On Thursday, a revised version of that resolution, now cast as a broad rebuke of hatred, was passed by the Democrat-controlled House. But despite the resolution's inoffensive syntax, which condemned anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim bigotry broadly and did not mention Omar by name, the damage was done. The move left hurt feelings, particularly among black and Muslim members of Congress, as well as freshman members.
"I don't want to cry about it, but it does – it hurts a lot," Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) told VICE News in a phone interview while fighting back tears. "I just feel like I'm not being truly seen or heard."
Besides Omar, Tlaib is the other historic first Muslim woman elected to Congress. Her grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins are living in the occupied territories of Palestine, and she says she wishes even her fellow Democrats would stop and listen to their stories instead of rushing to label them anti-Semitic.
"These are powerful stories that I feel like need to be told," Tlaib said. "You have to make sure we have a Congress where we can talk about issues like oppressive actions of governments and human rights violations. That's what I heard from Ilhan at that event. I heard her speaking up for peace and justice for Palestinians like my grandmother."
And Tlaib says this week she also learned that her supposedly "big tent" party might not really be that big.
"I think we realized how bipartisan Islamophobia is," Tlaib said. "I have been on the front lines getting other Democrats elected, and I realize being here just how much work we have to do still. This seems to be an attempt to silence this perspective. You know, women of color, Muslims, those who have different experiences. There's times that I do feel I'm being silenced or shushed."
