HBCU alum. Congresswoman representing #PA12. She/her #AllPowerToThePeople
Braddock, PA
- Tweets 9,694
- Following 1,557
- Followers 76,143
- Likes 4,539
Instead of "thanking" Black women, Black voters, and especially, Black organizers...
... give us the investments we need and deserve, redistribute wealth, ends police violence, abolish the carceral state, commit to building Black directed political power... and reparations.
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Maybe getting sworn in today. If it's after 5 more rounds or 5 more days
... we're gon' be ready.
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First day of Congress school!
😏
ALT Me, smiling too hard and two thumbs up with the US Capitol building in the background
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They don't even give pretend thoughts and prayers anymore. They just put on their assualt rifle lapel pins and go about their day.
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$4.5 mill 🔥🗑
I've seen enough: state Rep. Summer Lee (D) wins the #PA12 Dem primary, defeating Steve Irwin (D).
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A THREAD
While democrats lick their down ballot wounds and point fingers every direct except inwards, let me make one thing clear: I will not abide white democrats blaming Black organizers and activists who are fighting to end police violence for your losses.
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My hometown was supposed to be the American dream.
Our labor made the steel that built America but when the mills left, we paid the price.
Now I’m bringing the fight I’ve been in my whole life to Washington - to win a Green New Deal, Medicare For All, and racial justice. #PA18
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The time to fight back is now. I'm endorsing @BernieSanders because the only way we win is if we all fight for someone we don't know - for racial justice, marginalized folks, education, healthcare, for a society for us all and not the few
A better world IS possible. #notmeus
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Today we learned from a media tip that at least 1 House Republican tested positive for Covid-19. He's been in committee and on the floor. Others we hear are self quarantining. Like their leader they refuse masks. Republicans knew for a WEEK, and not a single Dem was notified
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Our victory shows that we can overcome the billionaire class that wants to divide and conquer us all with fear and lies-for-profit, if only we come together across our differences for a positive vision of multiracial democracy. We can have nice things, if we fight. #PA12
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They're going to call you socialists anyways 🤷🏾♀️
New Dems reject socialism — period.
It’s time for House Republicans to stop playing political games and join our Members as we work to grow an economy that works for all Americans.
ALT STATEMENT: New Dems Reject Socialism and Call on House Republican Leadership to Join Effort to Grow the Economy
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You know what environmental racism looks like? 180,000 people in an 80% Black capital city without any clean water at all and no plans by the white Republicans in power to do anything.
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Some of yall realized on today that "billionaires" are actually just cheaters. They win with rules you're not privileged to know exist. They taunt you for not succeeding in a game they rigged themselves.
Our goal shouldn't be to win their game. It's to defeat it for good.
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Issa angry 🧵 1/9
Self righteousness (vote shaming), esp. from white, middle class, loyal liberal voters is NOT an effective voter turnout and engagement strategy! And I'm tired.
I beg your patience as I repeat why it's unproductive and frankly, just damn exhausting.
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You did NOT lose in your surburbs where you've allowed racism to fester because "defund police" or "progressive messaging"
You lost because the democratic party has no down ballot strategy, no message that resonates w/the masses, no field strategy, no vision.
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Congresswoman Summer L. Lee. Pennsylvania (finally) has its first Black woman serving in Congress.
It will not take centuries longer for the next.
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If the unsanitized King were here today many of yall would be uncomfortable in a room w/him
So before you send that tweet, ask yourself can you honor a legacy you won't acknowledge? 1 that critiques evils of capitalism + militarism? That indicts white moderation + corporatism?
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I don't know who needs to hear this, vote-shaming (or vote bullying) - especially non-voters - is an exercise in futility!
But not because the non-voter lacks some measure of sophistication or understanding, but because, you the vote shamer does.
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While Netanyahu compares students on campuses like Pitt—including Jewish students— protesting peacefully against genocide to Nazis & attempts to define the limits of our free speech & assembly, it's worth noting that there are no universities left in Gaza from Israeli & US bombs.
