Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Responds to Removal of Ilhan Omar From Foreign Affairs Committee

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) condemned the removal of Representative Ilhan Omar from Congress’s Foreign Affairs Committee during a speech on Thursday, February 2.

“There is nothing consistent with the Republican party’s continued attack except for the racism and incitement of violence against women of color in this body,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

“Don’t tell me this is about consistency. Don’t tell me that this is about a condemnation of anti-Semitic remarks when you have a member of the Republican caucus who has talked about Jewish space lasers.

“This is about targeting women of color in the United States of America,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

The House voted on a resolution to remove Omar from the committee on February 2 for “her use of an anti-Semitic trope.”

In 2019 Omar posted a since-deleted Tweet that implied American politicians support Israel because of money. Omar later apologized for the Tweet in a statement on Twitter.

Nancy Pelosi released a statement condemning Omar’s comments and said they agreed to “use this moment to move forward as we reject anti-Semitism in all forms.” Credit: RepAOC via Storyful

Video Transcript

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: Thank you. Now, as also, as a fellow New Yorker, I think one of the things that we should talk about here is also one of the disgusting legacies after 9/11 has been the targeting and racism against Muslim Americans throughout the United States of America. And this is an extension of that legacy.

Consistency? There is nothing consistent with the Republican Party's continued attack, except for the racism and incitement of violence against women of color in this body. I had a member of the Republican caucus threaten my life, and you all, and the Republican caucus rewarded him with one of the most prestigious committee assignments in this Congress.

Don't tell me this is about consistency. Don't tell me that this is about a condemnation of anti-Semitic remarks, when you have a member of the Republican caucus who has talked about Jewish space lasers and an entire amount of tropes, and also elevated her to some of the highest committee assignments in this body.

This is about targeting women of color in the United States of America. Don't tell me, because I didn't get a single apology--

- Time has expired.

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: --when my life was threatened. Thank you.