As you will probably be aware, a few thousand Make America Great Again protestors descended upon Washington on Saturday to demonstrate Donald Trump losing the election. The number of attendees fell far short of the 1million promised.
Related: MAGA march expected to draw millions of attendees misses target by about 995,000 people
One of those to have a run-in with them was newly-elected Congressman Ritchie Torres.
Two weeks ago, Democratic lawmaker Torres, 32, became the first openly-gay, Afro-Latinx person to be elected to Congress when he was elected to represent New York State’s 15 Congressional District, which covers the South Bronx. He and other new Congress members went to Washington for New Member Orientation sessions last week.
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On Saturday, Torres posted about being taunted by a MAGA protestor.
“About an hour ago, I was traveling from the Capitol to the Hyatt hotel when a MAGA demonstrator, screaming from a microphone, called me a “homeboy in a suit.” Sorry MAGA but the name is Congressman-elect Ritchie Torres.”
About an hour ago, I was traveling from the Capitol to the Hyatt hotel when a MAGA demonstrator, screaming from a microphone, called me a “homeboy in a suit.” Sorry MAGA but the name is Congressman-elect Ritchie Torres.
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) November 14, 2020
The tweet has had over a quarter of a million likes and over 21,000 comments. Many were supportive.
It just kills them to see a young successful black man Highly unlikely the MAGA man even owns a suit Keep up the good work Rep Torres
— FakeNews Fighter (@Latinaproducer) November 14, 2020
Unacceptable. And this is exactly why Trump and his kind need to be out of our government. They do not represent the 75 million of us who voted against such hate and division.
— SKeveryday (@ChangeOfHabits) November 14, 2020
Congrats on your winning! 👏👏👏
I’d take “homeboy in a suit” anytime rather than 👇 pic.twitter.com/LmD9k5FO0i
— ✊🏳️🌈 🌊 (@NotBunkerBoy) November 15, 2020
Predictably, it also attracted a lot of hate and racism … which we won’t bother reprinting here!
Related: Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres become first Black, openly-gay Congressmen
Over the last few days, Torres has been reflecting on his journey to Washington.
Yesterday, he posted a video in which he said, “I never thought in my wildest dreams, as a poor kid of color that I would go from public housing in the Bronx to the people’s house in Washington DC. I’m fired up and looking forward to causing good trouble.”
Mr. Torres goes to Washington. pic.twitter.com/gcHTXmOk8k
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) November 16, 2020
Last week, talking to Reuters, Torres said that the diversity of newly-elected lawmakers showed that times were changing. Besides racial diversity, a handful of trans people achieved election victory, including Sarah McBride to the Delaware State Senate.
“We’re witnessing the collapse of politics as an old boys club, and we’re witnessing the embrace of America as a multiracial, multiethnic, inclusive democracy,” said Torres.
“I hope to be an inspirational example of what is possible in America. But in the end, I’m going to be judged not by who I am but by what I accomplish. So my identity matters in the short run, but in the long run, what matters is the record that I build in Congress.”
amanwithanedge
we stand with you congressman Ritchie Torres!!
GayEGO
Great response Ritchie! I stand with you!
Kangol2
Excellent response, Congressman Torres. Don’t forget, less for the greedy real estate lobby, more working class voters who sent you to Washington. You are so cute too!
rodzilla
I am so impressed with Congressman-Elect Torres’ response. Not only did he omit any references to his ‘perceived’ race ( me and a growing number have realized that ‘race’ is an erroneous and arbitrary concept used to divide us and conquer us) it was a textbook example of “Going high when they go low”.
I am looking forward to reading more about this man who is showing us all the importance of THE INDIVIDUAL and what they may become!