ALT Summer Lee speaking to Pitt students at an encampment for Palestinian rights
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Opposing genocide is good politics and good policy. #CeasefireNOW nitter.app/i/broadcasts/1OdKrjpoa…
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Black people are the only reason Dems are about to pull this out! The only group voting in mass to carry this party
And yet, when we cried for DECADES for support to rein in blatant police brutality, for reform, for any level accountability NO ONE HELPED US.
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Should be noted we're in the middle of 1 of the nastiest primary cycles where Dems are just as happy as Rs to unleash the wrath of corp Super PACs & spec interests to squash candidates they don't won't in their club
Theres no meaningful gun reform while Citizens United survives
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"We should kill them all," said a sitting US Congressman (who will undoubtedly not be censured) genocidally.
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From the moment Rashida got to Congress, the attempts to other and dehumanize her have been incessant.
Since I've known her, I've watched her show love, light, compassion, and warmth to everyone she meets - even the ppl dehumanizing her.
Darkness simply can't abide her light.
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There's been such a coordinated effort to convince you that progressive Black & brown women in office—who serve & lead from lived experiences—are the Democratic equivalent of white supremacist right-wingers who persecute, marginalize & incite violence on the rest of us.
Stop it.
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I came. I saw. I pissed the just right people off.
What's up Congress?
ALT Me on the marbled steps of the PA Capitol rotunda.
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We need to be careful w/narrative we accept and spread. The "violence" at the protest wasn't against cars, statues, & all those other inanimate objects
The violence I witnessed in Pittsburgh was militarized police responding to water bottles w/chemical force & rubber bullets
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As a young, progressive Black woman in office, I'm asked all the time whether I can "get along" w/ my racist, fascist colleagues who don't believe I deserve equal rights, and insist it's our job to promote bipartisanship w/those who explicitly only seek to hinder us
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Bipartisan display of civility as an unprecedented legislative session draws to close.
After attacks on trans, immigrants, women, workers, tenants. Consolidated corporate power.
This system can’t save us. An organized working class, daring to fight, will.nitter.app/sarahk_massey/status/1…
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No one should be confused about the Israeli government's actions or intentions.
They ARE in Rafah, they HAVE bombed refugees in tents, & they are NOT trying to save hostages.
We're funding a genocide that the American people rightfully oppose. It's time our government does too.
BREAKING: Israel confirms its forces are in central Rafah in expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city apnews.com/article/israel-pa…
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1 PAC promising to spend 100 MILLION dollars against 5 working class, Black & brown reps in working class districts...is why we can't have a representative democracy.
Idk what if we had governing that reflected our community's needs instead of AIPAC's? 🤷🏿♀️
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After weeks of indiscriminate bombing in Gaza, 8k innocent civilians killed (including UN workers & journalists), 1 mil displaced, & countless internationally-condemned tactics & weapons, this stance is so dangerous.
People are overwhelmingly protesting to save lives & stop war.
The White House just compared “anti-Israel protesters” — the phrase used by the Fox News reporter in his question — to the white supremacists who marched in Charlottesville.
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One week ago, we made history against Republican billionaires...again.
At the start of this cycle, AIPAC put a target on all of the Squad's back, promising to defeat us with a $100M from their GOP megadonors.
AIPAC got a few things wrong. Let's talk about what happened.
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Annual reminder that Dr King was avowed an ANTI capitalist/imperialist/militarist, dem socialist who cautioned against white moderation & paternalism
He advocated for redistribution of wealth, unions &workers, organizing Blk, brwn & poor flk & fighting for a reflective democracy
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So to blame our cries for an end to unfettered police violence, to injustice, and inequality on your losses is not just wrong, it's insulting and tone deaf, and yea... it's racist.
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I'm a Black woman from the Mon Valley. My single mom raised me on a bartender's wages
Public schools, public libraries @ sometimes public housing raised my fam
Sometimes I walked, ran, and even crawled here through the mud, but here I am running for Congress!
