As Americans across the country marked Thanksgiving on Thursday, progressive Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts — a member of the group of House lawmakers often referred to as the “Squad” — used the holiday to call attention to families affected by immigration enforcement, gun violence and incarceration.
“This Thanksgiving, I’m thinking of our neighbors with an empty seat at the dinner table. Those with loved ones abducted & deported from their families. Those we lost due to gun violence, mass incarceration, & more. A more just America is possible, if we fight for it,” Pressley wrote in a post.
Her comments came as President Donald Trump’s administration continues its efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.
Democratic Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, another member of the Squad, focused her Thanksgiving message on the country’s history with Indigenous peoples.
“Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude and community for many, but it’s also a reminder of stolen land and broken treaties for others. As we give thanks today, let’s also honor Indigenous communities by committing to the fight for sovereignty, justice, and freedom,” Lee said in a post on Thursday.
Pressley has previously underscored similar themes. In a post last month marking Indigenous Peoples’ Day, she wrote, “Happy Indigenous People’s Day! We are all on stolen land.”
“And while Republicans try to whitewash American history, we acknowledge our country’s role in inflicting trauma on our Indigenous neighbors. We’ll keep celebrating their contributions, centering Native voices in our policymaking, & building a more just, equitable future,” she added.
