_end2           = January 3, 1993
| predecessor2        = Barbara H. Couch  
| successor2          = Steven C. Clark
| birth_name          = Cynthia Ann McKinney
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1955|3|17}}
| birth_place         = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (2020–present)
| otherparty          = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (1973–2007) <br />[[Green Party of the United States|Green]] (2007–2020)
| spouse              = Coy Grandison (divorced)
| children            = 1
| education           = [[University of Southern California]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[Tufts University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])<br />[[Antioch University]] ([[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]])
| father              = [[Billy McKinney (politician)|Billy McKinney]]
}}
'''Cynthia Ann McKinney''' (born March 17, 1955) is a former American politician.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Galloway |first1=Jim |last2=Bluestein |first2=Greg |last3=Mitchell |first3=Tia |last4=Murphy |first4=Patricia |title=The Jolt: Before QAnon, there was Cynthia McKinney |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/the-jolt-before-qanon-there-was-cynthia-mckinney/KS3RWNEJHJCFDDEAMX2VOTQVTI/ |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=Political Insider (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) |language=English}}</ref> As a member of the [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic Party]], she served six terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. She was the first African American woman elected to represent Georgia in the House.<ref name="pbs1">{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/election/october96/mckinney_10-31.html |title=Georgia on Her Mind |first=Jim |last=Lehrer |author-link=Jim Lehrer |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] |date=October 31, 1996 |access-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-date=July 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724094439/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/election/october96/mckinney_10-31.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> She left the Democratic Party and ran in [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]] as the presidential nominee of the [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]]. She ran for vice president in 2020 after the [[Green Party of Alaska]] formally nominated her and [[Draft (politics)|draft-nominated]] [[Jesse Ventura]] for president.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cynthia McKinney|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Cynthia_McKinney|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release|publisher=Green Party of Alaska Press|title=Green Party Of Alaska Rejects National Candidate, Nominates Jesse Ventura|url=https://www.anchoragepress.com/bulletin/green-party-of-alaska-rejects-national-candidate-nominates-jesse-ventura/article_e4d8ba02-eca2-11ea-becd-cbf43e775053.html|date=September 1, 2020|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=The Anchorage Press|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Downing|first=Suzanne|date=2020-09-01|title=Green Party of Alaska nominates Jesse Ventura for president|url=https://mustreadalaska.com/green-party-of-alaska-nominates-jesse-ventura-for-president/|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=Must Read Alaska|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Alaska Green Party Nominates Jesse Ventura for President|website=Ballot Access News|date=September 2020 |url=https://ballot-access.org/2020/09/01/alaska-green-party-nominates-jesse-ventura-for-president/|access-date=2021-06-14|language=en-US}}</ref>

McKinney served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1988 to 1992. In the [[1992 United States House election|1992 election]], McKinney was elected in Georgia's newly re-created [[Georgia's 11th congressional district|11th district]],<ref>Constructed after the [[Congressional apportionment#Past apportionments|Congressional reapportionment]] associated with the [[1990 United States census]].</ref> and was re-elected in 1994. When her district was redrawn and renumbered due to the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] ruling in ''[[Miller v. Johnson]]'',<ref name="pbs1" /><ref>The Court found that the 11th District was an [[Constitutionality|unconstitutional]] [[Gerrymandering|gerrymander]] because the boundaries had been drawn based on the racial composition of the constituents. See also: ''[[Miller v. Johnson]]''</ref><ref>See map of old district {{cite web |url=http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/congdist.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513071336/http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/congdist.htm |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |title=GeorgiaInfo – Carl Vinson Institute of Government |access-date=June 3, 2011}}
</ref> McKinney was elected from the new 4th district in the [[1996 United States House election|1996 election]]. She was re-elected twice more without substantive opposition, but was defeated by [[Denise Majette]] in the 2002 Democratic primary.<ref name="usatoday.com">{{cite news |last=Welch |first=William |date=August 21, 2002 |title=Crossover vote helped tilt Ga. races |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-08-21-ga-candidates_x.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918040818/https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-08-21-ga-candidates_x.htm |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=March 5, 2008 |work=[[USA Today]] |quote=Crossover voting gave a significant lift to Democrat Denise Majette in unseating controversial Rep. Cynthia McKinney}}</ref>

After her 2002 loss, McKinney became a vocal supporter of [[9/11 conspiracy theories|conspiracy theories about the September 11 terrorist attacks]], blaming her loss and the 9/11 attacks on "Zionists."<ref name="jewishjournal"/> McKinney was re-elected to the House in November 2004, following her successor's run for Senate. In Congress, she unsuccessfully tried to unseal FBI records on the [[assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.]] and the [[murder of Tupac Shakur]]. She continued to criticize the Bush administration over the 9/11 attacks. She supported anti-war legislation and introduced [[Article of impeachment|articles]] of [[Federal impeachment in the United States|impeachment]] against President Bush, Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], and Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]].

McKinney sought re-election in 2006, but was defeated by [[Hank Johnson]] in the [[2006 Georgia's 4th congressional district election|Democratic primary]].<ref name="Democrat U.S. House District 4">{{cite news |title=Democrat U.S. House District 4 |publisher=WSBTV Action News 2 Atlanta |date=August 8, 2006 |url=http://www.wsbtv.com/politics/9640750/detail.html |access-date=August 8, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813100756/http://www.wsbtv.com/politics/9640750/detail.html |archive-date=August 13, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In a [[March 29, 2006, Capitol Hill police incident]], she struck a Capitol Hill Police officer for stopping her to ask for identification. McKinney left the Democratic Party in September 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allthingscynthiamckinney.com/ |title=Cynthia Severs Ties with Democrats |author=All Things Cynthia McKinney (Cynthia McKinney's personal website) submitted by admin September 25, 2007.}}</ref> [[Cynthia McKinney 2008 presidential campaign|She eventually sought and won the Green Party nomination]] in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]],<ref name="youtube.com">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/03cOM9r51Nw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20080228022333/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03cOM9r51Nw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03cOM9r51Nw |title=Cynthia McKinney Announces Run for President |publisher=YouTube |date=December 16, 2007 |access-date=July 19, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="gp.org">{{cite press release |url=http://www.gp.org/press/states/wi/wi_2007_12_11.shtml |title=McKinney speaks truth to power in Wisconsin |publisher=Green Party |date=December 11, 2007 |access-date=July 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612022042/http://www.gp.org/press/states/wi/wi_2007_12_11.shtml |archive-date=June 12, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> receiving 161,797 votes (0.12%) nationwide in the general election.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2008/2008presgeresults.pdf |title=2008 Official Presidential General Election Results, General Election Date:11/04/08 |author=Public Disclosure Division, Office of Communications, Federal Election Commission |date=January 22, 2009|publisher=Federal Election Commission |access-date=January 4, 2010}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Cynthia McKinney was born and raised in the affluent middle-class historic [[Collier Heights]] area in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of Leola McKinney, a retired nurse, and [[Billy McKinney (politician)|Billy McKinney]], a law enforcement officer and former Georgia State Representative.<ref name="sonoma.edu">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sonoma.edu/pubs/newsrelease/archives/2008/05/former_congresswomen_cynthia_mckinney_to_address_race_sensitivity_and_other_under_covered_issues_in_the_us_presidential_campaign.html|title=News Center: Former Congresswomen [sic] Cynthia McKinney to Address Race Sensitivity and Other Under Covered Issues in the US Presidential Campaign|website=www.sonoma.edu|access-date=April 28, 2016}}</ref>

McKinney was exposed to the [[Civil Rights movement]] through her father, an activist who regularly participated in demonstrations across the south. As a police officer, he challenged the discriminatory policies of the [[Atlanta Police Department]], publicly protesting in front of the station, often carrying young McKinney on his shoulders. He was elected as a state representative. McKinney attributes her father's election victory, after several failed attempts, to the passage of the [[Voting Rights Act]], which provided for federal oversight and enforcement of voting.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1424663692856267230 |title=Insightful Personal Conversation with Cynthia McKinney |access-date=July 19, 2010 |archive-date=July 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715070358/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1424663692856267230 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Most blacks in the South had been [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era|disenfranchised]] by state legislative barriers since the turn of the 20th century.

