Rep. AyannaPressley (D.Massachusetts), introduced a Wednesday resolution to remove Rep. Lauren Boebert, (R-Colorado), from her committee assignments after she repeatedly waged Islamophobic attacks on Rep. Ilhanota (D-Minnesota).
As first reported by The Washington Post, Pressley is hoping that the resolution’s introduction will force leadership to take action on Boebert’s Islamophobia. The issue has been relatively quiet among Democratic leaders. condemning Boebert’s commentsHowever, the House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) has not yet taken public action to seek a formal punishment for the far-right lawmaker. Kevin McCarthy (R-California), House Minority Leader, has indicated that Republicans intend to take formal action against McCarthy. won’t be penalizing Boebert.
The resolution doesn’t carry a “privileged” status, meaning that there is nothing forcing House leaders to consider the resolution immediately; it’s up to Democratic leaders to decide when, if ever, to take up the resolution. Omar stated that she’s confidentNancy Pelosi, Democratic-California House Speaker, will take action this week.
“For a Member of Congress to repeatedly use hateful, anti-Muslim rhetoric and Islamophobic tropes towards a Muslim colleague is dangerous,” Pressley said. “It has no place in our society and it diminishes the honor of the institution we serve in.”
“Without meaningful accountability for that Member’s actions, we risk normalizing this behavior and endangering the lives of our Muslim colleagues, Muslim staffers and every Muslim who calls America home,” Pressley went on. “The House must unequivocally condemn this incendiary rhetoric and immediately pass this resolution. How we respond in moments like these will have lasting impacts, and history will remember us for it.”
The measure is cosponsored by 18 Democrats, including progressive “squad” members Representatives Jamaal Bowman (New York), Cori Bush (Missouri), Pramila Jayapal (Washington), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), and others like Representatives Judy Chu (California) and Jimmy Gomez (California).
“We must be assured that no member is above accountability, and Republican leadership has failed to deliver any such accountability for Boebert,” said Bush. “It is time for Democratic leadership to act and pass our resolution to not only protect Rep. Omar, but the livelihoods and lives of Muslim communities around our country.”
It’s unclear if the resolution would pass if brought to a vote. As of last week At least 40 DemocratsSigned statements calling for Boebert’s removal from committees
After extremist right-wing Rep. Paul Gosar(R-Arizona). Posted a videoA cartoon depicting him as an anime version killing Ocasio Cortez. The House swiftly punished him, voting to censureHe was removed from his committee assignments less than a week after the video had been posted. Gosar refused to apologize in that instance and was faced with Additional calls to be blocked.
Boebert was the one who issued it. A weak apologyOmar says she has shown little remorse over her comments. Despite her apology, far-right lawmaker has redoubled her hateful rhetoric and released more videos showing her making similar Islamophobic remarks about Omar.
The original video of Boebert’s hateful comments was released late last monthAs of Wednesday, it was 11 days ago. While recounting a story about being in an elevator with Omar — which Omar later said never happened — Boebert implied that Omar was a terrorist. A video from a separate eventBoebert directly calls Omar terrorist, accusing her of being terrorist sympathizer.
“This is why so many Muslims across the country have reached out to our office and to other members of Congress. Because they know that, when anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia is unaddressed, it’s the Muslim community that ends up paying for it,” Omar said on MSNBCTuesday
“I just want to make people understand how dangerous the usage of her words can be, because I am afraid that somebody like the people who have been leaving voicemails [for] my office will feel compelled to come and take out the terrorist,” she continued, referring to Death threats she received after Boebert’s comments went public. “And that is not only endangering my life, but that’s endangering other Muslims.”
