A House Democrat is facing backlash for comparing evictions to violence, despite appearing to benefit from rental income tied to her husband’s growing real estate portfolio.
"Eviction is an act of violence," Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., said in a video posted to social media Thursday. "And we have to do everything to prevent it."
"It degrades the health of communities. There is great stigma associated with it," she continued. "Housing is a human right."
Pressley, a progressive lawmaker and member of the "Squad," has long advocated for rent cancellation legislation and pushed for an eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic. She introduced legislation Wednesday that would prevent evictions from being factored into credit reporting and fund legal assistance for those at risk of eviction.