McKinney earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[international relations]] from the [[University of Southern California]] in 1978 and an [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] in Law and Diplomacy from the [[Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy]] at [[Tufts University]] in 1979.<ref name="sonoma.edu" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=MCKINNEY, Cynthia Ann {{!}} US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives|url=https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/M/McKINNEY,-Cynthia-Ann-(M000523)/|access-date=2022-01-26|website=history.house.gov|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cynthia McKinney {{!}} American politician {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cynthia-McKinney|access-date=2022-01-26|website=www.britannica.com|language=en}}</ref> In 2015, McKinney completed her dissertation on [[Hugo Chávez|Hugo Chavez]] and was awarded a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D]]. in Leadership and Change by [[Antioch University]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">[http://aura.antioch.edu/etds/208/ ''"El No Murio, El Se Multiplico!" Hugo Chávez: The Leadership and the Legacy on Race''], dissertation by Cynthia Ann McKinney, [[Antioch University]], 2015.</ref>

Prior to entering politics, McKinney worked as a high school teacher and university professor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://natsummit.org/transcripts/cynthia_mckinney.htm|title=Cynthia McKinney|website=natsummit.org|access-date=April 28, 2016}}</ref> In 1984, she served as a diplomatic fellow at [[Spelman College]] in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. She then taught political science at [[Agnes Scott College]] in [[Decatur, Georgia|Decatur]] and at [[Clark Atlanta University]].<ref name=":1" />

== Career and political activism==
===Georgia House of Representatives (1988–1992)===
McKinney's political career began when her father, a representative in the [[Georgia House of Representatives]], submitted her name as a [[write-in candidate]] for the Georgia state house in 1986. Despite the fact that she lived in Jamaica at the time, she received approximately 20% of the popular vote.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaubisch |first=Barret |date=2008-01-22 |title=Cynthia Ann McKinney (1955- ) • |url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/mckinney-cynthia-ann-1955/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920205856/https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/mckinney-cynthia-ann-1955/ |archive-date=September 20, 2024 |access-date=January 13, 2025 |website=Blackpast |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1988, McKinney ran for the same seat and won, making the McKinneys the first father and daughter to simultaneously serve in the Georgia House of Representatives.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cVtFJ5tvINsC|title=Encyclopedia of Women and American Politics|last=Ford|first=Lynne E.|date=May 12, 2010|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=9781438110325|page=306|language=en}}</ref> In 1991, she decried the [[Gulf War]] in a speech on the House floor; many legislators left the chamber in protest of her remarks.<ref>{{cite book |title=Biographical Dictionary of Congressional Women |last=Foerstel |first=Karen |year=1999 |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-0-313-30290-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/biographicaldict0000foer/page/181 181] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/biographicaldict0000foer/page/181 }}</ref>

=== U.S. House of Representatives (1993-2003) ===
In the [[1992 United States House election|1992 election]], McKinney was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as the member of Congress from the newly created 11th District, a 64% [[African American]] majority district reaching from Atlanta to [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]]. She was the first African American woman to represent Georgia in the House.<ref name="pbs1" /> She was re-elected in [[1994 United States House election|1994]].

In 1995, the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] ruled in ''[[Miller v. Johnson]]'' that the 11th District was an [[Constitutionality|unconstitutional]] [[Gerrymandering|gerrymander]] because the boundaries were drawn based on the racial composition of the constituents.<ref name="pbs1" /> McKinney's district was subsequently renumbered as the 4th and redrawn to take in almost all of [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]], prompting outrage from McKinney. She asserted that it was a racially discriminatory ruling, given the fact that the Supreme Court had previously ruled that [[United States House of Representatives, Texas District 6|Texas's 6th District]], which is 91% white, was unconstitutional.<ref name="pbs1" /> The new 4th, however, was no less Democratic than the 11th. McKinney was easily elected from this district in [[1996 United States House election|1996]]. She was re-elected two more times with no substantive opposition.

In her first period in Congress, she served on several committees, including the House Committees on [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|Foreign Affairs]], [[United States House Committee on Financial Services|Banking and Finance]], and [[United States House Committee on Armed Services|Armed Services]]. She eventually ascended to the top Democratic spot on the International Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, serving as ranking member. In that role, she became a frequent critic of American foreign policy. Examples include her vocal opposition to President [[Bill Clinton]]’s interventionist policies in [[Kosovo]], U.S. sanctions against Iraq, and other policies related to the Middle East.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc223-3-1.pdf |title=Women in Congress }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On October 17, 2001, McKinney introduced a bill calling for "the suspension of the use, sale, development, production, testing, and export of [[depleted uranium]] munitions pending the outcome of certain studies of the health effects of such munitions." The bill was cosponsored by Reps. [[Aníbal Acevedo Vilá]], [[Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico]]; [[Tammy Baldwin]], [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district|Wis.]]; [[Dennis Kucinich]], D-[[Ohio's 10th congressional district|Ohio]]; [[Barbara Lee]], D-[[California's 9th congressional district|Ca.]]; and [[Jim McDermott]], D-[[Washington's 7th congressional district|Wash]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/national/95178_du12.shtml |title=Iraqi cancers, birth defects blamed on U.S. depleted uranium |publisher=Seattlepi.com |access-date=July 19, 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120013734/http://www.seattlepi.com/national/95178_du12.shtml |archive-date=November 20, 2008}}</ref>

==== Criticism of Al Gore ====
During the 2000 presidential campaign, McKinney wrote that "[[Al Gore]]'s [[Negro]] tolerance level has never been too high. I've never known him to have more than one black person around him at any given time." Gore's campaign pointed out that its manager, [[Donna Brazile]], was black.<ref name="repwhocriesracism">{{cite news |last=Suellentrop |first=Chris |date=April 19, 2002 |title=Cynthia McKinney&nbsp;— The rep who cries racism |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2002/04/cynthia-mckinney-the-rep-who-cries-racism.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060411033818/http://www.slate.com/?id=2064530 |archive-date=April 11, 2006 |work=[[Slate.com]]}}</ref>

McKinney chastised Gore for failing to support the [[U'wa people]] of [[Colombia]] trying to oppose [[petroleum]] drilling near them. In a press release issued on February 22, 2000, entitled "No More Blood For Oil," McKinney wrote that "Oil drilling on Uwa land will result in considerable environmental damage and social conflict which will lead to greater [[militarization]] of the region as well as an increase in violence." Addressing herself to Gore, she wrote, "I am contacting you because you have remained silent on this issue despite your strong financial interests and family ties with [[Occidental Petroleum|Occidental]]."<ref>{{Cite magazine|first=Ken|last=Silverstein|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/gores-oil-money/|title=Gore's Oil Money|magazine=[[The Nation]]|issn=0027-8378|date=May 22, 2000|access-date=March 16, 2016}}</ref>

==== Objection to the 2000 presidential election ====
McKinney and other members of the House of Representatives objected to the 25 electoral votes from [[Florida]] which [[George W. Bush]] narrowly won after a contentious [[2000 Florida presidential election recount|recount]].<ref>{{cite web|access-date=January 13, 2025 |archive-date=January 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113202256/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2000-11-14/pdf/CREC-2000-11-14-pt1-PgE2102.pdf |date=November 9, 2000 |first=Cynthia |last=McKinney |title=HON. CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2000-11-14/pdf/CREC-2000-11-14-pt1-PgE2102.pdf |website=[[United States House of Representatives]]}}<!-- auto-translated from Portuguese by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Because no senator joined her objection, the objection was dismissed by Vice President [[Al Gore]], who was Bush's opponent in the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.c-span.org/video/?161423-1/electoral-college-ballot-count| title = Electoral College Ballot Count {{!}} C-SPAN.org}}</ref> Without Florida's electoral votes, the election would have been decided by the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state having one vote in accordance with the [[Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution]].

==== September 11 attacks ====
McKinney gained national attention for her remarks following the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001. She asserted that the United States had "numerous warnings of the events to come" and called for an investigation. She enquired in a radio interview: "What did this administration know and when did it know it?"<ref name="Eilperin">{{cite news|last=Eilperin|first=Juliet|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/04/12/democrat-implies-sept-11-administration-plot/258355b8-b645-43ab-b84c-d5bd500af172/?noredirect=on|title=Democrat Implies Sept. 11 Administration Plot|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|quote="Did she say these things while standing on a grassy knoll in Roswell, New Mexico?"|date=April 12, 2002|access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref> She said that [[US President]] [[George W. Bush]] may have been aware and allowed them to happen.<ref name="usnews1">{{cite news|last=Barone|first=Michael|url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/baroneweb/mb_020829.htm |title=Lessons from Rep. Cynthia McKinney's defeat|work=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |date=August 29, 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020903222124/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/baroneweb/mb_020829.htm |archive-date=September 3, 2002 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |title=Archived on archive.org |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/baroneweb/mb_020829.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020903222124/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/baroneweb/mb_020829.htm |archive-date=September 3, 2002 }}</ref> She made allegations about the earlier president, [[George H. W. Bush]]: "It is known that President Bush's father, through [[The Carlyle Group]], had—at the time of the attacks—joint business interests with the [[bin Laden family|bin Laden]] construction company and many defense industry holdings, the stocks of which have soared since September 11."<ref name="usnews1" /> A spokesman for the Carlyle Group rejected her hypothesis. In a statement in April 2002, McKinney told ''[[The Washington Post]]'': "I am not aware of any evidence showing that President Bush or members of his administration have personally profited from the attacks of 9–11. A complete investigation might reveal that to be the case."<ref name="Eilperin" />

