U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley delivered an offensive message accusing “white men” of “failing up” during a hearing on Capitol Hill.
During a House Financial Services Committee hearing Wednesday, the Massachusetts Democrat blasted the leadership of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Chair Martin Gruenberg, “specifically for failing to address reported persistent and widespread sexual harassment at the agency,” according to a press release from her office.
In her reactions to the sexual harassment and abuse claims, the Squad member took out her frustrations only on “white men.”
“I had initially planned to spend this time discussing regulations and requesting updates from Chair Gruenberg on the timeline for finalizing rules that stabilize our financial system,” the congresswoman said.
“However, after reading the recent report into the FDIC’s workplace, the public needs answers on the toxic culture of racial discrimination and misogyny that has taken root and festered at the FDIC,” she continued, telling Gruenberg, “you have failed your staff, people of every walk of life, but especially women employees.”
“The report detailed hundreds of women who experienced harassment with no recourse,” she said. “For over a decade, the FDIC under your leadership, and your predecessors ignored them.”
“According to the FDIC’s own reporting more than 80% of harassment complaints resulted in zero discipline. And when there were repercussions, not a single one resulted in removal, reductions in grade or pay, or any discipline more serious than a temporary suspension,” said Pressley, herself a survivor of sexual violence.
“I am so tired of white men failing up. This lack of accountability is a shameful, inadequate, and deeply unsatisfactory and it is retraumatizing,” she declared.
And while many would have agreed with the criticism of the agency for its handling of the crisis, many social media users were disgusted with Pressley’s blatant racism.
Imagine if a white man used that racist rhetoric against a black woman.
This is ridiculous.
Hey @SpeakerJohnson, please censure @RepPressley for her racism here.
It’s not fitting of a member of Congress.
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) May 15, 2024
Ths shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Racists gonna racist.— AwakenedOutlaw⚒️ (@AwakenedOutlaw) May 15, 2024
Blatant racism is the foundation of the Democratic Party
— MERICA MEMED (@Mericamemed) May 15, 2024
I’m so tired of persons of any color or any sex failing up.
Especially when–like Ayanna Pressley–they are racist and sexist failures.
— Richard H. Ebright (@R_H_Ebright) May 15, 2024
Pretty much all of DC is failing up, her included.
— John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) May 15, 2024
If a white representative said this about black men that would be called racism. @RepPressley needs to be censured for her racism. What a horrible human being.
— Texas Aeronaut (@TxAeronaut) May 15, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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