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“Okay, ladies, now let’s get in formation,” Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) tweeted yesterday (July 14) to her fellow women House representatives of color: Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wa.), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.). Tlaib’s response was part of a Twitter storm unleashed on President Donald Trump following a series of racist tweets on Sunday (July 14) that included the sentence: “Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.”
His comments were apparently directed at Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley and Tlaib—three of whom were born United States citizens, while Omar was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, and came to the U.S. as a teenager—and the representatives, and their supporters, did not hold back.
It’s important to note that the President’s words yday, telling four American Congresswomen of color “go back to your own country,” is hallmark language of white supremacists.
Trump feels comfortable leading the GOP into outright racism, and that should concern all Americans.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 15, 2019
#13thDistrictStrong: I will #neverbackdown and no bully, even this racist President, will waiver the work we have to do for our residents of Wayne County. Together, we will fight back, speak truth to power, and become stronger for it. #rootedincommunity #BoostAct #JusticeforAll pic.twitter.com/XkAcPA3FlL
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) July 14, 2019
Mr. President,
As Members of Congress, the only country we swear an oath to is the United States.
Which is why we are fighting to protect it from the worst, most corrupt and inept president we have ever seen. https://t.co/FBygHa2QTt
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 14, 2019
THIS is what racism looks like. WE are what democracy looks like. And we’re not going anywhere. Except back to DC to fight for the families you marginalize and vilify everyday. pic.twitter.com/vYzoxCgN0X
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) July 14, 2019
Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Assistant Speaker of the House Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) all jumped into the conversation:
Racial arsonist strikes again.
Shut. Your. Reckless. Mouth.
Racist attack on four strongly progressive congresswomen of color will not weaken them.
IT ONLY MAKES US STRONGER.
✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) July 14, 2019
When @realDonaldTrump tells four American Congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to “Make America Great Again” has always been about making America white again.
Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power. https://t.co/ODqqHneyES
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 14, 2019
A racist tweet from a racist president. https://t.co/YXxu2SEmvK
— Ben Ray Luján (@repbenraylujan) July 14, 2019
See more responses below:
I will not share the disgusting and racist comments by Trump this morning.
Instead I will share this picture of 4 of my colleagues who will never stop fighting to make this country better.
This is what America looks like. pic.twitter.com/W0krakDXap
— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) July 14, 2019
The racism and hatred cultivated and fueled by @realDonaldTrump only serves to further divide our country and puts the targets of his vile attacks in danger.
And this kind of attack is why xenophobic followers of his think the dehumanization of vulnerable immigrants is ok. https://t.co/lz7YEsg23S
— Veronica Escobar (@vgescobar) July 14, 2019
Racists tweet racist things.
What we should be focused on right now though, ESPECIALLY today, is that racists also create and enforce racist policies.
They’re trying to deport people across Los Angeles as I type this. Stay focused. Know your rights.
— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) July 14, 2019
Your strength in the face of this anti-American, fascist and white supremacist evil is moving, congresswoman. You’ve given the name militant to inclusion with you and with the other congresswomen of color under attack. I feel proud to take the name, squad member.
— Paul D Smith (@PaulDSmith9) July 15, 2019