In the month that followed the attacks, McKinney published an open letter to the [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] Prince [[Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud|Alwaleed bin Talal]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Raspberry|first=William|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2001/10/22/wrong-time-wrong-place/9ca75929-ee12-41ab-9da7-35441af42f2b/|title=Wrong Time, Wrong Place|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 22, 2001|access-date=March 16, 2019}}</ref> The [[New York City]] mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]] had refused to cash a $10 million check written by Saudi Prince because of the Prince's suggestion that the attacks were an indication that the United States "should re-examine its policies in the [[Middle East]] and adopt a more balanced stand toward the [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] cause."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/10/11/rec.giuliani.prince/ |title=Giuliani rejects $10 million from Saudi prince |website=[[CNN]] |date=October 12, 2001 |access-date=October 5, 2007|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209092439/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/10/11/rec.giuliani.prince/ |archive-date=December 9, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref> In the open letter, she expressed her disappointment at Giuliani's action: "Let me say that there are a growing number of people in the United States who recognize, like you, that U.S. policy in the Middle East needs serious examination...Your Royal Highness, many of us here in the United States have long been concerned about reports by [[Amnesty International]] and [[Human Rights Watch]] that reveal a pattern of excessive, and often indiscriminate, use of lethal force by [[Israeli security forces]] in situations where Palestinian demonstrators were unarmed and posed no threat of death or serious injury to the security forces or to others."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/CynthiaMcKinney/news/pr011012.htm|title=Letter to His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed bin Talal|access-date=September 3, 2008|author=McKinney, Cynthia}}</ref>

==== 2002 primary defeat ====
In 2002, McKinney was defeated in the Democratic [[Partisan primary|primary]] by DeKalb County judge [[Denise Majette]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/08/20/primary.preview/index.html |title=Barr, McKinney lose in Georgia primaries |publisher=CNN |date=August 21, 2002 |access-date=April 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610134709/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/08/20/primary.preview/index.html |archive-date=June 10, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Majette defeated McKinney with 58% of the vote to McKinney's 42%.<ref>{{cite news|last=Engel|first=Matthew|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/aug/22/usa.matthewengel|title=Pro-Palestinian congresswoman ousted|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=August 22, 2002|access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref>

McKinney protested the result in court, claiming that thousands of [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] had voted in the Democratic primary, the real contest in the district, in revenge for her anti-[[George W. Bush administration|Bush administration]] views and her allegations of voter fraud in [[Florida]] in the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]]. Like 20 other states, Georgia operates an [[open primary]]: voters do not align with a [[political party]] when they register to vote and may participate in whichever party's primary election they choose. Thus, relying on the Supreme Court's decision in ''[[California Democratic Party v. Jones]]'', which had held that California's [[blanket primary]] violated the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] (despite the fact that the Court explicitly differentiated—albeit in dicta—the blanket primary from the open primary in ''Jones''), on McKinney's behalf, five voters claimed that the open primary system was unconstitutional, operating in violation of the [[Equal Protection Clause]] of the [[Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fourteenth Amendment]], the associational right protected by the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]], and various statutory rights protected by § 2 of the [[Voting Rights Act]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://brian.carnell.com/archives/years/2002/10/000015.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184547/http://brian.carnell.com/archives/years/2002/10/000015.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |title=Brian.Carnell.Com |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref>

The district court dismissed the case, in the judgement stating the plaintiffs had presented no evidence in support of the 14th Amendment and Voting Rights Act claims, and lacked standing to bring the First Amendment claim. It interpreted the Supreme Court's ''Jones'' ruling to hold that the right to association involved in a dispute over a primary—and thus, standing to sue—belongs to a political party, not an individual voter. On appeal in May 2004, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this result in ''Osburn v. Cox'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200314349.pdf |title=369&nbsp;F.3d 1283 |date=May 17, 2004 |access-date=July 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528045256/http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200314349.pdf |archive-date=May 28, 2010 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> assessing that not only were the plaintiffs' claims meritless, but the remedy they requested would likely be unconstitutional under the Supreme Court's decision in ''Tashjian v. Republican Party of Connecticut''. On October 18, 2004, the Supreme Court brought an end to the litigation, denying [[certiorari]] without comment.<ref>''Osburn v. Georgia'', [{{SCOTUS URL Docket|04-217}} 04-217] (cert denied, 541 U.S. __).</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/101804pzor.pdf |title=Order List – October 18, 1004 |access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>

Other factors in McKinney's defeat included her allegations of [[George W. Bush|Bush's]] involvement in 9/11,<ref name="usnews1"/><ref name="economistobama">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7141808 |title=Faith, race and Barack Obama|newspaper=The Economist |date=July 6, 2006}}</ref> her opposition to aid to [[Israel]], a perceived support of [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] and [[Arab]] causes, and open [[antisemitism]] in her comments.<ref>{{cite news|last=Alexander|first=Edward|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2001999939_alexander09.html|title=The Democratic Party's anti-Semitism problem|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=August 9, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040814142330/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2001999939_alexander09.html|archive-date=August 14, 2004|url-status=dead|quote=She also, as ''The New York Times'' said in reporting her victory, had made 'a series of other incendiary, often racial comments.' This is ''The New York Times''{{'}} delicate way of alluding to the stridently anti-Semitic character of McKinney's 2002 campaign, in which 'Jews' were repeatedly blamed for her faltering in the polls and for her eventual defeat.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Preston|first=Bryan|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/preston200407270210.asp|title=The Female Michael Moore|work=[[National Review]]|date=July 27, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518094252/http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/preston200407270210.asp|archive-date=May 18, 2007|url-status=dead|quote=McKinney ended up losing the Democratic primary in 2002 to Denise Majette. Majette rode to victory largely on the negative publicity that flowed McKinney's way both when the 'Bush KNEW' accusation made national news and when her anti-Semitic and pro-Islamist beliefs were exposed.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Leibowitz|first=Rebecca|url=http://www.jcpa.org/phas/phas-leibowitz-s05.htm|title=Defeating Anti-Israeli and Anti-Semitic Activity on Campus – A Case Study, Rutgers University|journal=Jewish Political Studies Review|publisher=Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs|volume=17|issue=1–2|date=Spring 2005|quote=in the past McKinney has been accused of making anti-Semitic comments during interviews and speeches.|access-date=November 7, 2008|archive-date=August 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827193131/http://www.jcpa.org/phas/phas-leibowitz-s05.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Heineman|first=Kenneth J.|title='God Is a Conservative: Religion, Politics, and Morality in Contemporary America|date=August 1998|location=New York City|publisher=[[New York University Press]]|page=234|isbn=978-0-8147-3554-1|quote=A year later, Representative Cynthia McKinney, a black Georgian Democrat, ran and anti-Semitic campaign against her Jewish opponent.}}</ref> On the night before the primary election, McKinney's father stated on Atlanta television that "[[Jew]]s have bought everybody. Jews. J-E-W-S."<ref name="usnews1" /> Cynthia McKinney had been through a long contentious relationship with the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] (AIPAC).<ref>{{cite news|last=Nigut|first=Bill|url=http://www.atljewishtimes.com/archives/1999/110599cs.htm |title=Deconstructing Cynthia McKinney|work=Atlanta Jewish Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311002755/http://www.atljewishtimes.com/archives/1999/110599cs.htm|date=November 5, 1999|archive-date=March 11, 2009}}</ref> Georgia political analyst Bill Shipp addressed McKinney's defeat saying: "voters sent a message: 'We're tired of these over-the-top congressmen dealing in great international and national interests. How about somebody looking out for our interests?'"<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |last=Welch |first=William |date=August 21, 2002 |title=Crossover vote helped tilt Ga. races |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-08-21-ga-candidates_x.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918040818/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-08-21-ga-candidates_x.htm |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=January 4, 2009 |newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

=== 2003–2005 ===
[[File:CynthiaMcKinneycrop2006.jpg|thumb|right|Cynthia McKinney speaking to the press in 2006]]
During 2003 and 2004, McKinney toured the US and much of [[Europe]] publicly speaking about her defeat, her [[opposition to the Iraq War]], and the Bush administration.

