Over the past few years, four liberal congresswomen — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, and Ilhan Omar — have gained infamy as “The Squad.”
Each of these House members has a track record of making statements that many folks have dubbed divisive, untrue, and anti-American. Nevertheless, this hasn’t stopped The Squad from continuing to do what they do and push for far-left policy changes in the nation.
Last week, Rep. Pressley interviewed with MSNBC to discuss COVID-19 and its impacts on various communities. To be precise, the congresswoman declared that due to “structural racism” and “food apartheid systems,” black Americans are more vulnerable to contracting coronavirus.
Needless to say, this type of rhetoric garnered a fair amount of pushback from conservatives, as Washington Examiner documents.
Pushback Against Radicalism in America
Conservatives took to social media, stating that Pressley’s statements lacked reasonableness and truth. Right-wing author Ryan James Girdusky questioned the notion of “food apartheid systems” altogether, wondering if Pressley believes that access to grocery stores immunes individuals from contracting COVID-19.
“Food apartheid systems.”
These people are absolute embarrassments and should have no power over you. https://t.co/CYBr98xmWn
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) December 11, 2020
Rubin Report host Dave Rubin also ripped the Massachusetts Democrats’ remarks as absurd. He stated that individuals with this mindset are “absolute embarrassments” who are not deserving of power over other Americans.
Other conservatives online warned that the type of rhetoric espoused by Pressley on MSNBC contributes to the radicalization of individuals and overall division in America.
Response to Pushback
Rep. Pressley has only responded to GOP pushback by digging in her heels regarding her statements on COVID-19 and “food apartheid systems.”
Taking to Twitter, the congresswoman declared that such systems are an issue in the United States. Pressley, by her own admission, believes that “the whole food system” is tarnished by inequalities linked to race, socio-economic status, and geographic locations.
I said exactly what it is. "Food apartheid looks at the whole food system & takes into account income, race & geo. It recognizes social & racial inequalities & that the *systems* in place are what makes it difficult for people in low income areas to access fresh, healthy food." https://t.co/5B0A6WR3rJ
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) December 11, 2020
She then proceeded to declare that “systems in place” are blocking low-income Americans from the ability to acquire food that is healthy and fresh. She also made sure to declare that various inequalities have engendered a “food apartheid system” on social and racial levels.
Pressley’s remarks are in keeping with other Democrats who regularly assert that “systemic racism” plagues the nation and prevents people of color from getting ahead.
What do you make of Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s statements about COVID-19 and “food apartheid systems?” Are her statements radical or are they representative of America? We can’t wait to know what you think in the comments section below!
