Detroit Evening Report: US House votes to censure Rashida Tlaib over Israel comments

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This image from House Television video shows the vote total Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, as the House votes to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., for her rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war.

This image from House Television video shows the vote total Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, as the House votes to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., for her rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted late Tuesday to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib for her recent comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict. 


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The Detroit Democrat is the only Palestinian American in Congress and has been a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights. She says her perspective is needed in the legislature now, and she won’t allow her words to be distorted. 

“Folks forget I’m from Detroit, the most beautiful, blackest city in the country, where I learned to speak truth to power, even if my voice shakes,” Tlaib said. “Trying to bully or censor me won’t work, because this movement for a cease fire is much bigger than one person.”

Republican Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia introduced the censure resolution, saying Tlaib was “advancing antisemitic rhetoric,” — a charge she denies. There were 234 members who voted in favor of the censure, with 188 opposed. 

A censure is one step below expulsion from the House. Tlaib is just the 26th person to ever be censured by the House, The Associated Press reports.

Other headlines for Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023:

  • Hilanius Phillips, Detroit’s first Black chief city planner who served the city for 33 years, is criticizing how the I-375 Reconnecting Community Project is being handled by city and state officials.
  • Action in the state legislature will likely slow to a crawl after yesterday’s municipal elections, during which two Democratic members of the Michigan House won mayoral races that will reduce the Democrats’ majority in the House to a 54-54 tie. 
  • Wayne State University President Kimberly Andrews Espy today announced a new initiative to better prepare students for their work life. 

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Author

  • Jerome Vaughn
    Jerome Vaughn is News Director at 101.9 WDET. His interest in news reporting began when he was five years old, after his mom bought him a yellow Panasonic ball and chain radio.