In 2004, McKinney served on the advisory committee for the group 2004 Racism Watch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0331-04.htm|publisher=Common Dreams|title=2004 Racism Watch Calls on Bush-Cheney Campaign to Change or Pull Offensive Ad|access-date=October 4, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927035344/http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0331-04.htm|archive-date=September 27, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Having made no secret that she wanted to return to Congress, McKinney turned down the [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party's]] nomination for president in the [[2004 U.S. presidential election|2004 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2004/1/13/headlines/report_cynthia_mckinney_to_run_for_congress_again|title=Report: Cynthia McKinney To Run For Congress Again|website=Democracy Now!|access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>

=== Return to the U.S. House of Representatives (2005–2007) ===
Majette declined to run for re-election to the House, opting instead to become a candidate to replace retiring [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Zell Miller]], a [[American conservatism|conservative]]{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} Democrat. According to a report in ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[John Lewis]] believed it was "going to be a real battle" for McKinney to return to Congress. It was feared McKinney's previous comments would have a negative effect on her chances.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/11/us/a-fiery-ex-congresswoman-hopes-to-make-a-comeback.html|title=A Fiery Ex-Congresswoman Hopes to Make a Comeback|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=April 11, 2004|access-date=March 17, 2019}}</ref> Since it was taken for granted that victory in the Democratic primary was [[tantamount to election]] in November, McKinney's opponents focused on clearing the field for a single candidate who could force her into a [[runoff election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://word.world-citizenship.org/wp-archive/1114|title=World People's Blog » Blog Archive » Cynthia McKinney – USA|website=word.world-citizenship.org|access-date=April 28, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305015248/http://word.world-citizenship.org/wp-archive/1114|url-status=dead}}</ref>

McKinney hosted the first delegation of Afro-Latinos from [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/09/04/who-run-the-world-10-black-women-who-could-do-it/3/|title=Who Runs the World? 11 Black Women Who Could Do It – Page 3 of 6|last=Tracy|date=September 4, 2013|website=Atlanta Black Star|access-date=September 30, 2016}}</ref> and worked with the [[World Bank]] and the U.S. State Department to recognize Afro-Latinos. She stood with [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginals]] against [[Australia]]n mining companies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://faculty.virginia.edu/.archived/ejus/Trampled.htm|title=HUMAN RIGHTS TRAMPLED IN AUSTRALIA – PROFITS OVER PEOPLE|date=July 12, 1999|website=University of Virginia Environmental Justice Website|access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref> She was one of the 31 in the House who objected to the official allotment of the [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral votes]] from [[Ohio]] in the [[2004 United States presidential election]] to incumbent [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 7|date=January 6, 2005 |publisher=U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=August 25, 2010 }}</ref>

====Objection to the 2004 presidential election====
McKinney was one of the 31 House Democrats who voted not to count the 20 [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral vote]]s from [[Ohio]] in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]], despite Republican President [[George W. Bush]] winning the state by 118,457 votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 7: On Agreeing to the Objection|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml|publisher=U.S. House of Representatives|access-date=December 24, 2012|date=January 6, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/politics/ohio-recount-gives-a-smaller-margin-to-bush.html|title = Ohio Recount Gives a Smaller Margin to Bush|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 29 December 2004|last1 = Salvato|first1 = Albert}}</ref> Without Ohio's electoral votes, the election would have been decided by the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state having one vote in accordance with the [[Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution]].

==== 9/11 Commission ====
On July 22, 2005, the first anniversary of the release of the [[9/11 Commission Report]], McKinney held a briefing on Capitol Hill about the attacks. The day-long briefing featured family members of victims, scholars, former intelligence officers and others who critiqued the [[9/11 Commission]] account of 9/11 and its recommendations. The four morning panels addressed flaws, omissions, and a lack of historical and political analysis in the commission's report. Three afternoon panels critiqued the commission's recommendations in the areas of foreign and domestic policy and intelligence reform. An ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' editorial<ref name="Kemper270705">{{cite web|last=Kemper |first=Bob |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/0705/23natmckinney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050727004640/http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/0705/23natmckinney.html |archive-date=July 27, 2005 |title=McKinney reopens 9/11 |access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref> said that the purpose of the event was to discuss whether or not the Bush administration was involved in the 9/11 attacks, expressing surprise that McKinney was once again taking on the issue that was believed to have cost her House seat.<ref name="Kemper270705" /> The ''Journal-Constitution'' declined to publish McKinney's reply.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://list.nowar-paix.ca/pipermail/nowar/2005-August/000834.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208140230/http://list.nowar-paix.ca/pipermail/nowar/2005-August/000834.html |archive-date=February 8, 2007 |title=&#91;NOWAR/PAIX&#93; A Message from Rep. Cynthia McKinney regarding 'The 9/11 Commission Report One Year Later: A Citizens' Response – Did They, Get it Right?' |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> The 9/11 Commission has sealed all the notes and transcripts of some 2,000 interviews, all the forensic evidence, and both classified and non-classified documents used in compiling its final report until January 2, 2009. McKinney's interest in 9/11 relates specifically to what she expresses as her opposition to excessive government secrecy,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.counterpunch.org/mckinney0517.html |title=Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney: Terrorist Warnings |publisher=Counterpunch.org |date=May 17–19, 2002 |access-date=July 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616110714/http://counterpunch.org/mckinney0517.html |archive-date=June 16, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> which she has challenged with numerous pieces of legislation.

McKinney has said that she "remain[s] hopeful that we will learn the truth" about 9/11 "because more and more people around the world are demanding it."<ref>Mckinney, Cynthia (April 8, 2010) [http://archive.lewrockwell.com/orig11/mckinney2.1.1.html Leaders' Lack of Respect for Rule of Law Makes Us All Victims of 9/11], [[LewRockwell.com]]</ref>

==== Hurricane Katrina activism ====
McKinney was an advocate for victims of 2005's [[Hurricane Katrina]] and a critic of the government's response to it. Over 100,000 evacuees from [[New Orleans]] and [[Mississippi]] relocated to the Atlanta area, and many have now settled there.

During the Katrina crisis, evacuees were turned away by [[Arthur Lawson (chief of police)|Arthur Lawson]]'s Gretna police when they attempted to cross the [[Crescent City Connection]] Bridge between [[New Orleans]] and [[Gretna, Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/09/09/BAGL1EL1KH1.DTL |title=Police made their storm misery worse|work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=September 9, 2005 |first=Chip |last=Johnson}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-bridge-to-gretna/ |title=The Bridge to Gretna|work=[[CBS News]] |date=December 18, 2005}}</ref> McKinney was the only member of Congress to participate in a march across the Crescent City Connection Bridge on November 7, 2005, to protest what had happened on that bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.now.org/issues/diverse/neworleansmarch.html?printable |title=Marchers Cross New Orleans Bridge to Protest Racism |publisher=[[National Organization for Women]] |date=November 7, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807082513/http://www.now.org/issues/diverse/neworleansmarch.html?printable |archive-date=August 7, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In response, McKinney introduced a bill<ref>{{cite web |url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h4209ih.txt.pdf |title=H.R. 4209, 109th Congress, 1st Session |work=United States House of Representatives |date=November 2, 2005}}</ref> on November 2, 2005, that would temporarily deny federal assistance to the City of Gretna Police Department, [[Harry Lee (sheriff)|Harry Lee]]'s Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, and the [[Crescent City Connection Police Department]], in the state of [[Louisiana]]. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, but was not acted on. However, in August 2006, a [[grand jury]] began an investigation of the incident.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-6/115475739198060.xml&coll=1 |title=Bridge blockade goes to grand jury |publisher=[[New Orleans Times-Picayune]] |date=August 5, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154609/http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-6%2F115475739198060.xml&coll=1 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/04/AR2006080401348.html |title=La. Police Who Turned Away Katrina Victims Face Inquiry|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 5, 2006}}</ref> On October 31, 2007, the Grand Jury ruled not to charge anyone. The Grand Jury accepted Gretna Police Chief Arthur Lawson's explanation, "Some of the people in the crowd acted aggressively and threatened to throw one of the officers off the bridge, the chief said. The shot was fired over the officer's shoulder and over the side of the bridge.<ref>Michael Kunzelman.'No charges in Katrina Bridge Blockade'"USA TODAY" October 31, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2011: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-31-3360763218_x.htm</ref>

McKinney chose to be an active participant in the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to [[Hurricane Katrina]], although the Democratic Party leadership called for Democratic members to boycott the committee. She submitted her own 72-page report.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://katrina.house.gov/index.htm |title=A Failure of Initiative: The Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina |publisher=[[U.S. House of Representatives]] |date=February 15, 2006 |access-date=December 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051227033028/http://katrina.house.gov/index.htm |archive-date=December 27, 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She sat as a guest along with only a few other Democrats. In questioning [[Department of Homeland Security]] Secretary [[Michael Chertoff]], McKinney referred to a news story in which the owners of a [[nursing home]] had been charged with negligent [[homicide]] for abandoning 34 clients who died in the flood waters. McKinney asked Chertoff: "Mr. Secretary, if the nursing home owners are arrested for negligent homicide, why shouldn't you also be arrested for negligent homicide?"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursday/news_3475a3b25396f1e10006.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060308150444/http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursday/news_3475a3b25396f1e10006.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2006 |title=MicKinney roils hurricane panel |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=June 4, 2011|df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The [[Congressional Black Caucus]]' Omnibus Bill (HR 4197) was introduced on November 2, 2005, to provide a comprehensive response to the [[Gulf Coast]] residents affected by [[Hurricane Katrina]]. The second title of the bill was submitted by McKinney, seeking a Comprehensive Environmental Sampling and Toxicity Assessment Plan, or CESTAP, to minimize harm to Gulf Coast residents from the toxic releases into the environment caused by the hurricane.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h4197ih.txt |title=Hurricane Katrina Recovery, Reclamation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Reunion Act of 2005|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] |date=November 2, 2005}}</ref>

At the request of McKinney, the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://katrina.house.gov/index.htm |title=Select Bipartisan Committee |publisher=Katrina.house.gov |access-date=July 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707093846/http://katrina.house.gov/index.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> chaired by [[Thomas M. Davis]], held a previously unscheduled hearing titled "Voices Inside the Storm" on December 6, 2005.