Polls are open
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Rail workers, like workers in every industry in this country, deserve paid sick leave. Simple as that.
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There's a concerted effort to disconnect Black Americans from global oppression & divide us against each other.
Being pro-genocide is advancing the same interests that are anti-Black.
White nationalism, oligarchy, & capital have the same goals.
Don't fall for the bullshit.
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This is a signal to the American people that Democrats will not fight for them.
We have to be using our votes for leverage right now. To protect the social services folks are asking us to. To invest in our communities.
Otherwise Republicans will just keep running us over.
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has announced that he will vote to keep the government open, signaling a path to averting a shutdown cnn.it/3DSqxMB
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I am the first black woman elected to the PA General Assembly from western PA.
Not only has the party offered me no support, I’ve heard some have (allegedly) talked about how they could have prevented our win.
And now they’d like my financial support for their fundraiser...
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Wait what? Who is the Black Democrat spokesperson. I'd like to speak to the manager.
Black Democrats are urging Joe Biden to resist growing pressure from the left to impose an anti-Wall Street purity test on his hiring decisions if elected, warning that it threatens the party’s desire to boost diversity in powerful executive branch posts politico.com/news/2020/09/07…
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Today, I was supposed to be sworn in to my 2nd term repping the folks of the 34th legislative district. Instead, I'll be home today, watching from my isolation and recovering from COVID myself.
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I don't remember the exact moment impassioned speeches& hopeful rhetoric stopped moving me. Maybe it's the crushing loan debt I paid to "make it out." Maybe it's learning about all the kids w/asthma in my community bc of enviro racism. Maybe Flint. Maybe Ferguson. Maybe Antwon.
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I remember the 1st time I ran for office. They told me Id have to raise at least 75k
I laughed & almost walked away bc where was I, some non-politically connected, poor Blk woman, supposed to find that type of money?
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Victim blaming instead of system blaming will keep us in this same old nvr ending cycle into perpetuity. I want to see an end to the oppression of my ppl here +end to bombing ppl abroad. To that end, fighting the impacted instead of the accountable institutions/systems is folly
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This ain't it.
The answer to the inequity plaguing our PA public schools is not a celebrity campaign for a GOP proposal to take public dollars to send a few "lucky" kids to private schools.
The answer is to make sure our public schools are actually properly funded.
Jay-Z's Roc Nation will spearhead an educational campaign in Philadelphia that helps students K-12 from low-income households secure about $300 million in scholarships to attend the city's private schools.
Events will be held by Roc Nation to bring awareness to Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS)—Senate Bill 757—legislation helping to increase education opportunities for underprivileged youth in lowest-performing public schools.
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Young (20s/30s), leftist elected women rising in politics are truly treated like no one else. I've seen more decorum and basic respect exchanged between Dems and the most offensive R, bc at the end of the day, they see themselves as part of the same club. We're "intruders."
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Summoning excessively armed, militarized police onto college campuses to violently arrest unarmed students engaged in non-violent protest - students surviving and matriculating through the mass shooting generation - is shameful, misguided, and inhumane.
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A reminder that there are many Kongressmembers still taking care of that familiar ole' business even while pretending to stand for one group of marginalized folks over others for power and political gain.
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I nvr hear yall ask my racist, fascist colleagues if they can stop harming marginalized colleagues long enough to "get along" w/us + imply they should lose jobs for their inability to do so the way they imply we can't rep our communities if we can't be friends w/them
wonder why
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This is a right-wing bully group that supports actual insurrection, white supremacists. But they spent 4 million calling me a Trump supporter bc they can only win w/lies
They spend even more money insisting that anyone who doesnt agree w their extreme right-wing views is a bigot
Summer Lee boycotted Israel's president, calls to condition lifesaving security aid, and aligns with Israel’s loudest critics.
Now J Street is hosting fundraisers for her as "a champion of J Street's core values."
