A group of congressional staffers responded Tuesday to Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) call for federal workers walking out in protest of the war between Israel and terrorist group Hamas to be fired.
The congressional staffers’s protest coincided with a wider protest organized by the Feds United For Peace group that saw federal workers observe a day of mourning on Tuesday, of which Johnson criticized and called for the firing of the employees who participated.
“Speaker Johnson’s threats are intended to curtail free speech and enforce a culture of impunity across the legislative and executive branches of our government,” the group of congressional staffers said in a statement.
“Any attempt to stop federal workers from mourning the terrible loss of life resulting from this war is heartless,” they added.
The Congressional Staff for a Ceasefire Now took part in a “Day of Mourning” on Tuesday to mark “the 100th day since Israel laid siege to Gaza.” Israel has been at war with Hamas since the terrorist group’s attack on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.
When news of the planned government worker walkout broke Sunday, Johnson wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “They deserve to be fired.”
“Oversight Chairman Comer and I will be working together to ensure that each federal agency initiates appropriate disciplinary proceedings against any person who walks out on their job,” he continued.
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The group of staffers called his suggestion “absurd,” noting he “doesn’t even have the support of his own conference.”
“Let us be clear: We are united as one, and we are many. We speak with one voice, and we will not be silenced. We will not stop until we have a permanent ceasefire; a release of both the captives held hostage by Hamas and the thousands of Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israel; and a clear path toward a solution where both Israelis and Palestinians can live alongside one another in dignity, security, and peace,” the group added.