WASHINGTON, D.C. - Building on their history of sisterhood and collective advocacy for bold, progressive change, Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) today announced their official endorsements of one another for re-election in 2020.
Together, the legislators also announced the creation of the Squad Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee that will support the Congresswomen’s re-election campaigns and their leadership PACs, which will provide vital resources to organize and mobilize a broad, diverse grassroots movement across the country.
Since their election in 2018, the four Congresswomen - all first-term members, friends, and women of color - have introduced bold, progressive legislation and championed policies centered on justice and equity, despite repeated, racist attacks from Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans. Their continued leadership is especially critical at this moment, as our communities struggle to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, grapple with the racial injustice that led to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Elijah McClain and so many others, and fight to end deeply entrenched inequities in healthcare, housing, education, and our economy.
“We are in an unprecedented historical moment. Our country is facing three simultaneous crises of unemployment, public health, and systemic racism. The progressive policies that my sisters and I are fighting for - Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, racial justice, an end to mass incarceration - have never been more important. But, make no mistake, last week’s victories put an even larger target on our backs. Wall Street and Trump donors poured over $3 million into an attempt to defeat me and now they’re preparing to do even more to stop this progressive momentum in its tracks. The Squad Victory Fund will help us fight back,” said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez.
"In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Minneapolis inspired a movement. Right now, people across the country are taking to the streets to demand an end to our broken systems of injustice. The American people are demanding a comprehensive response to the public health and economic crisis we face. While GOP and corporate donors fight to silence us, we are building a multi-racial grassroots movement to take on entrenched systems of inequality. Our movement is for justice. Our movement is for equality. Our movement is for peace. And our movement is for a better future,” said Rep. Omar.
“I am so deeply grateful to call Alex, Ilhan, and Rashida my sisters-in-service, and to work alongside them to advocate for our communities, and to fight for those who have been left out and left behind for too long. We find ourselves in unprecedented times that call for unprecedented organizing, unprecedented mobilizing, and unprecedented legislating. Alex, Ilhan, and Rashida are bold, activist leaders who share a deep commitment to the communities they represent. Together, we’ll continue to do the work of ensuring that those closest to the pain are closest to the power, and we’ll continue building this movement to make real, positive change in pursuit of racial, economic, education, and environmental justice,” said Rep. Pressley.
“Shared values of being rooted in justice, freedom, and equity brought me together with my sisters-in-service, Alex, Ayanna, and Ilhan. During our first term in office, we’ve remained rooted in the communities we serve, pushing bold and transformative solutions to the issues impacting our neighbors. We lead by centering vulnerable communities and ensuring that we do not leave anyone behind. I’m proud to endorse their re-election campaigns today and to push forward to make sure people are truly represented with transformative leadership in Congress with the Squad Victory Fund,” said Rep. Tlaib.