@jstreetdotorg is many things, but it's not pro-Israel.
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Narratives like this are intentionally spread to drive a wedge between marginalized communities and undermine authentic solidarity +allyship
But also, true solidarity isn't transactional. These attempts to shame the Blk community into unconditional support are problematic. Stop.
Black American solidarity with Palestinians is rising and testing longstanding ties to Jewish allies apnews.com/article/black-pal…
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We have colleagues who go home to their immuncompromised children, spouses, and elderly parents.
That Democrats who had contact with him were not notified is not just a political stunt - this is beyond the fkn pale!
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Dems can't talk about the corporate + billionaire takeover of the Republican-led government while still answering to its own corp + billionaire donors.
We can't serve two masters.
We can’t save our country if we’re still deciding if we're the party of the money or of the many
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What an incredible journey. Thank you everyone for believing in us. #PA12
BREAKING: @SummerForPA has won in #PA12.
She ran a working-class, people-powered campaign to become the first Black Congresswoman in PA despite the millions in attacks from Republican-funded SuperPACs. She's an inspiration and model for all future progressive campaigns.
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I am so grateful for every single person who helped this campaign deliver a victory for our movement in #PA12.
They told us we couldn't take on corporate power and win. That it wasn't our turn yet. That we couldn't change the way we build power.
But we proved them wrong.
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Today is a good day to remind you, particularly as we continue to fail to organize the 118th Congress while extremists gain concessions, that this has always been an ongoing insurrection.
January 6th was the first blatant attempt, but as we see, certainly not the end.
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No amount of polling, posturing, or pontification should make you throw trans kids/community or any other marginalized community away for political points. The only way to appease bigots is to be one.
Government doesn't need more cowards.
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Behind Zohran was the most voters in NYC primary history. These guys aren't just rejecting him, but the millions moved to electoral action by candidates like him.
Maybe our big tent should have less millionaire nepo heirs & more fighters for the millions of working class people.
Question: Is there room for you and Mamdani in the Democratic Party?
Phillips: The answer, ultimately, I think, is no
When you have socialists in the Democratic Party, I don't know how anybody could argue that that would be beneficial for the party or for the country
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9/9
Engaging disenchanted voters is serious work and a serious commitment. It's frustrating, and tiring. Your posts screaming about how you won't tolerate any non voters, and how they have no excuse to not fall in line doesn't help...
It just leaves me with more work.
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SCOTUS just greenlit more gun violence and destroyed Miranda rights. Tomorrow, they might end our abortion rights.
9 unelected judges appointed to lifetime seats should not control whether I live or die or have any damn rights in this country.
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The future of our labor movement is strong ✊🏾
ALT Summer and Chris Smalls posing in front of a building
ALT Summer and Chris Smalls chatting
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Guess who's coming to town...
s4c.link/rallywithbernie
ALT Bernie Sanders and Summer Lee
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I have a bill to abolish super PACs—not only bc they seem to have a proclivity for shady, vaguely racist tactics—but bc no corporation, special interest group, or bored billionaire should have more influence in our elections + government than you just bc they have endless money
Andrew Cuomo is afraid he'll lose, so his donors want you to fear me.
His SuperPAC just sent out a mailer that artificially lengthened and darkened my beard.
This is blatant Islamophobia—the kind of racism that explains why MAGA billionaires support his campaign.
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Trump said he’d end the war in the Middle East then sent $12B in weapons to Israel + started bombing Yemen.
At the same time, he’s criminalizing anti-war speech + repressing dissent.
This is an authoritarian who'll throw us into a senseless war funded by your taxpayer dollars.
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This desperate plea to raise the voting age is the death rattle of a party that can only sustain itself by stealing, cheating, and suspressing in a rapidly diversifying and awakening America 🙃
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Thank you, Western PA!
It’s been the honor of my life to serve this beautiful community. I can’t wait to continue to serve in the 119th Congress.
