House Democrats called for increased security for members of Congress after chants of “send her back” broke out at President Trump’s rally in North Carolina on Wednesday night.
Democratic leadership requested that authorities expand security for Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, who they say faces increased threats, and the three other members of the so-called “squad” that Trump singled out at his rally: freshman Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.
“Leadership has adequate security. Members do not have adequate security. I want to thwart the efforts of those who might want to harm a member of this House,” said Democratic Texas Rep. Al Green.
Green stated on the House floor Thursday that he plans to introduce legislation seeking more security measures for lawmakers. He noted that House leadership already has ample security protection, but regular members of Congress do not.
“It’s crystal clear to me that [Omar’s] life is in imminent danger,” said Democratic Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush, a senior lawmaker in the Congressional Black Caucus. “[Trump] has threatened the safety of a member of Congress. That takes this to a whole different level.”
Omar said to reporters Thursday that she was not worried for her safety but said she was scared for “people who share my identity.”
“This is not about me,” Omar said. “This is about fighting for what this country should be and what it deserves to be.”
Ocasio-Cortez had a different approach, accusing the president of inciting violence against the “squad” and saying she feared for her life after the chants rang through Minges Coliseum in Greenville, North Carolina, on Wednesday night.
“I think part of the point is to target us,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “The president is evolving, as predicted, deeper into the rhetoric of racism, which evolves into violence.”
Trump pushed back on the “send her back” chants when he met with reporters Thursday, saying, “I was not happy with it. I disagree with it.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters that Democrats had been in communication with the Sergeant-at-Arms office even before the rally Wednesday night to ensure members had adequate security.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson sent a letter Monday to Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger advocating for “enhanced security for certain targeted members.”
“Being proactive in this instance is vital to the safety of not only these targeted members, but all members of Congress,” Thompson wrote.
Thompson said he had not yet gotten an answer to his letter in a Thursday interview with the Hill, but he intends to send another letter to Capitol Police “just to highlight the ongoing threat, that what the president is saying is not helping the safety of members.”
