Barbara Lee: “First of all, let me just say, I rise today to support not only my colleague, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez…”

“First of all, let me just say, I rise today to support not only my colleague, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but I rise in strong support of this privileged resolution. As an African-American woman, first let me just say that I personally have experienced a lifetime of insults, racism, and sexism. And believe you me, Madam Speaker, this did not stop after being elected to public office. It is past time that this body understands that women of color are here to stay. Congresswoman AOC is here to stay. It is past time that this House recognizes that women will not tolerate these personal attacks and insist that we be treated with the respect due to anyone in this House representing over 700,000 people. The impact of using this language against any woman dehumanizes women and girls and sends the message to other men that women are valued less than a human being. Now, my mentor, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm from Brooklyn, New York, was the first Black woman elected to Congress. As a member of the late Congressman Ron Dellums' staff, I spent many years on Capitol Hill and witnessed the personal attacks and curse words against her as a Black female Member of Congress. But do you know what, Madam Speaker? Just like the gentlewoman, she would not tolerate such behavior, and she had to fight, oftentimes alone, against such despicable language and behavior. Well, we are here today with the Congresswoman.…”