Jackie Speier: “I take no pleasure in introducing this resolution. No one asked me to introduce it, no one tapped me on the shoulder. I…”

“I take no pleasure in introducing this resolution. No one asked me to introduce it, no one tapped me on the shoulder. I am a victim of violence. I know what it is like. I also was in the gallery clamoring for life when the shots rang out in the Speaker's lobby. We are here today because a sitting Member thought it was okay to post a deranged, animated video of himself killing a fellow Member of this House and also attacking the President of the United States. That video has been seen by three million people. It was up for over 2 days before it was taken down. Inciting violence begets violence. Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez has become the go-to subject of the radical right to stir up their base, as too often is the case for women of color. It is disgusting and profoundly unacceptable. Tragically, the minority leader has not condemned the video. For 8 days, he said nothing. Silence speaks volumes. Silence normalizes violence. Violence against women in politics is a global phenomenon. A 2016 survey by the Inter-Parliamentary Union found that 82 percent of women parliamentarians have experienced psychological violence, and 44 percent have received threats of death, rape, beatings, or abduction. The intent of these online threats against women is clear: Silence them, strip them of their power, and discourage them from running for office. The Congressman defends his post, published with House resources and posted on his official Twitter and Instagram accounts.…”