“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.
rnt
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.
rntt
rnttTrump feels comfortable leading the GOP into outright racism, and that should concern all Americans.rnt— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 15, 2019
rn
rnt
#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
rnt— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) July 14, 2019
rn
rnt
Mr. President,
rntt
rnttAs Members of Congress, the only country we swear an oath to is the United States.
rntt
rnttWhich is why we are fighting to protect it from the worst, most corrupt and inept president we have ever seen. https://t.co/FBygHa2QTtrnt— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 14, 2019
rn
rnt
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
rnt— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) July 14, 2019
rn
rntRepresentative 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:
rnt
Racial arsonist strikes again.
rntt
rnttShut. Your. Reckless. Mouth.
rntt
rnttRacist attack on four strongly progressive congresswomen of color will not weaken them.
rntt
rnttIT ONLY MAKES US STRONGER.
rntt
rntt✊?✊?✊?rnt— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) July 14, 2019
rn
rnt
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.
rntt
rnttOur diversity is our strength and our unity is our power. https://t.co/ODqqHneyESrnt— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 14, 2019
rnt
A racist tweet from a racist president. https://t.co/YXxu2SEmvK
rnt— Ben Ray Luján (@repbenraylujan) July 14, 2019
rn
rntSee more responses below:
rnt
I will not share the disgusting and racist comments by Trump this morning.
rntt
rnttInstead I will share this picture of 4 of my colleagues who will never stop fighting to make this country better.
rntt
rnttThis is what America looks like. pic.twitter.com/W0krakDXaprnt— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) July 14, 2019
rn
rnt
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.
rntt
rnttAnd this kind of attack is why xenophobic followers of his think the dehumanization of vulnerable immigrants is ok. https://t.co/lz7YEsg23Srnt— Veronica Escobar (@vgescobar) July 14, 2019
rn
rnt
Racists tweet racist things.
rntt
rnttWhat we should be focused on right now though, ESPECIALLY today, is that racists also create and enforce racist policies.
rntt
rnttThey’re trying to deport people across Los Angeles as I type this. Stay focused. Know your rights.rnt— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) July 14, 2019
rn
rnt
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.
rnt— Paul D Smith (@PaulDSmith9) July 15, 2019
rn