“As a daughter, mother, sister, friend, advocate, and effective, duly-elected, three-term, first-ever Palestinian-American Member of Congress, she has been a much-needed voice in an institution that has too-often failed to listen.”

“Another shameful, but predictable ploy of distraction from the real traffickers of hate, who are obsessed with policing progressive women of color.”

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) delivered a speech on the House floor in which she defended Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), the only Palestinian-American in Congress, and condemned Republicans for once again attempting to silence and attack a progressive woman of color. The speech came during debate on a resolution to censure Congresswoman Tlaib.

A full transcript of floor remarks is available below and the full video is available here.

Transcript: Pressley Defends Tlaib, Condemns Republicans’ Islamophobic Censure Resolution
U.S. House of Representatives

November 7, 2023

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this censure resolution that is blatantly Islamophobic, anti-democratic, and an utter waste of time.

This resolution is as dishonest as it is unproductive.

Any Member who denies that Congresswoman Tlaib has opposed the killing of civilians – Israeli, Palestinian, and Americans alike – is willfully ignoring the truth.

Representative Tlaib was elected by voters in Michigan to do exactly what she does best: advocate for a better, safer, more just world.

She leads with love, speaks truth to power, and seeks justice even when her life and that of her family and her staff are threatened.

And as a daughter, mother, sister, friend, advocate, and effective, duly-elected, three-term, first-ever Palestinian-American Member of Congress, she has been a much-needed voice in an institution that has too often failed to listen.

Today, Republicans are again attacking a Democratic colleague just because they don’t like what she has to say.

Another shameful, but predictable ploy of distraction from the real traffickers of hate, who are obsessed with policing progressive women of color.

I oppose this offensive resolution for every little girl – from Michigan to the Middle East – who sees herself when they see the leadership of Representative Rashida Tlaib.

And I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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