“The Squad” has gone to war with its own party leader, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, over her rebuke of Rep. Ilhan Omar for comparing the US and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), one of the two Muslim women in the House along with Omar (D-Minn.), took aim at Pelosi and other members of the Democratic leadership, claiming “freedom of speech doesn’t exist for Muslim women in Congress.”
Tlaib’s comments come in the wake of Pelosi and the leaders releasing a statement blasting Omar for her tweet, which blasted America and Israel, saying: “We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban. I asked @SecBlinken where people are supposed to go for justice.”
Tlaib tweeted in response to the Democratic backlash against Omar, “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.”
Tensions between leadership and “The Squad” have become increasingly evident as progressives have been increasingly vocal in their support of the Palestinians despite the US’s long pro-Israel stance.
While Omar ultimately walked back her comments after the Pelosi slapdown, she initially accused her critics of “harassment” and “Islamophobia.”
Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Caucus Vice Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) asserted they do not support rhetoric comparing democracies to terrorist organizations, welcoming Omar’s reversal.
This is an excerpt from the New York Post.
