Democrat lawmakers rally for leftist values on Independence Day as some progressives remain silent
Half of the members of the so-called "Squad" were silent on Twitter over the Fourth of July.
Some Democratic members of Congress are using Independence Day to urge others to fight for leftist values, while other progressive politicians, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), have been completely silent about the holiday on social media.
"As we honor this Independence Day, we continue the work for the rights and freedoms of all Americans," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tweeted. "We recommit ourselves to the effort to form a more perfect union with liberty and justice for all."
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) posted a similar Fourth of July message.
"While this is a difficult chapter in American history, it's important to remember the progress we’ve made as a nation, and the work that still remains," he tweeted.
Hawaii Democrat Sen. Mazie Hirono referenced the conservative majority in the Supreme Court, which recently overruled Roe v. Wade, in her Fourth of July message.
"On this Independence Day, we must remember that the battles we thought we have won don’t stay won," she wrote on Twitter. "In the face of unrelenting attacks from the right-wing majority on #SCOTUS and MAGA Republicans, we must persevere to protect this Democracy our individual rights and freedoms."
Self-proclaimed democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tweeted: "Happy 4th of July! Let us recommit today to building a future that works for all of us, not just the few."
In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent out a Dear Colleague letter stating that Americans have a "duty to honor the glorious vision of our Founders... That means we must always participate in the proud American tradition of expanding freedom, rather than restricting rights."
Rather than posting on social media about celebrating America, Pressley pledged to fight for abortion access.
"1 in 4 women have had an abortion. These are people you know, love, work with, & worship with," she wrote, saying that she "won’t stop fighting to affirm abortion care as the fundamental human right that it is."
Half of the members of the so-called progressive "Squad" – Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) as well as Reps. Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley – were silent Monday on Twitter.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who joined the Squad after the 2020 election, posted a series of bitter tweets on Monday.
"It’s a somber July 4th. Today we are keenly reminded that the foundation of this nation wasn’t built for all of us. But that story doesn’t have to remain, we’re here to construct a democracy where we are all free," Bowman began.
"We’re still working towards freedom," he followed up.
"SCOTUS’s opinion on overturning Roe v Wade sounded like the Justices were living in the 1800s. Abortion is healthcare, and it’s a human right," the New York Democrat continued.
"Give us our civil rights back," Bowman added.
Fellow Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) also tweeted about the Fourth of July.
"Happy Independence Day! I’m reminded of the rights and freedoms we’ve fought for in our country and the importance of fighting for those rights now more than ever," she wrote.