Ms. Tlaib pushed back on the censure resolution, describing it as ‘unhinged’ and ‘deeply Islamophobic.’
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) formally introduced a measure on Thursday that will force the House of Representatives to decide whether to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) over accusations she has engaged in anti-Semitic activity and led an “insurrection” at the U.S. Capitol last week.
“Rep. MTG introduced her House resolution to censure Squad member Rep. Tlaib, D-Mich., accusing her of antisemitic activity and sympathizing with terrorist organizations.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 27, 2023
Greene dropped her resolution to force a House vote to censure Tlaib on Thursday.”https://t.co/rjh73bS2i3
Ms. Greene initially announced the censure resolution on Tuesday but brought the measure to the House Floor as a privileged resolution on Thursday. The privileged resolution requires the legislative body to take action on the legislation within two days. The House may either bring the censure resolution to a vote or table the measure, depending on how a majority of lawmakers decide.
The censure resolution faults Ms. Tlaib, a Palestinian-American lawmaker, for a variety of comments she’s made in the past regarding the Israel–Hamas conflict, such as a 2020 social media post which reads, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” That this phrase, originated by the Palestinian Liberation Organization, refers to Palestinians taking control over the entire territory from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, which includes all of Israel. The phrase has been adopted by the Hamas terrorist group and “calls for the elimination of Israel and the death of all Jews,” the censure resolution states.
The resolution further equates Ms. Tlaib’s participation in an Oct. 18 protest event at the U.S. Capitol to a leadership role in an insurrection. The protest in question raised calls for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas. Hundreds of protesters gathered in and around the U.S. Capitol complex on Oct. 18. Some in the group eventually entered the Cannon House Office Building, assembled in the rotunda, and began chants. Capitol Police arrested many of those who entered the Capitol after warning that they were not allowed to lead protests inside the building.
Ms. Tlaib was seen addressing members of the protest group outside the Capitol.
The Oct. 18 protest event was organized with the support of Jewish Voice for Peace, an organization that describes itself as a “progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization” that shares “solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle.” Ms. Greene’s censure described Jewish Voice for Peace as an “Israel-hating, America-hating” organization.
By Ryan Morgan and Melina Wisecup
