FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán joined with many of her colleagues in standing in solidarity with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after she was insulted and berated by a male House Republican colleague. After joining Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on the House Floor, Rep. Barragán delivered the following statement.
“Just walked off the floor where our colleagues stood with Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez. On these very steps, she was disrespected by a male member of Congress.
This moment isn’t about politics, it’s about respect. I rise today to stand in support of my colleague from New York, and in support of all women, women of color and others who have been called foul names, bossy, or otherwise bullied by the “boys club.”
We can disagree about policy. We can hold different perspectives. But we must always be respectful.
Whether we’re in the boardroom, in a classroom, on the streets, and definitely here in the halls of Congress.
The late Congressmember John Lewis said, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.”
And so here today, I’m rising with my colleague, standing with her to say this is unacceptable and we cannot allow this to stand.
Thank you, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for your grace in this exchange.
But the rest of us need to stand with her, and need to say, we will not tolerate this kind of behavior anywhere. Thank you.”