WATCH: Democrat Rep. Cori Bush condemns Israel, says she stands in solidarity with ‘resistance’ in Middle East

Bush opened up by talking about how "Our government sends our tax dollars to the Israeli military," and how "St. Louis sent me here to save lives. Bassem [Masri, a Palestinian protestor in Bush's district of Ferguson MO who died in 2018]'s loved ones and his community, our St. Louis community, sent me here to save lives."

Masri was found unconscious on a bus in the St. Louis area, and efforts to save his life were in vain. He died at hospital shortly after. Foul play was not and is not suspected. He was, however, famous for his pro-Hamas stance and rhetoric, on and off the internet:

Bush went on, "So, we, ... that means we oppose our money going to fund militarized policing, occupation and systems of violent oppression and trauma. We are anti-war, we are anti-occupation and we are anti-apartheid, period."

The facts are that Israel's population is 21 percent Arab, and these Arabs enjoy more human rights and liberties within Israel than they would in their own countries.

"If this body is looking for something productive to do with three million dollars, instead of funding a military that polices and kills Palestinians, I have some communities in St. Louis city, and in St. Louis county where that money can go, where we desperately need investment, where we are hurting, where we need help."

"Let us prioritize funding there, prioritize funding life, not destruction."

"So today, we remember Bassem. We remember his resistance in the face of militarized police occupation as a St. Louisan and a Palestinian. We lost him to the health crisis, but we remember his words today: 'Until all our children our safe, we will continue to fight for our rights in Ferguson and in Palestine.' We stand with him today in solidarity. Thank you."