McKinney, in collaboration with Rep. [[Barbara Lee]] (CA), produced a<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lee.house.gov/uploads/katlegsum.pdf |title=Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Summary of Congressional Legislation |author=Offices of Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. Cynthia McKinney |date=June 6, 2006 |publisher=United States House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328191340/http://lee.house.gov/uploads/katlegsum.pdf |archive-date=March 28, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> "Katrina Legislative Summary," a chart summarizing House and [[United States Senate|Senate]] bills on Hurricane Katrina. On June 13, 2006, McKinney said on the House floor that only a dozen of the 176 Katrina bills identified on the chart had passed into law, leaving 163 bills stalled in committee.

On August 2, 2007, McKinney participated in a press conference in [[New Orleans]] to launch an International Tribunal on Hurricanes Katrina and [[Hurricane Rita|Rita]], which she described as an effort to seek justice for the victims of those hurricanes and their aftermath.

==== Anti-war and human rights legislation ====
Until 2000, McKinney served on the House International Relations Committee, where she was the highest-ranking Democrat on the Human Rights Subcommittee. McKinney worked on legislation to stop conventional weapons transfers to governments that are [[democracy|undemocratic]] or fail to respect [[human rights]].

On November 18, 2005, McKinney was one of only three House members to vote for H.R. 571, introduced by [[Duncan L. Hunter|Duncan Hunter]], chairman of the [[House Armed Services Committee]], on which McKinney sat. Hunter, a Republican, offered this resolution calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq in place of [[John Murtha]]'s H.J.Res. 73, which called for redeployment "at the earliest possible date." In her prepared statement, McKinney accused the Republicans of "trying to set a trap for the Democrats. A 'no' vote for this Resolution will obscure the fact that there is strong support for withdrawal of US forces from Iraq ... In voting for this bill, let me be perfectly clear that I am not saying the United States should exit Iraq without a plan. I agree with Mr. Murtha that security and stability in Iraq should be pursued through diplomacy. I simply want to vote 'yes' to an orderly withdrawal from Iraq."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_2282.shtml |title=McKinney: Republicans seek to silence dissent on Iraq war |publisher=Finalcall.com |date=Nov 18, 2005|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>

==== Articles of impeachment introduced ====
{{see also|Efforts to impeach George W. Bush}}

At the end of the 2006 legislative session, McKinney introduced [[Article of impeachment|articles]] of [[Federal impeachment in the United States|impeachment]] against President [[George W. Bush]] as (H Res 1106), which made three charges against Bush:<ref name="gnn.tv">{{cite web|url=http://www.gnn.tv/articles/2791/BREAKING_Congresswoman_McKinney_Files_Articles_of_Impeachment |title=GNN.tv |publisher=GNN.tv |date=December 8, 2006|access-date=July 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205072249/http://www.gnn.tv/articles/2791/BREAKING_Congresswoman_McKinney_Files_Articles_of_Impeachment |archive-date=February 5, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Failure to uphold the constitution, specifically that "George Walker Bush ... in preparing the invasion of Iraq, did withhold intelligence from the Congress, by refusing to provide Congress with the full intelligence picture that he was being given, by redacting information ... and actively manipulating the intelligence on Iraq’s alleged weapons programs by pressuring the Central Intelligence Agency and other intelligence agencies.
* Abuse of office and [[executive privilege]], "obstructing and hindering the work of Congressional investigative bodies and by seeking to expand the scope of the powers of his office."
* Failure to ensure that laws are faithfully executed, specifically by a program of illegal domestic spying and circumvention of the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act|FISA]] Act.

The second article also made charges against Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] alleging he manipulated intelligence in order to justify the Iraq War, and against Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] alleging that she knowingly made false statements concerning [[Iraq]]'s [[weapons of mass destruction]] program.<ref name="gnn.tv" />

McKinney's bill was abandoned when it failed to clear the [[House Committee on the Judiciary]].<ref name="govtrack.us">{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hr109-1106 |title=H. Res. 1106 [109th]: Articles of Impeachment against George Walker Bush, President of the United States of America,... |publisher=GovTrack.us |access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>

==== Capitol Police incident ====
{{Main|Cynthia McKinney–Capitol Hill police incident}}
On the morning of March 29, 2006, McKinney entered the [[Longworth House Office Building]]'s southeast entrance and proceeded past the security checkpoint, walking around the metal detector. [[Members of Congress]] have identifying lapel pins and were not required to pass through metal detectors at the time. The officers present failed to recognize McKinney as a member of Congress because she was not wearing the appropriate lapel pin and had recently changed her hairstyle. She proceeded westward down the ground floor hallway and about halfway down the hallway was stopped by United States Capitol Police officer Paul McKenna, who states that he had been calling after her: "Ma'am, Ma'am!"; at that time it is reported that McKinney struck the officer. Two days later, Officer McKenna filed a police report claiming that McKinney had struck "his chest with a closed fist".

In the midst of a media frenzy, McKinney made an apology<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/06/mckinney/ |title= McKinney apologizes for scuffle with officer |publisher=WXIA-TV ATLANTA |date=March 30, 2006}}</ref> on the floor of the House of Representatives on April 6, 2006, neither admitting to nor denying the charge, stating only that: "There should not have been any physical contact in this incident."

Though McKinney was not indicted for criminal charges or subjected to disciplinary action by the House, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police said of Officer McKenna, "We're going to make sure the officer won't be harassed. We want the officer to be able talk to experts, who can look at his legal recourses, if he needed to."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wsbtv.com/news/8646957/detail.html |title=Officer Considers Lawsuit Against McKinney |publisher=WSBTV Atlanta |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060413234549/http://www.wsbtv.com/news/8646957/detail.html |archive-date=April 13, 2006 |df=mdy }}</ref>

==== Unintentional on-air criticism ====
In the wake of the March 2006 incident with the Capitol Police officer, McKinney was in the news, and her office invited the media to attend one of her monthly "District Days," where she spends one full day meeting with constituents to discuss issues of concern. At her April 23, 2006, "District Days" event, McKinney was being interviewed by [[WANF|WGCL]]'s [[WXIA-TV personalities|Renee Starzyk]], who repeatedly questioned her about the March 29 scuffle with a Capitol police officer. Frustrated, McKinney stood up and apparently forgot she was still wearing the [[microphone]]. Her offscreen comments were captured on tape. She was heard saying, "Oh, crap, now you know what ... they lied to [McKinney's senior aide Coz Carson], and Coz is a fool."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna12464118 | title=Station catches McKinney bad-mouthing staffer | agency=[[Associated Press]]|website=[[NBC News]]|date=April 24, 2006}}</ref> McKinney returned on screen with the microphone, this time with instructions on what parts of the interview the station was allowed to use: "anything that is captured by your audio ... that is captured while I'm not seated in this chair is off the record and is not permissible to be used ... is that understood?"<ref>[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/23/sm.01.html CNN Sunday Morning Transcript]. CNN. April 23, 2006.</ref>

==== MLK Records Act ====
McKinney submitted to Congress two different versions of the same bill, the "[[Martin Luther King Jr. Records Collection Act|MLK Records Act]]" (one in 2003, the other in 2005), which, if signed into law, would release all currently sealed files concerning the 1968 [[assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h2554ih.txt |title=Martin Luther King, Jr., Records Collection Act of 2005 |publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]]|date=May 23, 2005}}</ref> These records were sealed in 1978 and are not due to be declassified until the year 2028. The 2005 version of the MLK Records Act, HR 2554 had 67 cosponsors by the time McKinney left office at the end of 2006. A Senate version of the bill (S2499) was introduced by Senator [[John Kerry]] and was co-signed by Sen. [[Hillary Clinton]]. The bill has also received numerous endorsements from former members of the [[House Select Committee on Assassinations]].{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

