Florida Commissioner: Rashida Tlaib Might ‘Blow Up’ Capitol Hill
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
A Jewish commissioner from South Florida accused Representative Rashida Tlaib of being an anti-Semite who might “blow up Capitol Hill,” the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.
Hallandale Beach Commissioner Annabelle Lima-Taub signed an online petition seeking to remove Tlaib, an American of Palestinian descent, from office five days after the Michigan congresswoman said she wanted to “impeach that motherf—ker,” referring to President Trump.
Lima-Taub posted the petition on her personal Facebook page.
“Proudly signed,” Lima-Taub wrote. “A Hamas-loving anti-Semite has NO place in government! She is a danger and [I] would not put it past her to become a martyr and blow up Capitol Hill.”
The post was removed Monday afternoon after the Sun Sentinel started asking questions.
Hallandale Commissioners Michele Lazarow and Mike Butler accused Lima-Taub of perpetuating a stereotype that all Muslims are terrorists, and Vice Mayor Sabrina Javellana described the accusation as “outrageous.” None, however, demanded an apology.
“To say [the Congresswoman] could blow up Capitol Hill is really inappropriate,” Javellana said. “Congressman Steve King from Iowa has openly embraced white supremacy and I don’t see anyone condemning him. Maybe she’s being targeted because she’s a woman and because she’s a Muslim.”
Tlaib spoke out against Lima-Taub’s comments on Tuesday, Huffpost reported, and blamed Trump for creating a racially hostile environment.
This sort of hateful anti-Muslim rhetoric doesn’t happen in a vacuum – this President embraced it and Republicans have happily gone along with it.https://t.co/3THoHQmRVy
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) January 15, 2019
Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher
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