The Squad (United States Congress)

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pressley
Tlaib
Bowman
Bush
Casar
Lee
The eight members of the Squad:


Four founding members


Later members

The Squad is the unofficial name for a group of eight progressive Democratic Representatives elected in the 2018, 2020 and 2022 congressional elections in the United States House of Representatives.

Members are Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman of New York; Ilhan Omar of Minnesota; Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts; Cori Bush of Missouri; Rashida Tlaib of Michigan; Greg Casar of Texas and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania.

Background[change | change source]

All members are people of color, Democrats, members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and when elected, were under 50 years old.[1] It has been said The Squad reflects the diversity of a younger political generation inspired by Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign.[2][3][4][5] Ocasio-Cortez named the original group of four--Omar, Pressley, Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib--"The Squad" in an Instagram post a week after election day 2018.[6]

The average age of the Squad was 38.3 years as of mid-2019, nearly twenty years younger than the overall House average age of 57.6 years.[7]

Trump attacks[change | change source]

On July 14, 2019, President Donald Trump tweeted that The Squad should "go back and help fix the totally broken and [dangerous] places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done."[8][9] Many saw this comment as racist, especially because all are American citizens (Omar became a naturalized citizen in her youth).[10] The next day, The Squad members responded "we are here to stay" in a news conference."[11] Trump responded with more tweets.

On July 15, 2019, Ocasio-Cortez responded to Trump in a tweet: "It’s important to note that the President’s words yday [sic], telling four American Congresswomen of color 'go back to your own country,' is hallmark language of white supremacists. Trump feels comfortable leading the GOP into outright racism, and that should concern all Americans."[12]

Beliefs[change | change source]

Members of the Squad generally hold political views considered to be on the left, such as views about US immigration detention facilities, Islamophobia, universal health care, human rights, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and climate change.[13]

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ Sullivan, Kate (16 July 2019). "Here are the 4 congresswomen known as 'The Squad' targeted by Trump's racist tweets". CNN. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  2. ↑ Davis, Julie Hirschfeld (2019-07-09). "Tensions Between Pelosi and Progressive Democrats of 'the Squad' Burst Into Flame". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  3. ↑ "Trump Defiant as Lawmakers Blast His 'Racist' Attacks on Four Congresswomen". The New York Times. Reuters. 2019-07-15. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  4. ↑ Davis, Julie Hirschfeld (2019-07-15). "After Trump Accuses Four Democratic Congresswomen of Hating U.S., They Fire Back". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  5. ↑ Press, The Associated (2019-07-15). "A Look at the 'Squad' That Trump Targeted in Racist Tweets". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  6. ↑ Folley, Aris (2018-11-13). "Ocasio-Cortez shares photo of new 'squad' on Capitol Hill". The Hill. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  7. ↑ John, Arit (July 18, 2019). "A Brief History of Squads". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  8. ↑ Sullivan, Kate (July 16, 2019). "Here are the 4 congresswomen known as 'The Squad' targeted by Trump's racist tweets". CNN. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  9. ↑ Yglesias, Matthew (July 18, 2019). "Trump's racist tirades against "the Squad," explained". Vox. Vox Media. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  10. ↑ Stanley-Becker, Isaac (2019-07-15). "Republicans are quiet as Trump urges minority congresswomen to leave the country". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  11. ↑ Naylor, Brian (July 15, 2019). "Lawmakers Respond To Trump's Racist Comments: We Are Here To Stay". NPR. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  12. ↑ Davis, Julie Hirschfeld (July 15, 2019). "After Trump Accuses Four Democratic Congresswomen of Hating U.S., They Fire Back". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  13. ↑ Talton, Benjamin (August 28, 2019). "The radical roots of 'the Squad'". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 24, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


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