==== Tupac Shakur Records Act ====
Documents relating to the death of rapper [[Tupac Shakur]], in which McKinney took an active interest, would be released under another bill she would introduce. In a statement, McKinney explained her reason for the bill: "The public has the right to know because he was a well-known figure. There is intense public interest in the life and death of Tupac Shakur."<ref>{{cite news |title=Congresswoman floats 2Pac bill |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-03-et-quick3.3-story.html |date=December 3, 2005}}</ref> Legislation demanding release of records is a more direct route than requesting their release through the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]] (FOIA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archives.allthingscynthiamckinney.com/mckinney.house.gov/list/press/ga04_mckinney/PrsRlsTupacBill.html|title=McKinney – News Briefs|website=archives.allthingscynthiamckinney.com|access-date=March 16, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081127053126/http://archives.allthingscynthiamckinney.com/mckinney.house.gov/list/press/ga04_mckinney/PrsRlsTupacBill.html|archive-date=November 27, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==== 2006 primary and primary runoff ====
{{Main|2006 Georgia's 4th congressional district election}}
McKinney finished first in the July 18, 2006 Democratic primary, edging DeKalb County Commissioner [[Hank Johnson]] 47.1% to 44.4%, with a third candidate receiving 8.5%.<ref>{{cite news |title=Georgia Election Results: Official Results of the July 18, 2006 Primary Election |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |date=July 16, 2006 |url=http://www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/election_results/2006_0718/0001410.htm |access-date=August 8, 2006 |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722015749/http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2006_0718/0001410.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, as McKinney failed to get at least 50% of the vote, she and Johnson were forced into a runoff.

In the runoff of August 8, 2006, McKinney received about the same number of votes as in the July primary, even though there were about 8,000 more votes cast in the runoff than in the primary. Johnson won with 41,178 votes (59%) to McKinney's 28,832 (41%).<ref name="Democrat U.S. House District 4"/> McKinney's loss was attributed to a mid-decade redistricting, in which the 4th had absorbed portions of [[Gwinnett County|Gwinnett]] and [[Rockdale County, Georgia|Rockdale]] Counties, as well as her run-in with a police officer in the [[March 29, 2006, Capitol Hill police incident]].

CNN reported that during her concession speech, McKinney hardly mentioned her opponent but praised the [[leftist]] political leaders elected in [[South America]]. She also questioned the efficacy of [[voting machines]] and criticized the media.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/09/congress.mckinney/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831231915/http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/09/congress.mckinney/ |archive-date=August 31, 2006 |title=CNN.com – McKinney beaten but unbowed – August 9, 2006 |publisher=CNN.com |date=August 9, 2006|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>

=== 2008 Green Party presidential candidacy ===
{{Main|Cynthia McKinney 2008 presidential campaign}}
{{Wikinews|Wikinews interviews U.S. Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney}}
[[File:Cynthia mckinney presidential candidacy.jpg|thumb|260px|McKinney before speaking at the Green Party Presidential Debate in [[San Francisco]], January 2008]]
McKinney was a [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]] candidate in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]].<ref name="gp.org" />

McKinney appeared at the July 15, 2007, Green Party National Meeting in [[Reading, Pennsylvania]], where she suggested that the Green Party could become a progressive political force. "[T]he disgust of the American people with what they see before them—all they need is the blueprint and a road map. Why not have the Green Party provide the blueprint and the road map?"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gpus.org/annual-national-meetings/2007-redding/|title=2007 • Green Party National Meeting {{!}} Green Party of the United States|website=gpus.org|language=en-US|access-date=January 26, 2017}}</ref>

At an August 27, 2007, peace rally in [[Kennebunkport, Maine]], McKinney confirmed the depth of her disenchantment with the Democratic Party, urging San Francisco voters to replace [[Nancy Pelosi]] with antiwar activist [[Cindy Sheehan]]. On September 10, in a letter to the steering committee of the Green Party of the United States, McKinney stated she would not seek the Green Party nomination for president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allthingscynthiamckinney.com./node/100 |title=Cynthia Withdraws Name From Consideration for Green Party Presidential Nomination |author=McKinney, Cynthia |publisher=All Things Cynthia McKinney |date=September 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904011759/http://www.allthingscynthiamckinney.com/node/100 |archive-date=September 4, 2008 |df=mdy}}</ref> However, in early October it appeared that McKinney was making moves toward declaring herself an official Green Party candidate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cynthia McKinney to announce bid for the White House |first=Luke |last=Thomas |date=October 5, 2007 |work=Fog City Journal |url=http://www.fogcityjournal.com/news_in_brief/overheard_071005.shtml}}</ref>

On July 9, 2008, she named as her running mate journalist and community activist [[Rosa Clemente]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/07/09/cynthia-mckinney-names-v-p-running-mate/ |title=Richard Winger, "Cynthia McKinney Names V-P Running Mate" Ballot Access News |publisher=Ballot-access.org |date=July 9, 2008 |access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref> and clinched the party's nomination three days later at the [[2008 Green National Convention|2008 Green Party National Convention]].<ref>[http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/07/12/mckinney_green_nomination.html "McKinney wins Green Party nomination"], ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', July 12, 2008</ref>

On September 10, 2008, McKinney joined a press conference held by third-party and independent candidates, along with [[Ralph Nader]], [[Chuck Baldwin]], and initiator [[Ron Paul]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/naders-debate?page=full#axzz2dH5jYNNX|title=Nader's Debate|magazine=The Nation|date=October 24, 2008|access-date=August 28, 2013|last1=Weigel|first1=David|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406001136/https://www.thenation.com/article/naders-debate/?page=full#axzz2dH5jYNNX|url-status=dead}}</ref> The participants agreed on four basic principles:
* An early end to the [[Iraq War]], and an end to threats of war against other countries including [[Iran]] and [[Russia]].
* The safeguarding of privacy and civil liberties, including a call for the repeal of the [[Patriot Act]], the [[Military Commissions Act of 2006|Military Commissions Act]], and [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act|FISA]] legislation
* No increase in the National Debt
* A "thorough investigation, evaluation and audit of the [[Federal Reserve System]]."

On November 4, 2008, McKinney received 161,797 votes, 0.12% of the total votes cast, placing her behind Obama, McCain, Nader, Barr, and Baldwin.<ref name="Federal Election Commission">{{cite web |url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2008/tables2008.pdf |title=2008 presidential vote |access-date=February 3, 2009|date=December 7, 2008 |publisher=[[Federal Election Commission]]}}</ref>

=== 2008–2011 ===
In March 2009, McKinney was present at a gathering of Holocaust deniers in London. In postings on the Green Party website, she said former [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Malaysian prime minister]] [[Mahathir Mohamad]] was "one of my heroes". She described David Pidcock as "my London friend". Pidcock is an individual whom the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]] and the [[Anti-Defamation League]] have described as an <!-- form used on both websites. -->"anti-Semitic writer".<ref name="SPLC2009">{{cite journal|last=Rob Waters|first=Rob|url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2009/former-democratic-congresswoman-cynthia-mckinney-flirts-holocaust-deniers|title=Former Democratic Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney, Flirts with Holocaust Deniers|journal=Intelligence Report|publisher=[[Southern Poverty Law Center]]|issue=Winter 2009|date=November 30, 2009|access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounders/cynthia-mckinneys-anti-israel-campaign|title=Cynthia McKinney's Anti-Israel Campaign|work=Anti-Defamation League|date=2009|access-date=October 18, 2021}}</ref> In one post she related the conspiracy theory that individuals such as [[George Soros]] and [[Alan Greenspan]] (both Jewish) have plotted to create a "one-world government". In discussing this notion, she was drawing on a book entitled, ''The Shadow Money-Lenders'' by Matthias Chang, an advisor to Mahathir. McKinney praised the work.<ref name="SPLC2009" />

