Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib reports past death threats in a tearful riot speech at the Capitol on the floor of the Chamber

DETROIT – At the House floor on Thursday, members of Congress reported their personal, often stunning, accounts of the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol by a pro-Trump crowd. The audience, which detailed the most violent domestic attack on Congress in the history of the United States, was exciting for some – especially for Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

On Thursday night, Congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y., led colleagues in an hour-long session in which members of Congress shared their stories of that harrowing day.

More: Ocasio-Cortez Leads Lawmakers Revoking Capitol Enclosure

Congresswoman Tlaib, who represents Michigan’s 13th constituency since 2019, was among Democratic lawmakers who shared their stories about the attack. The lawmaker was not at the United States Capitol during the January 6 uprising, but she says that watching the home attack brought her back to the death threats she has received since taking office.

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“On my first day of orientation, I received my first death threat,” recalled Tlaib on Thursday. “It was a serious case. They called me aside. The FBI had to go to the gentleman’s house. I haven’t even taken the oath yet, and someone wanted me dead for just existing.

“Each one paralyzed me each time. So, what happened on January 6, all I could do was thank Allah for not being here; I felt overwhelming relief, ”added Tlaib.

Tlaib was not at the United States Capitol on January 6 due to COVID’s precautions. She says she watched in horror as extremists stormed Capitol buildings, forcing lawmakers to flee in search of safety and fear for their lives.

“And I feel bad for Alexandria (Ocasio-Cortez) and for so many of my colleagues who were here,” said Tlaib in plenary. “But when I saw it, I thought to myself, ‘Thank God I’m not there.’”

“All I wanted to do was come here and serve the people (who) raised me; people (who) told my mother, who just completed eighth grade, that she deserved human dignity. People (who) believed in me. That’s why it’s difficult, ”continued Tlaib.

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For Congresswoman Tlaib, the attack on the United States Capitol was the last straw. During his speech on Thursday, Tlaib asked members of Congress to rebuke the hate speech and urged them to stop minimizing the insurrection.

“Please. Please take what happened on January 6 seriously,” she said. “This will lead to more deaths.”

A total of five people died during or due to Capitol chaos, including a protester, Ashli Babbitt, who was shot by police inside the Capitol, and United States Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick, who was fatally wounded when facing the crowd. Three other people died from medical emergencies.

Tlaib is not the only member of Congress – and not even the only one in Michigan – to receive death threats. Just before the 2020 election, MP Elissa Slotkin was also the target of a violent threat left in a voice message in her office. This interlocutor said that they planned to shoot for victory.

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Thursday’s session in the House was held just days before the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Congressman Ocasio-Cortez said lawmakers’ stories need to be told at a time when some members of Congress and the nation are trying to minimize the damage of January 6 and “move on”.

“Unfortunately, this is what we often hear from trauma survivors,” said Ocasio-Cortez, who was criticized by detractors this week after sharing his own harrowing story of hiding that day, fearing for his life.

She said: “Twenty-nine days ago, our nation’s Capitol was under attack. That is the big story. And in this great story are thousands of individual reports, as valid and important as the others. “

Since the attack, experts said the insurrection could have been much more deadly, and that bringing members of Congress to safety was quick thinking and probably saved lives.

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