Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has strongly criticized a cartoon that portrays her with an exploding pager, labeling it as racist. This comes in the wake of recent explosions of communication devices in Lebanon, which resulted in significant casualties.
Tlaib expressed her concern, stating, “Our community is already in so much pain right now. This racism will incite more hate and violence against our Arab and Muslim communities, making everyone less safe.” She made these comments in response to the cartoon published in a conservative magazine.
The cartoon, created by Henry Payne, features a woman at a desk labeled “Rep. Tlaib,” where a pager explodes as she exclaims, “ODD. MY PAGER JUST EXPLODED.” This imagery references the tragic events in Lebanon where attacks led to at least 37 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries.
Following the attacks, Tlaib shared a post from fellow Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, condemning them as violations of international humanitarian law. Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan and a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, has faced intense backlash from both Republican and some Democratic colleagues, including unfounded accusations of supporting Hamas.
Last November, Tlaib was formally censured by the House for allegedly “promoting false narratives” regarding the Gaza conflict and for her criticisms of Israel, charges she has firmly denied. She stated at the time, “I will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words.”
Recently, Tlaib voiced her support for Palestinians in Gaza, criticizing her congressional peers for their silence as U.S.-funded weapons contribute to ongoing violence. “We are living through one of the most documented horrific crimes against humanity in our history,” she remarked, highlighting the suffering of children in the conflict. “My colleagues continue to be silent. I wonder if it’s because these babies are Palestinian. They’re children, that’s it.”
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