==== Free Gaza Movement ====
On December 30, 2008, McKinney was aboard the ship ''Dignity'' when it attempted to enter the [[Gaza Strip]], which had its coastal area declared a "closed military zone" by Israel, while on a humanitarian mission by the [[Free Gaza Movement]] from Cyprus. Aboard were physicians, medical supplies, and activists, including [[Caoimhe Butterly]]. The Israeli Navy confronted the ship at night in international waters. Members of the crew claimed that the ship was rammed, gunfire was directed at the water, and the ship was forced to dock in Lebanon after taking on water.<ref name="CNN Gaza aid boat">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/30/gaza.aid.boat/index.html |title=Gaza relief boat damaged in encounter with Israeli vessel |access-date=December 31, 2008 |publisher=CNN |date=December 30, 2008}}</ref><ref name="LATimes Gaza aid boat">{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/12/gaza-aid-boat-d.html |title=Gaza Strip: Aid boat docks in Lebanon after being damaged |access-date=December 31, 2008|work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 31, 2008}}</ref> Israeli officials claimed that the collision was accidental and occurred after the ship was informed they would not be allowed to enter Gaza and tried to outmaneuver the patrol boat; they decried McKinney's actions as being irresponsible and provocative for the sake of propaganda.<ref name="LATimes Gaza aid boat" /><ref name="AJC Gaza aid boat">{{cite web|last=Malone |first=Julia |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2008/12/29/cynthia_mckinney_gaza.html |title=McKinney relief boat reportedly attacked by Israel |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=December 29, 2008 |access-date=July 19, 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503235749/http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2008/12/29/cynthia_mckinney_gaza.html |archive-date=May 3, 2011 }}</ref>

On June 30, 2009, McKinney was aboard the Greek-flagged Free Gaza Movement's ship ''Spirit of Humanity'' carrying 21 activists including [[Irish people|Irish]] peace activist [[Mairead Corrigan|Mairead McGuire]], medical supplies, a symbolic bag of cement, olive trees and toys, when it was seized by the Israeli Navy {{convert|18|mi|km|abbr=on}} off the Gaza coast. It was unclear whether they were in international waters or in Gazan waters, which is subject to the Israeli [[2007–present blockade of the Gaza Strip|blockade of Gaza]].<ref name="CNN Israeli Navy Intercepts Boat">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/30/israel.gaza.mckinney/index.html |publisher=CNN |title=Israel navy intercepts boat with ex-U.S. Rep. McKinney |access-date=April 30, 2010 |date=June 30, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Jerusalem Post">[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1246296538815&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Jerusalem Post]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Although both the Cypriot and Israeli authorities were officially informed the destination was Gaza before the vessel's departure, according to the [[Cyprus|Cypriot]] government the ship "was given permission by the competent Authorities of the Republic of Cyprus to sail off the port of Larnaca in Cyprus on the basis of its declaration that its intended destination was the port of [[Port Said]] in [[Egypt]]."<ref name="Jerusalem Post" />

McKinney was held at the Givon immigration detention center in [[Ramle]], until her release on July 5.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cook |first=Rhonda |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2009/07/05/mckinney_israel.html |title=McKinney released, returning to United States |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=July 5, 2009 |access-date=July 19, 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001023139/http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2009/07/05/mckinney_israel.html |archive-date=October 1, 2009 }}</ref> McKinney initially refused to sign the deportation papers because they were written in Hebrew and that the papers would require them to admit that they were in violation of Israel's blockade, which they denied.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cynthia-mckinney-remains-imprisoned-in-israel-after-gaza-bound-boat-is-seized/ Cynthia McKinney Remains Imprisoned in Israel After Gaza-Bound Boat Is Seized]  [[Fox News]] July 2, 2009</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/07/02/mckinney.israel.gaza/ |publisher=CNN |title=McKinney held in Israel, to be returned to U.S. |access-date=April 30, 2010 |date=July 2, 2009}}</ref><ref name="ajc" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics// |title=Fox News |publisher=Fox News |date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=July 19, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709113436/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/07/report-mckinney-released-israeli-jail-returning/ |archive-date=July 9, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cook |first=Rhonda |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2009/07/05/mckinney_israel.html |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |title=McKinney released, returning to United States|date=July 5, 2009 |access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref> According to ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', Israeli officials stated that the "Palestinian Authority and the rest of the international community had agreed to the off-shore blockade to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza."<ref name=ajc>{{cite web|last=Cook |first=Rhonda |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/mckinney-still-jail-expected-see-judge-sunday/VG69FFms2dMIO3TeJZogSO/ |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |title=McKinney, still in jail, expected to see judge Sunday|date=July 4, 2009 |access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref> ''The Palestinian Chronicle'' reports that such an agreement to the off-shore blockade never happened. "No Palestinians have agreed nor did the international community agree to a blockade of Gaza by land or Sea."<ref>{{cite news|last=Lamb|first=Franklin|journal=Palestinian Chronicle|title=How Cynthia McKinney Honored America|date=July 6, 2009|url=http://www.palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=15263|access-date=July 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617013326/http://www.palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=15263|archive-date=June 17, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 17, 2009, a group of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) called for an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=United Nations|title=UN, aid agencies call for end to Israel's two-year blockade of Gaza|date=June 17, 2009|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=31174|access-date=July 15, 2009}}</ref>

On July 7, 2009, McKinney was deported to the United States.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0707/1224250170719.html |title=Israel deports Nobel laureate |work=[[Irish Times]] |date=July 7, 2009 |access-date=July 19, 2010 |archive-date=May 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503154748/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0707/1224250170719.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Israeli government indicated it would deliver the supplies via land.<ref name=ajc/>

====Libya, Iran and Hugo Chávez====
On May 21, 2011, McKinney appeared on state-run television in [[Libya]] and stated that United States participation in [[2011 military intervention in Libya|military intervention]] in the [[2011 Libyan civil war]] was "not what the people of the United States stand for and it's not what African-Americans stand for".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/21/libya.mckinney/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525101153/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/21/libya.mckinney/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 25, 2011|title=Former U.S. congresswoman McKinney speaks on state TV in Libya |publisher=[[CNN]]|date=May 21, 2011|access-date=March 16, 2019}}</ref> In the same interview, McKinney stated: "On a previous visit to Libya, I was able to learn about ''[[The Green Book (Libya)|The Green Book]]'', and the form of direct democracy that is advocated in ''The Green Book''."<ref>{{cite web|title=Memri|url=http://m.memri.org/70182/show/30cebcaa3f0c3e94f3cdcd3c8d24a2e1&t=20320d97cb30b6845cb6422bedb5dfbe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326014558/http://m.memri.org/70182/show/30cebcaa3f0c3e94f3cdcd3c8d24a2e1%26t%3D20320d97cb30b6845cb6422bedb5dfbe|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 26, 2012|work=Former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney on Libyan TV: I Offered Qadhafi-Style Direct Democracy to Solve Problems of America|access-date=June 24, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Around the same time, during her first visit to Iran, McKinney was interviewed by Iran's state-run channel, [[Press TV]]: "it is clear that the people of Iran have one thing in mind, and that is that they are a revolutionary state. And as a revolutionary state, they understand colonialism, neo-colonialism, and imperialism. They understand being under the foot of oppression and occupation—even if it is mental occupation—from an outside force or outside power, and that is what centers the resistance".<ref>{{cite news|last=Franke-Ruta|first=Garance|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/05/cynthia-mckinney-blasts-us-on-libya-tv-and-pro-israel-groups-in-iran/239298/|title=Cynthia McKinney Blasts U.S. on Libya TV, and Pro-Israel Groups in Iran|work=The Atlantic|date=May 23, 2011|access-date=August 11, 2020}}</ref>

===U.S. House of Representatives election, 2012===
McKinney announced in April 2012 that she would run for the 4th congressional district against [[Hank Johnson]] on the [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] ticket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/cynthia-mckinney-back-and-running-for-her-old-cong/nQTFT/|title=Cynthia McKinney back and running for her old congressional seat|access-date=November 22, 2012|archive-date=August 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820203009/http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/cynthia-mckinney-back-and-running-for-her-old-cong/nQTFT/|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, in August she failed to qualify for the ballot. Nevertheless, she received 58 write-in votes in the general election.<ref>[http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2012_1106/writeincd4.pdf 2012 "2012 Congressional District 4 Certified Write-In Report"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627120846/http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2012_1106/writeincd4.pdf |date=2013-06-27 }}, General Election Certified Write-In Report.</ref>

===Later career and activities (2013–present)===

In 2016, McKinney released a statement via [[Twitter]] accusing Israelis of conducting the [[2016 Nice truck attack]] in France and the [[Würzburg train attack]] in Germany, she did not provide any evidence for either claim.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-congresswoman Suggests Israel Responsible for Europe Terror Attacks in Tweet |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2016-07-25/ty-article/former-congresswoman-suggests-israel-responsible-for-terror-attacks/0000017f-e87d-df2c-a1ff-fe7dc3220000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220912204528/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2016-07-25/ty-article/former-congresswoman-suggests-israel-responsible-for-terror-attacks/0000017f-e87d-df2c-a1ff-fe7dc3220000 |archive-date=September 12, 2022 |website=Haaretz |language=en}}</ref> In May 2020, ''[[Algemeiner Journal|The Algemeiner Journal]]'' and other media outlets reported that McKinney released a series of statements via Twitter questioning the true number of Jewish people murdered during [[The Holocaust]]. In the tweets (in which she misrepresented an article from ''[[Haaretz]]'') she stated: "So, the figure wasn't six million after all?? What about those punished and even imprisoned for saying so?? Is this a "You can't say, but I can" kind of thing??".<ref>{{cite web |title=Algemeiner |url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/05/18/in-tweets-ex-us-congresswoman-cynthia-mckinney-questions-number-of-holocaust-victims/}}</ref><ref name="Atlanta Jewish Times">{{cite web |last1=Blecker |first1=Alex |title=Why are Georgia Roadways Honoring Anti-Semites? |url=https://www.atlantajewishtimes.com/why-are-georgia-roadways-honoring-anti-semites/ |website=Atlanta Jewish Times |date=8 June 2020}}</ref>

