Pressure's On!

Progressives are going to oust Ritchie Torres.

Last year, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) was on a tweeting spree supporting Israel's propaganda and calling protesters and fellow lawmaker Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) rabid anti-semitics. He voted to support Israel's war on Hamas and supported punishing those who criticized the country's actions.

Now he is on the list of Democratic lawmakers who could face a serious primary challenge.

After it was announced that AIPAC was spending millions to oust Democrats who voted against funding Israel, progressives vow to take on the lobbyist group and lawmakers who voted against their interests.

Torres represents the 15th Congressional District of New York, a relatively safe district. He is an Afro-Latino lawmaker and one of three openly gay Black representatives.

Torres won in 2020 and served two terms since elected.

He represents about eight square miles of The Bronx in New York City. His district has about 728,000 constituents and yet less than 100,000 voted in the general election.

Torres last year easily won his reelection.

Now a silent mission is underway to recruit candidates who can take on lawmakers like Torres and they want to send a message to him and others that genocide is the red line.

AIPAC wants “to make the statement this cycle that no one is safe from their wrath, that if you speak out, you can be targeted no matter how popular or how many cycles of incumbent you are,” said Connor Farrell, president of the progressive fundraising group Left Rising, in a phone call. “It’s extremely audacious.”

The call number to the White House and U.S. Capitol are now going to be used. This is the official White House numbers 202-456-1111 and 202-456-1414. This is the Congress official phone number, 202-224-3121. Please be respectful to operators, staff members and elected leaders. Your calls are monitored by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police. 

Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to curb gun violence. Let them know that you are tired of your taxpayer money going to foreign nations like Israel. You want an immediate ceasefire and accountability for war crimes done by Israel. You want no more foreign influence in American elections. You also want to make sure future presidents and lawmakers avoid influence from lobbyists. Let them know you're vote matters and doing nothing will not be acceptable.