The House voted to table – or block – a Republican-led resolution on Wednesday to censure Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan over comments critical of Israel and in support of Palestinians.
The measure, introduced by GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, accuses Tlaib of “antisemitic activity” and “leading an insurrection” at the US Capitol complex. Tlaib, who is the first Palestinian American woman to serve in Congress, has denounced the resolution as “unhinged” and “deeply Islamophobic.” The vote was 222 to 186 with 23 Republicans voting with Democrats to kill the censure measure.
The resolution cites a protest on October 18 in the rotunda of the Cannon House office building where activists called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. The protest at the Cannon rotunda was organized by the groups Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow. The groups also organized a rally on the National Mall the same day.
Tlaib was not present at the protest in the Cannon office building rotunda on October 18, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. The congresswoman spoke at a rally in support of a ceasefire that took place outside of the Capitol that day, the source said.
Tlaib posted on X, “Thank you to our Jewish allies from across the country who joined in solidary to call for a #CeasefireNOW.”
Demonstrations are not allowed inside congressional office buildings. More than 300 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating at the October 18 event at the Cannon rotunda and three individuals were arrested for assault on a police officer, US Capitol Police spokesperson Brianna Burch told CNN.
There are major differences between a demonstration inside a congressional office building and an attack on the Capitol.
As of early October, more than 1,185 defendants have been charged in connection with their alleged…
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