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Today, in the face undeniable hated, racism, Islamophobia & unparalleled hypocrisy, my colleague @IlhanMN stood strong &proud affirming her right to be here - a Black African, refugee, Muslim woman- in America, in Congress and most certainly on Foreign Affairs committee!
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This is the bare minimum the President should do to support the needs of railway workers.
If POTUS is going to intervene in workers' collective bargaining then it should be to deliver on the basic demands of workers—not corporate robber barrons.
Union source tells me their next push will be to demand Biden include railway workers in the executive order that mandates 56 hours of paid sickleave
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My election proves that fighting and getting dark money out of politics is still good policy and good politics!
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Why Im upset? Bc while on ur perch dismissing validity of any concerns, you're making it harder for those of us who actually DO the work of engaging real marginalized, disenfranchised, disregarded, discouraged potential voters. Blk voters. Disabled voters. Undervalued voters.
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I understand the urgency you feel now that Trupmism and fascism have reached your shores! I understand the importance of voting, even when it's frustrating. But Black and other marginalized voters have long had their urgency ignored. It affects how they view this cycle.
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Now I'm expected to somehow raise millions to fend off multi million $ attacks AND contribute "my share" for others...
In conclusion, limitless corporate and dark money in elections is objectively bad and antithetical to building a truly reflective democracy.
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Seeking help is never easy — and @JohnFetterman’s willingness to be real about his struggle with depression will help so many folks dealing with mental illness know that they are not alone.
We need more of this in Congress.
Thinking of you & @giselefetterman tonight.💙
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The treatment of videos showing Black ppl murdered or enduring police violence like theater is not just inhumane...it's an intentional act to dehumanize victims & their communities
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These are voters who have legitimate concerns and grievances about the system &processes. They've been used, deceived & disappointed over&over again. They have reason to give up. It's a delicate balancing act 2affirm those frustrations, but still empower them 2participate
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Sitting in the cloak room during a censure vote against the only Palestinian Congresswoman (called by an actual white supremacist insurrectionist), and listening to the IDF spokesperson defend their attack on a refugee camp on CNN...
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We don't want hear anymore Dems, nostalgic for the days of bipartisan cigars & golf outings, talking about how we still NEED a strong Republican Party
Nothing the GOP has done has been a surprise. They told us this was the plan. They worked the plan for decades
And we watched.
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These folks deserve genuine & authentic engagement, action plans, solidarity 2upend the system but instead get vote shamed & villanized by the very folk who wont take time 2understand their perspective, consider their grievance, or reconcile realities behind their hesitation
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Also while we're here, I was today years old when I found out rich people have a different word for their veggies. *Cru•dité*
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Even on her birthday, my sister @RashidaTlaib proves her courage, sincerity, empathy, and brilliance are truly unmatched in the halls of Congress.
Happy birthday, friend! Here’s to another year of fighting for peace and justice.”
I will never back down in speaking truth to power.
The apartheid government of Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians. Palestinians will not be erased. Solidarity with all those outside of these walls in the streets protesting and exercising their right to dissent.
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Majority or minority, we're fighting for the people ✊🏿 @USProgressives
ALT Summer Lee speaking at the Progressive Caucus New member orientation
ALT Summer Lee at the Progressive Caucus New member orientation
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My white supremacist colleagues are on their big racist binger, but they'll raise money instead of getting fired bc hating Muslims is apparently an acceptable form of bigotry in this country.
Should I hold my breath for the bipartisan resolutions, censures, and hearings to come?
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Some still show up and do harm reduction. Others have long since lost hope in a system designed to never work for them. They've asked you for solidarity and help to upend the system! That help never came.
Now they're asked to honor your urgency & save ur America
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100 days. Not only Israelis, but
24k Palestinians killed
8k missing
60k injured
1.9mil displaced
2.2mil collectively punished
MLK spoke clearly of the evils of racism+militarism. You should keep his name out your mouth today if your mouth can't call for peace+justice for ALL
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