Marjorie Taylor Greene Accuses Rashida Tlaib of 'Leading an Insurrection'

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has claimed that her Democratic colleague, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, is guilty of "leading an insurrection."

Greene introduced a House resolution to demand that Tlaib be censured over her stance on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Thursday. The Georgia congresswoman, who previously insisted that the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was not an "insurrection," claimed that Tlaib was the ringleader of a so-called insurrection at the Capitol complex last week.

Tlaib, a Palestinian-American, took part in a Jewish-led, pro-Palestinian protest that demanded lawmakers call for a ceasefire. Greene and some other MAGA Republicans almost immediately claimed that the protest, which took place October 18 at the Capitol's Cannon House Office Building, had been an insurrection.

However, the protest was not an insurrection, being far out of sync with most definitions of the term. Tlaib and others who took part did not break into the building and were not attempting to overthrow the government or interfere with government proceedings. A Capitol police spokesperson also told Newsweek that the event was "generally a peaceful demonstration."

Regardless, Greene persisted with the insurrection claim while delivering her speech calling for Tlaib's censure. Greene read out the text of her resolution, accusing Tlaib of "antisemitic activity" by "sympathizing with terrorist organizations and leading an insurrection at the United States Capitol complex."

"Rashida Tlaib led an insurrection at the United States Capitol complex on October 18, 2023," Greene said. "Which put members of Congress, their staffs and Capitol visitors in danger by shutting down elevators, stairwells and points of egress, while obstructing official business in both the House of Representatives and the Senate."

Greene went on to complain that left-wing activists were present at the demonstration, before claiming that Tlaib was following "orders" from Islamist militant group Hezbollah by appearing at the "anti-American" protest.

"The insurrection led by Rashida Tlaib was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, which the Anti-Defamation League calls a radical anti-Israel activist group," Greene said. "Members of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a far-left, not-for-profit organization, were present at the insurrection."

"By leading an anti-American and antisemitic insurrection ... Rashida Tlaib followed Hezbollah's orders to carry out a day of unprecedented anger," she added.

In a statement emailed to Newsweek, Tlaib called Greene's resolution "unhinged" and "Islamophobic." Tlaib said that she would not be "bullied" and would continue to call for a "lasting peace" in the Middle East.

"Marjorie Taylor Greene's unhinged resolution is deeply Islamophobic and attacks peaceful Jewish anti-war advocates," said Tlaib. "I am proud to stand in solidarity with Jewish peace advocates calling for a ceasefire and an end to the violence. I will not be bullied, I will not be dehumanized, and I will not be silenced."

"I will continue to call for ceasefire, for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, for the release of hostages and those arbitrarily detained, and for every American to be brought home," she continued. "I will continue to work for a just and lasting peace that upholds the human rights and dignity of all people, and ensures that no person, no child has to suffer or live in fear of violence."

Greene introduced the resolution to censure Tlaib as a "privileged" motion, meaning that House rules will require the matter to be voted on no later than early next week.

Newly christened Speaker of the House Mike Johnson appeared to be sitting next to Greene shortly before she introduced the resolution. Johnson has not announced exactly when the vote will be held.

While it is not entirely clear whether Tlaib will be censured, at least one Democrat has indicated that he may support Greene's effort.

Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida, who is Jewish, said that "everyone should consider" censuring Tlaib during a Fox News interview earlier this week.