Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) wrote in a USA Today op-ed Sunday that some people affiliated with the Republican Party have recently "made racist comments that give legitimacy to hateful ideologies."

"As a Republican, I believe it’s unfortunate that a perception still exists in the minds of some Americans that the GOP condones racism. Our party was built upon the beliefs of President Abraham Lincoln, who took the significant step to put us on the long path for equality," Hurd wrote in the op-ed published ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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"Sadly, some people affiliated with our party have made racist comments that give legitimacy to hateful ideologies," Hurd added.

The op-ed comes after Rep. Steve King Steven (Steve) Arnold KingGOP leader: 'There is no place for QAnon in the Republican Party' Loomer win creates bigger problem for House GOP Win by QAnon believer creates new headaches for House GOP MORE (R-Iowa) earlier this month questioned why the terms white supremacist and white nationalist were offensive.

King, who has a history of making racist remarks, faced pushback from a number of GOP lawmakers, some of whom have called on him to resign.

In his op-ed Sunday, Hurd invoked Martin Luther King Jr., saying he "reminded us that, 'in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.'

"Otherwise, our deeply held belief in giving everyone a chance at the American dream will be drowned out by the loud and unconscionable beliefs of a few. When people start believing that the average Republican holds these beliefs, then every Republican suffers by association," Hurd added.