On Saturday, US Congressman Robert Garcia (D-CA) swore his hand in the first issue of the 1939 Superman comic book. The comic — which he borrowed from the Library of Congress — was accompanied by a copy of the United States Constitution, Garcia’s US citizenship certificate and a photo of his parents who died from COVID-19.
“I came to America as a Spanish-speaker when I was 5 years old,” Garcia, the first LGBTQ immigrant to serve in Congress, told CNN. “As a kid, I used to collect comics in old thrift shops and pharmacies, and that’s how I learned to read and write in English.”
[Superman represents] “Truth and justice, an immigrant that was different, raised by good people who welcomed them. If you look at Superman’s values and the caucus values, it’s about justice, it’s about integrity, it’s doing the right thing, standing up for people. Support is needed. .”
After the ceremony, the comic—under police guard—was returned to the Library of Congress.
From the Smithsonian:
Garcia’s unique election was perfectly legal. While the Bible and other religious texts are common sights at swearing-in ceremonies, “there is no required text upon which an incoming officeholder must take their oath,” Jane Campbell, president of the United States Capitol Historical Society, told BBC News. In fact, the Constitution specifically prohibits the use of a “religious test” for holding office in the United States
Instead, lawmakers and others are free to request texts or objects that have personal meaning.