McKinney has been accused of spreading [[Covid-19 misinformation]] when in 2021 she falsely claimed that [[Hank Aaron]]'s death was due to the [[Covid-19 vaccine]].<ref name="Torpy Atlanta Journal-Constitution">{{cite news |last1=Torpy |first1=Bill |title=OPINION: Conspiracy theories endanger lives and democracy. Believe it |url=https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-conspiracy-theories-endanger-lives-and-democracy-believe-it/TZILKWNWUZG7RHV4HY3DIJQFCQ/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English}}</ref>

''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' reported that on June 28, 2021, McKinney posted a meme to Twitter that depicted the [[September 11 attacks]] on the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] as a puzzle with the "final piece of the puzzle" having the word "[[Zionist]]s" on it. When adding that piece to the puzzle, the image read: "Zionists did it." New York Congressman [[Jamaal Bowman]] condemned McKinney's post as anti-semitic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Silkoff|first=Shira|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/former-democratic-congresswoman-claims-jews-caused-911-on-twitter-672338|title=Former Democratic Congresswoman claims Jews caused 9/11 on Twitter|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=June 29, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021}}</ref> The ADL in a tweet objected to McKinney continuing "to repeat an offensive #antisemitic trope [[September 11 attacks advance-knowledge conspiracy theories|falsely blaming Jews/Zionists for the terrorist attacks on 9/11]]."<ref name="jewishjournal">{{cite news|last=Bandler|first=Aaron|url=https://jewishjournal.com/news/338257/former-dem-congresswoman-cynthia-mckinney-deletes-tweet-claiming-zionists-behind-9-11/|title=Former Dem Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney Tweets That Zionists Were Behind 9/11|work=Jewish Journal|date=June 29, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' noted that, amid a sitewide increase in hate speech following [[Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter]], McKinney had prominently amplified and made tweets in 2022 containing an antisemitic hashtag mainly used by neo-Nazis to imply a conspiracy of Jewish people in positions of power.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Menn |first=Joseph |date=2023-01-22 |title=Attacks on U.S. Jews and gays accelerate as hate speech grows on Twitter |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/01/18/hate-speech-antisemitism-antigay-twitter/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

On February 19, 2023, McKinney participated in the Rage Against the War Machine rally.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-09 |title=Cynthia McKinney – Rage Against the War Machine |url=https://rageagainstwar.com/cynthia-mckinney/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rage Against the War Machine Recap (April 2023) – Libertarian Party of North Carolina |url=https://www.lpnc.org/rage_against_the_war_machine_recap_april_2023 |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=www.lpnc.org}}</ref> She gave remarks at the rally by video, where she claimed that there are "criminal elements" within the [[federal government of the United States]], that the Democratic Party had become a "[[American imperialism|war party]]," that the [[Federal Election Commission]] can "[[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|control U.S. election outcomes]]," and more.<ref>{{Citation |title=Cynthia McKinney – Rage Against the War Machine | date=February 20, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m8weboILx0 |access-date=2024-01-09 |language=en}}</ref>

On September 11, 2023, McKinney promoted a livestream called "Can Black People and White People Work Together to Defeat Our Common Enemy" with the [[Star of David]], indicating that the "common enemy" is the Jewish people. The livestream was hosted by [[Ayo Kimathi]], the author of ''Jews Are the Problem'' and described by the ADL as an "anti-Semitic and an anti-LGBTQ+ Black nationalist extremist"<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayo Kimathi |url=https://www.adl.org/glossary/ayo-kimathi |website=ADL}}</ref> and [[David Duke]], a white-supremacist, former [[Ku Klux Klan]] Grand Wizard and anti-Semite.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=cynthiamckinney |number=1701163148168900643 |title=I know where I'll be and what I'll be watching at 6:00 pm EASTERN time today!}}</ref> In the livestream, Kimathi explicitly advocated for ties with White nationalists to actively eradicate "the Jew."<ref>{{cite web|last=Kimathi|first=Ayo|url=https://inblackandwhite.net/dukeayo/|title=CAN BLACK PEOPLE AND WHITE PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER TO DEFEAT OUR COMMON ENEMY?|date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> The Green Party condemned McKinney for promoting such an event while noting that she is not affiliated with the party and has not been for several years.<ref name="Green Party">{{cite web |title=Green Party of Washington Stands Unequivocally Against Anti-Semitism |url=https://www.gp.org/green_party_of_washington_stands_unequivocally_against_anti_semitism |website=www.gp.org}}</ref>

McKinney is an assistant professor at [[North South University]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Dr. Cynthia McKinney |url=http://www.northsouth.edu/faculty-members/shss/pss/cynthia.mckinney.html |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=North South University}}</ref>

In 2024 she appeared in the movie ''Occupied'' by [[Stew Peters]] where she expressed support for [[Adolf Hitler]]'s elimination of pornography.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 November 2024 |title=Occupied (statement made at 1:02:51) |url=https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1djxXrOAmgjGZ |access-date=8 December 2024 |website=X}}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==
On June 14, 2000, a part of [[Memorial Drive (Atlanta)|Memorial Drive]], a major thoroughfare running through her district, was renamed "Cynthia McKinney Parkway," but the naming has come under scrutiny since her primary defeat in 2006 as well as previous controversial statements that she had made.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dell'Orto |first=Giovanna |title=Naming places after living politicians can be embarrassing |work=[[The Florida Times-Union]] |date=March 15, 2007|url=http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/031507/D8NSF63G0.shtml |access-date=August 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043153/http://jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/031507/D8NSF63G0.shtml |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="Atlanta Jewish Times" />

== Personal life ==
In 2007, McKinney moved from her longtime residence in the Atlanta suburb of [[Stone Mountain, Georgia|Stone Mountain]] to [[California]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,311518,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114094902/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,311518,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 14, 2007 |title=Cynthia McKinney Moves-McKinney Parkway Fate in Question |publisher=Foxnews.com |date=November 13, 2007 |access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>

== Electoral history ==
{{Main|Electoral history of Cynthia McKinney}}

== See also ==
* [[List of African-American United States representatives]]
* [[List of federal political scandals in the United States]]
* [[Women in the United States House of Representatives]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=naNuDwAAQBAJ&q=How+the+Us+Creates+%22sh*thole%22+Countries ''How the US Creates "Sh*thole" Countries''] Clarity Press, 2018. {{ISBN|9780999874721}}. 
{{CongLinks|congbio=m000523}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081205054302/http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/P80004930 Presidential campaign FEC disclosure report]
* [https://archive.org/details/cynthia Cynthia McKinney: Live in Brooklyn]. QuickTime Video. 11:30&nbsp;minutes. Directed by Stephen Marshall. [[Guerrilla News Network]]. 2003. Retrieved May 12, 2005.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060407195116/http://www.newsmeat.com/campaign_contributions_to_politicians/donor_list.php?candidate_id=H2GA11016&li=a Cynthia McKinney's campaign donor list] newsmeat.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Cynthia_McKinney.htm/ Cynthia McKinney on the issues]
* Rudy Reichstadt, [http://www.conspiracywatch.info/Cynthia-McKinney-icone-du-conspirationnisme-post-11-Septembre_a518.html Cynthia McKinney, icône du conspirationnisme post-11-Septembre], [[Conspiracy Watch]], April 25, 2010
* {{C-SPAN|26197}}

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{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-new|constituency}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Georgia|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br />from [[Georgia's 11th congressional district]]|years=1993–1997}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Linder]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Georgia|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br />from [[Georgia's 4th congressional district]]|years=2005–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Hank Johnson]]}}
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{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[David Cobb (activist)|David Cobb]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Green Party of the United States|Green]] nominee for [[President of the United States]]|years=[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]}}
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{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Scott Garrett]]|as=Former US Representative}}
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{{Cynthia McKinney}}
{{2008 United States presidential election}}
{{Green Party of the United States}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McKinney, Cynthia}}
[[Category:Cynthia McKinney| ]]
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[[Category:Politicians from Atlanta]]
[[Category:The Fletcher School at Tufts University alumni]]
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[[Category:Women in Georgia (U.S. state) politics]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Georgia General Assembly]]