Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., claimed on Thursday that Muslim women don’t have “freedom of speech” in Congress after Democratic leadership criticized one of her fellow “Squad” members, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and several other Democratic Party leaders issued a statement this week demanding a clarification from Omar after she compared the U.S. and Israel to terrorist organizations Hamas and the Taliban.
Their statement followed another one issued by Jewish Democratic members of Congress, who also asked Omar to retract her “false equivalency.”
“Ignoring the differences between democracies governed by the rule of law and contemptible organizations that engage in terrorism at best discredits one’s intended argument and at worst reflects deep-seated prejudice,” the group said.
“The United States and Israel are imperfect and, like all democracies, at times deserving of critique, but false equivalencies give cover to terrorist groups,” the statement continued. “We urge Congresswoman Omar to clarify her words placing the US and Israel in the same category as Hamas and the Taliban.”
House Democratic leadership agreed: “Drawing false equivalencies between democracies like the U.S. and Israel and groups that engage in terrorism like Hamas and the Taliban foments prejudice and undermines progress toward a future of peace and security for all.”
“We welcome the clarification by Congresswoman Omar that there is no moral equivalency between the U.S. and Israel and Hamas and the Taliban,” House Democratic leaders added.
In response, the far Left “Squad” blasted their colleagues for criticizing Omar, which they claimed amounted to “anti-blackness” and “Islamophobia.”
Freedom of speech doesn’t exist for Muslim women in Congress. The benefit of the doubt doesn’t exist for Muslim women in Congress. House Democratic leadership should be ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of color.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) June 10, 2021
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio–Cortez, D-N.Y., also chimed in, claiming Democrats were contributing to “the constant vilification, intentional mischaracterization, and public targeting” of Omar.
Pretty sick & tired of the constant vilification, intentional mischaracterization, and public targeting of @IlhanMN coming from our caucus.
They have no concept for the danger they put her in by skipping private conversations & leaping to fueling targeted news cycles around her.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 10, 2021
Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., even suggested Democrats who criticize Omar are racist:
Stop attacking @IlhanMN. Stop attacking us.
I’m not surprised when Republicans attack Black women for standing up for human rights. But when it’s Democrats, it’s especially hurtful. We’re your colleagues. Talk to us directly.
Enough with the anti-Blackness and Islamophobia.
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) June 10, 2021
