Representative Pressley calls for ‘street unrest’ over GOP members backing Trump

There should be “unrest in the streets” for President Trump and his political allies to “turn a deaf ear” to Americans’ concerns, including those about the “dismantling” of the US Postal Service – which is tantamount to suppression of voters, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., said Friday.

Tories on Twitter were quick to condemn Pressley’s comments as “disturbing”, “horrible” and “disgusting”.

Pressley made his remarks Saturday on MSNBC’s “AM Joy”.

“It’s just as much about public outcry, organizing, mobilizing and applying pressure,” Pressley said, after referring to the steps Democratic lawmakers can take, “to make this GOP-led Senate and those governors who continue to haul water for this administration, putting people at risk, ignoring the needs of our families and communities – hold them accountable.

“Make the phone calls, send the emails, introduce yourself,” she continued. “You know, there must be unrest in the streets as long as there is unrest in our lives.”

There was no indication that Pressley necessarily meant anything other than a peaceful protest. However, critics on social media accused her of forgiving anarchy.

Pressley’s comments follow months of protests and riots in cities across the United States over racial injustice – though critics, including police, have claimed some attendees were simply destructive because of opportunism.

Pressley also called on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, whom the Postal Service Board of Governors appointed in May, to step down on “corruption” charges following his restructuring of the Postal Service. At the “bare minimum,” she said, DeJoy should appear before the House Oversight Committee.

Protesters gathered outside DeJoy’s home on Saturday, fearing that changes to the postal service would make postal voting more difficult and rob voters of their rights, WUSA-TV reported in Washington.

In 2016, then-candidate Trump said he believed there would be “riots” if the Republican nomination was given to someone else.

“I think you would have riots,” he said in March of that year. “I think you would have riots. I represent a lot, a lot of millions of people… I think bad things would happen, I really do… I wouldn’t lead but I think bad things would happen.