Rep. Cori Bush Blasts Congressional Colleagues Who Censured Rashida Tlaib
Missouri Democrat Rep. Cori Bush condemned her congressional colleagues who voted Tuesday (Nov. 7) to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, for her controversial comments on the Israel-Hamas war that many say are antisemitic.
“Shame on every Member who voted to censure @RepRashida. 10,000 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,000 children, & your focus is on trying to silence the only Palestinian-American in Congress,” Bush posted on social media, adding, “History will prove you were wrong.”
On Tuesday (Nov. 6), the House of Representatives censured Tlaib in a 234-188 vote that included 20 Democrats, the Associated Press reported.
Censure expresses deep disapproval of a House member’s conduct. It is one step before expulsion, the severest punishment.
Georgia’s GOP Rep. Rich McCormick pushed the measure that accused Tlaib of promoting “unbelievable falsehoods about our greatest ally, Israel, and the attack on October 7.”
In her defense, Tlaib said she “will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words,” adding that she always directs her criticism of Israel at the Israeli government.
Israel-Hamas War: An Explainer About This Battle, the Key Players and What’s Really At Stake
On Oct. 7, Hamas, a Palestinian terroristic militant group that vows to wipe out Israel, launched a surprise assault, firing thousands of rockets into Israel. Hamas troops then crossed the border, infiltrated 22 Israeli towns and army bases, and abducted civilians (including some Americans) and soldiers. In the attack, Hamas killed at least 1,400 Israelis, including women and children, and took more than 200 hostages.
Israel responded shortly after with a massive bombing campaign. Palestinian health authorities said Israeli air strikes have killed more than 10,000 civilians, prompting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday (Nov. 6) to describe Gaza as a “graveyard for children,” Reuters reports.
Obama Says Israel Should Be Supported, But Warns Against Violating International Law
In a controversial social media post, Tlaib accused President Joe Biden of supporting genocide in Gaza, Politico reports. A video accompanying the post shows Biden administration officials vowing support for Israel interspersed with images of dead and injured Palestinians.
Bush is part of a progressive group of House lawmakers, which includes Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Bush has said it’s essential that historically oppressed people unite on this issue.
