Rashida Tlaib Criticizes U.S. Spending Priorities, Calls for Focus on Health, Housing, and Peace
At the "Jewish Voice for Peace" conference, Tlaib condemns military spending while citizens face basic needs crises and highlights the need for solidarity in the fight for Palestinian rights.
Watan-In a bold speech at the “Jewish Voice for Peace” (JVP) conference, U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, of Palestinian descent, questioned U.S. spending priorities, criticizing what she described as the “addiction of the state to war and death,” in contrast to the neglect of basic services for citizens, such as healthcare, education, and housing.
Tlaib said, “I was born and raised in the most beautiful yet darkest city, Detroit, where every corner reminds me of the struggle.” She pointed out that she is the eldest daughter of a Palestinian family of 14 siblings, with her parents hailing from the West Bank and a village near Jerusalem.
She continued, “Today, I want to talk about addiction, our country’s addiction to war and death. The U.S. president requested a military budget of one trillion dollars, the largest in U.S. history, at a time when the Pentagon has failed seven consecutive audits.”
Tlaib Criticizes U.S. Government’s Priorities, Calls Out Misinformation on Gaza War
She explained that this waste is matched by a clear disregard for the needs of citizens, stating, “In my district, schools cover drinking fountains with trash bags, and children are hungry or polluted while they try to learn. Over 60,000 Americans die annually because they can’t afford a doctor’s visit.”
Tlaib angrily asked, “Why does our government have enough money to bomb people and kill them, but not enough to provide healthcare, housing, and food for their families?” She stressed that these policies are “a clear political choice, not a destiny.”
She also criticized what she called the “official misinformation” regarding support for the war on Gaza, saying, “They say they don’t support genocide, but the reality says otherwise. I don’t know why just saying ‘stop bombing children’ has become controversial.”
Tlaib Reflects on Solidarity and Calls for Unity in the Fight for Palestinian Rights
Tlaib recalled a conversation with her cousin in Ramallah after her election to Congress in 2018, where her cousin said, “We thought America wanted to kill us all… until you were elected.”
She added that the Jewish peace movement in Detroit (JVP Detroit) set an example of true solidarity before the Gaza genocide erupted, stating, “They stood at the front lines to prevent the cutting of water, rejected funding for stadiums at the expense of schools, and were smeared before it became common.”
In conclusion, Tlaib emphasized the need for human unity, asserting, “Every life is sacred, regardless of background or belief. We must work for true freedom and peace for all. No human should be seen as less important just because they were born Palestinian.”
She reaffirmed her commitment to working with grassroots movements and civil society to end the genocide in Gaza, stop apartheid in the occupied Palestinian territories, and recognize the humanity of the Palestinian people.
