AOC delivers 'impassioned' speech in defense of Rep. Ilhan Omar on the House floor
On Thursday, Republicans voted to oust Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, citing antisemitism because of her criticism of Israel. In response, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) delivered an "impassioned speech" on the House floor decrying the decision.
"There is nothing consistent about the Republican Party's continued attack except for racism and incitement of violence against women of color in this body," said Ocasio-Cortez, alleging discrimination against Muslim-Americans.
"Don't tell me this is about a condemnation of antisemitic remarks when you have a member of the Republican caucus who has talked about Jewish space lasers and...[Republicans] elevated her to some of the highest committee assignments of this body," she continued, referring to remarks by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
AOC also referred to Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) who posted a graphic on social media depicting her being killed, only to be appointed to the Oversight and Accountability and Natural Resources committees, saying that the House "rewarded him."
She was not the only member to come to Omar's defense, writes NBC News. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) accused the House of holding Omar to a "double standard" because of her religious beliefs. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who is Jewish himself, remarked "This is the very weaponization of antisemitism that I as a Jewish person find repulsive, I find dangerous, and above else, shameful — yes, shameful."
Ocasio-Cortez emphasized, "This is about targeting women of color in the United States of America."
-
‘The economics of WhatsApp have been mysterious for years’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Will Democrats impeach Kristi Noem?Today’s Big Question Centrists, lefty activists also debate abolishing ICE
-
Is a social media ban for teens the answer?Talking Point Australia is leading the charge in banning social media for people under 16 — but there is lingering doubt as to the efficacy of such laws
-
House approves ACA credits in rebuke to GOP leadersSpeed Read Seventeen GOP lawmakers joined all Democrats in the vote
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
-
Trump says US ‘in charge’ of Venezuela after Maduro grabSpeed Read The American president claims the US will ‘run’ Venezuela for an unspecified amount of time, contradicting a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
-
Jack Smith: Trump ‘caused’ Jan. 6 riotSpeed Read
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
