“Our staff, our Capitol Police, our domestic workers. We thank you …’
In an emotional testimony on Thursday, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez guided fellow Democrats in recalling their traumatizing experiences of the deadly January 6 Capitol riots.
Speaking on the House floor, she doubled down on calls on Republican politicians, including her own colleagues, to be held accountable for the attack.
“Less than twenty-nine days later, with little to no accountability for the bloodshed and trauma of the 6th, some are already demanding that we move forward, or worse, try to downplay, discredit, or belittle survivors’ accounts.”
Minnesota Deputy Dean Phillips said, fearing for their safety that day, that he yelled at his colleagues to follow him to the Republican side of the floor.
“Because I felt like the insurgents trying to break the doors here would spare us if they just saw us as Republicans. But within moments I realized that mixing was not an option for my colleagues of color. So, I am here tonight to say to my brothers and sisters in Congress and all over our country, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Because I never understood, really understood, what privilege really means. ”
Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Muslim, told how the riots reminded her of death threats received on her very first day as a congressman.
“I wasn’t even sworn in yet and someone wanted me dead because I just existed. More came later, uglier, more violent, a fourth writing the New Zealand massacre and hoping there would be more, another in which my dear son Adam was called. Calling him by name. Each one of them paralyzed me, every time … And so I urge my colleagues to please take seriously what happened on January 6 It will lead to kill more and we can do better.
Not a single Republican took part in Thursday’s testimony, which came shortly after the House voted to remove controversial lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene from two high-profile committees.
Greene, a Republican, has come under fire for her history of incendiary comments, including her support of violence against Democrats.
Video transcription
– In an emotional testimony on Thursday, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led fellow Democrats in recalling their traumatizing experiences from the deadly January 6 Capitol riots. be held responsible for the attack.
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: Less than 29 days later, with little to no accountability for the bloodshed and trauma of the 6th, some are already demanding that we move forward, or worse, try to downplay, discredit, or belittle survivors’ accounts.
– Minnesota Deputy Dean Phillips said, fearing for their safety that day, he yelled at his colleagues to follow him to the Republican side of the floor.
DEAN PHILLIPS: Because I felt that the insurgents trying to break open the doors here would spare us if they just mistook us for Republicans. But within moments I realized that mixing was not an option for my colleagues of color. So I’m here tonight to say to my brothers and sisters in Congress and all over our country, I’m sorry. I apologize. Because I never really understood what privilege really means.
– Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Muslim, told how the riots reminded her of death threats received on her very first day as a congressman.
RASHIDA TLAIB: I wasn’t even sworn in when someone wanted me dead just because I existed. Later there were more, uglier, more violent. One celebrates and writes, the New Zealand massacre, and hopes more to come. Another mentions my dear son, Adam.
(Crying) And so I urge my colleagues to please take seriously what happened on January 6th. It will lead to more death. And we can do better. We have to do better.
– Not a single Republican took part in Thursday’s testimony, which came shortly after the House voted to remove controversial lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene from two high-profile committees. Greene, a Republican, has come under fire for her history of incendiary comments, including her support of violence against Democrats.