Women's March Catches Heat for Tribute to Barbara Bush

Bush wasn't exaclty a feminist icon.

Barbara Bush Women's March
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Barbara Bush Women's March

Last night, the death of former first lady Barbara Bush prompted a flood of tributes dedicated to the 92-year-old, including ones from Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, and Bush’s son and 43rd POTUS George W. Bush.

But one tweet posted by the Women’s MarchΒ Twitter account is facing criticism from those claiming Bush’s legacy contradicts the organization's brand of feminism. The tweet includes of a photo of Bush with the words β€œrest in peace and power.”

Critics of the tweet cited Bush’s past opinions on Anita Hill and some controversial comments she made about Hurricane Katrina survivors. One user posted a passage from Bush’s 1994 memoir in which she discusses her thoughts on Hill’s famous sexual harassment claims against Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas. In the passage, Bush basically delegitimizesΒ Hill’s accusations and is dismissive of β€œwomen’s groups,” like the Women’s March organization. β€œAll the women’s groups are up in arms and the hue and cry for Clarence’s blood can be heard from every side,” she wrote. β€œIt is setting a picture that anyone can testify if he or she wants and cause doubts.”

Yahoo points out that in 2005, Bush was criticized when she said that evacuated survivors of Hurricane would be able to handle the situation because they were β€œunderprivileged anyway.” Bush'sΒ controversial comments attributed to the criticism of the organization's tweet, along with general sentiments that the phrase β€œrest in power” is usually reserved for those denied power or justice while they were aliveβ€”not to the powerful and privileged like Bush and her family. See more of the criticism below.

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