Share
News

House Dems Demand Increased Security, Claim 'Send Her Back' Chant Represents 'Ongoing Threat'

Share

Democratic lawmakers called for increased security for Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and other members of “the squad” in light of chants of “send her back” breaking out at a Trump campaign rally in North Carolina Wednesday night.

Rep. Al Green of Texas — who unsuccessfully introduced a resolution calling for President Donald Trump’s impeachment earlier in the day — argued rank-and-file members like Omar need more security, The Hill reported.

“This is an important time in this country. These are dangerous times. Every member of this House needs additional security,” Green said on Thursday.

“Leadership has adequate security. Members do not have adequate security. I want to thwart the efforts of those who might want to harm a member of this House,” he added.

Citing tweets from Trump directed at Omar, as well as at Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson sent a letter on Monday to Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger seeking “enhanced security for certain targeted members.”

Trending:
Election Coverage 2024

“Being proactive in this instance is vital to the safety of not only these targeted members, but all members of Congress,” Thompson wrote

He claimed Trump’s “charged remarks directed toward Members of Congress have emboldened people to pursue acts of violence.”

Thompson further noted he made a similar request in April after Omar came under fire for describing the Sept. 11 attacks as a time when “some people did something.”

The congressman planned to send another letter on Thursday to the Sergeant at Arms “just to highlight the ongoing threat, that what the president is saying is not helping the safety of members.”

Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, who represents the district where Trump’s rally took place, expressed concern the president is “inciting many of those to the dark side.”

“I’m concerned about the safety, not just for the four women, but the safety of everyone who is similarly situated,” Butterfield said, according to The Hill.

Omar told reporters that she is not worried about her safety, but Ocasio-Cortez indicated that she is concerned about the squad’s security.

“Of course. I think part of the point is to target us,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It’s natural to be concerned about our security.”

Omar and Ocasio-Cortez accused the president on Thursday of engaging in fascist rhetoric at his rally.

“As much as he’s spewing his fascist ideology on stage, telling U.S. citizens to go back because they don’t agree with his detrimental policies for our country, we tell people that here in the United States, dissent is patriotic,” Omar told reporters.

Related:
Liberal Candidate's Social Media Looked Much Different When He Wasn't Pretending to Be a Moderate

Ocasio-Cortez said, “This president is evolving, as predicted, deeper into the rhetoric of racism which evolves into violence.”

“We are not in politics anymore. We are in racism — really we’re talking about fascistic government,” she added.

The “Send her back” chant started after Trump began recounting some of the controversial statements Omar has made in the past, including “slandering the brave Americans who were trying to keep the peace” in the representative’s native Somalia in the early 1990s.

Do you think Trump's statements about 'the squad' are jeopardizing their safety?

The highlighted Omar’s “history of launching vicious anti-Semitic screeds.”

It was at this point that a chant broke out of “Send her back!” among some rally attendees.

Trump paused briefly and then continued his remarks about Omar, describing some of her anti-Semitic statements such as Israel using “the Benjamins” to buy off American politicians.

Trump was asked Thursday why he did not stop the chant.

“I think I did. I started speaking very quickly,” he said before condemning the chant.

“I disagree with it,” he added. “I felt a little bit badly about it … I was not happy with it, I disagree with it.”

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , , , , , , , ,
Share
Randy DeSoto has written more than 3,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.

Conversation