Sumter slams Trump over ‘go back’ tweet

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter on Monday slammed President Donald Trump over comments he made telling four congresswomen to go back where they came from.

“The comments referring to their ethnicity and birthplace were yet another tactless, hateful example of our country being steered in the wrong direction, going backward not forward,” Sumter said. “It’s unproductive and the opposite of progress.”

Earlier this month, Trump on Twitter asked why the four non-white progressive congresswomen — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) —  “don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.”

The statements created a wave of backlash that ended with the House passing a resolution denouncing the comments as racist.

The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Tom Malinowski, passed 240-187, with backing from only four of the chamber’s Republican members.

“As far as I’m concerned, Congresswomen Omar, Tlaib, Pressley and Ocasio-Cortez epitomize the ultimate ‘squad goals’ by serving as an inspiration to young women everywhere. And many must realize that they are not a squad of four, but a squad of many, men and women, across the country that stand with them,” Sumter said. “We’re all in.”

The four congresswomen, all first-term progressives, have proved to be something of a thorn for Trump.

Unlike most other House Democrats, the four do little to moderate their rhetoric when discussing the president.

“I am proud to see the courage, grace and poise of these four Congresswomen. They refuse to be distracted by name-calling and are using the power of the elected seat to make change,” Sumter said. “They are doing exactly what they should do.

On Tuesday, the Legislative Black Caucus, of which Sumter is vice-chair, and the Legislative Latino Caucus will hold a press conference on Trump’s comments.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, another frequent Trump critic, will speak at the event.

“Let’s keep fighting for humane immigration. Let’s keep fighting for justice for families. Let’s keep fighting for women’s right to healthcare and equal pay. Let’s continue to fight for our democratic values,” Sumter said.