When the racist and Islamophobic attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar began, it looked like they were gaining unstoppable momentum. But then something incredible happened: Progressives in Congress stuck together.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib stood with Ilhan publicly and privately, and together they worked to push Democrats to stand up to ALL forms of hate.
Grassroots progressives across the country rallied behind them. And prominent Democrats shifted their actions accordingly.
The events of this week have shown us what happens when the progressive movement works together and stands with our champions, embracing the leadership of women of color. And I’m very proud to also call these four emerging leaders my sisters.
That’s why we can’t think of a better way to kick off Democracy for America’s 2020 endorsement season than by announcing our support for the re-election campaigns of Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.
Let’s be real here: Both the right-wing and Democrats who support the status quo are well aware of the way these women are changing the discourse in Washington D.C. — and they’re going to be looking for every opportunity to take them down.
In fact, earlier this week the New York Times reported that an activist with AIPAC listed Ilhan, Alexandria and Rashida as three members of Congress who should be targeted, saying “they are three people who, in my opinion, will not be around in several years.”
If these powerful interests are already organizing to defeat our new allies in Congress, we don’t have a second to waste. We need to throw all of the grassroots strength we have into supporting these women, making it clear that we want them to continue to represent the interests of ALL of the people in the House of Representatives.
We endorsed Ilhan, Alexandria, Ayanna and Rashida in 2018 because we knew they would shake things up in the best possible way. And they have accomplished an incredible amount in a very short period of time — bringing new prominence and credibility to ideas like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All and giving us a real view of what goes on in the halls of Congress through their social media work.
Now, let’s show them how much we appreciate them by giving them a head start towards big wins in 2020: Ilhan Omar, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib — and to fund everything that DFA is doing to have their backs. It is in moments like this that our work matters most, and we can’t do this without your support. Thanks for standing with us in supporting these strong progressive women.
To donate and support Democracy for America please visit https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/squad-endorsement?akid=16126.3112490.9JpQZL&rd=1&refcode=g-squad0307.d-20190307.m-16126.s-55172&refcode2=16126_3112490_9JpQZL
Yvette Simpson, CEO
Democracy for America
