John,
Summer Lee recently spoke out after a Republican member of Congress used his platform to promote collective blame, dehumanization, and calls for mass punishment against Muslim people — language that echoes some of the darkest chapters of history.
Rather than condemning violence or protecting public safety, this member of Congress invoked horrific acts of terror to vilify an entire community, suggested that Muslim Americans are inherently dangerous, and called for policies like mass deportations, citizenship revocations, and religious bans.
That kind of rhetoric is incredibly dangerous.
And what makes it even more alarming is that Speaker Mike Johnson has continued to allow this behavior to go unchecked within his caucus.
Summer has been clear and unequivocal: Muslim communities are not scapegoats. They are our neighbors, our constituents, our coworkers, and our loved ones. No one should be targeted, threatened, or stripped of their rights because of who they are or how they worship.
When elected officials use their power to normalize collective punishment and religious hatred, they put real people in danger and they degrade the moral foundation of our democracy.
This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader pattern of leadership failure in the House. And that’s EXACTLY why next year is so critical.
Next year, we have the opportunity to flip the House, end the culture of impunity that allows this rhetoric to flourish, and build a Congress that reflects our shared values of dignity, safety, and equal rights. Summer is ready to do that work, holding leadership accountable, and standing up for communities that are too often targeted and silenced.
But building that kind of Congress takes organizing, early resources, and a strong grassroots movement.
This is how we draw the line. This is how we protect our communities. And this is how we change Congress.
Thank you for always having our back,
— Team Summer Lee
