Pressley calls for ‘unrest in the streets’ [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts calls for “unrest in the streets for as long as there’s unrest in our lives,” during an interview Saturday on AM Joy.
• “The Squad” member also discussed the challenges faced by the US postal service, urging the new postmaster general to resign.
• The Democratic congresswoman’s words stirred anger and were criticized by Republicans as dangerous and ‘unhinged.’ 

Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley said that there should be “unrest in the streets” over President Donald Trump and his political allies turning a “deaf ear” to the nation’s concerns. In an interview on MSNBC’s “AM Joy” on Friday, the Democratic congresswoman talked about the “dismantling” of the U.S. Postal Service, which may lead to voter suppression.

Republican Twitter users were quick to condemn Pressley’s remarks, as “unhinged,” “disgusting” and “horrible.”

“This is as much about public outcry, organizing and mobilizing and applying pressure,” Pressley said, after mentioning steps Democratic lawmakers can take, “so that this GOP-led Senate and these governors that continue to carry water for this administration, putting American people in harm’s way, turning a deaf ear to the needs of our families and our communities – hold them accountable.

“Make the phone calls, send the emails, show up,” the “Squad” member continued. “You know, there needs to be unrest in the streets for as long as there’s unrest in our lives.”

Though there was no indication that the congresswoman is calling for anything other than peaceful protests, her critics accused her of condoning violence and lawlessness.

Pressley’s remarks came after months of protests and rioting in cities across the country over racial injustice. Some critics, including the police, have accused some protesters have been destructive simply because they are opportunistic.

The “Squad” member also called on newly-appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to resign for “corruption” over his restructuring of the Postal Service.

At the “bare minimum,” Pressley said, DeJoy should appear before the House Oversight Committee.

On Saturday, protesters rallied outside DeJoy’s home over concerns that Postal Service changes could make mail-in voting more difficult and disenfranchise voters, Washington’s WUSA-TV reported.

In 2016, then-candidate Trump said he thought there would be “riots” if the Republican nomination was given to someone else.

“I think you’d have riots,” he said in March 2016. “I think you’d have riots. I’m representing a tremendous many, many millions of people…I think bad things would happen, I really do… I wouldn’t lead it but I think bad things would happen.”

Source: New York Post