Pressley defends breaking with ‘squad’ on BDS vote

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) defended her vote this week for a resolution opposing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for a financial boycott of Israel.

Pressley broke with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who, along with her, have become colloquially known as “the squad,” to support the measure. House Resolution 246 passed the Democratic House 398-17 Tuesday.{mosads}

“There are a lot of anti-BDS bills out there that infringe on 1st amendment rights at the state and federal level. In my view, HRes 246 wasn’t one of them,” Pressley tweeted.

There are a lot of anti-BDS bills out there that infringe on 1st amendment rights at the state and federal level. In my view, HRes 246 wasn’t one of them.

— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) July 24, 2019

“What I heard resounding in community was that voting yes on this resolution affirmed to my constituents raised in the Jewish faith Israel’s right to exist, a view I share as a supporter of a two state solution,” she added.

What I heard resounding in community was that voting yes on this resolution affirmed to my constituents raised in the Jewish faith Israel’s right to exist, a view I share as a supporter of a two state solution.

— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) July 24, 2019

Pressley added that if a similar measure introduced in the Senate came to the House floor, she would vote against it. “We can call out and question the tactics of a movement but we should never question or marginalize the lived experiences and voices of those who call out for civil rights & liberties, including the Palestinian people,” she tweeted.

If S.1 were to come to the House floor, I would vote NO. We can call out and question the tactics of a movement but we should never question or marginalize the lived experiences and voices of those who call out for civil rights & liberties, including the Palestinian people.

— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) July 24, 2019

The freshman congresswoman noted that she had also co-sponsored a resolution with Omar and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a hero of the civil rights movement who also voted for HR246, that affirms “all Americans have the right to participate in boycotts in pursuit of civil and human rights at home and abroad, as protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution.”

“Like Congressman John Lewis, I believe that I can hold these strong views without opposition. Protest is sacred and activism is critical,” she tweeted.