Rep. Dean Phillips (D- Minn.) called out “progressives” for not vigorously condemning anti-Semitism and violence against Jewish-Americans.
Phillips noted in a Monday tweet that these colleagues have failed to oppose anti-Semitism with “the same intention and vigor demonstrated in other areas of activism.”
I’ll say the quiet part out loud; it’s time for “progressives” to start condemning anti-semitism and violent attacks on Jewish people with the same intention and vigor demonstrated in other areas of activism. The silence has been deafening.
— Rep. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@RepDeanPhillips) May 24, 2021
Phillips’ comments come after a recent spike in violence directed at Jewish-Americans following the 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas, according to Fox News.
Though Phillips did not mention specific names, members of the progressive “squad” have repeatedly made anti-Semitic comments, receiving bipartisan backlash.
Most famously, “squad” member Rep. Illhan Omar (D-Minn.), slated “Antisemite of the Year” in 2019 by StopAntisemitism.org, has had a history of offensive remarks.
Mazal Tov to #IlhanOmar on being named 2019's Antisemite of the Year! Thousands voted & the Freshmen Congresswoman came out on top as the most vile Jew hater!
— StopAntisemitism.org (@StopAntisemites) January 6, 2020
America cannot afford leadership that perpetuates hatred against the #Jewish people! https://t.co/hrRKRxoYuo @Ilhan pic.twitter.com/NJFE3rcM9B
Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) even condemned comments Omar made back in 2019, saying, “Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel’s supporters is deeply offensive,” the Associated Press (AP) reported.
Another member of the “squad,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D- N.Y.) has been under fire in the past for anti-Semitic statements.
Earlier this month “AOC” blasted Israel, referring to it as an “apartheid state.”
The American Jewish Committee global director of young leadership Seffi Kogen made note of Ocasio-Cortez’s alleged anti-Semitism, according to Fox News, writing that the representative from New York “didn't call for violence, but she carved out an area of respectability for a certain type of anti-Semitism, and others were only too happy to rush in, fists flying.”
Phillips also spoke about taking a stand against anti-Semitism in the U.S., especially by "progressives" on MSNBC. For his comments, watch below: