Muslims, Democrats and social media customers expressed their displeasure on Wednesday with remarks made by Republican Consultant Andy Ogles of Tennessee, who responded to an activist's query concerning the deaths of Palestinian kids in Gaza stating that “we’re going to kill everybody”.

In a press release launched Wednesday, the American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) “unequivocally” denounced Ogles and wrote that his remarks had been tantamount to advocating “the extermination of the Palestinian folks.”

Noting a rise in anti-Muslim assaults throughout Tennessee since Israel started its indiscriminate bombing and blockade of Gaza in October, AMAC wrote:

“Such rhetoric just isn’t solely abhorrent, however antithetical to our values ​​as a state. It’s such rhetoric that has continued to foster a political local weather the place extremist ideologies flourish, enabling neo-Nazis to parade overtly on our streets and permitting genocidal sentiments to go unchallenged. This can’t be tolerated any longer. As residents of Tennessee, we deserve higher illustration from these elected to workplace.”

On the social media platform generally known as X, the opprobrium directed at Ogles was even worse, with one consumer writing on Wednesday:

“Identify him and disgrace on him! Says Andrew “I feel we must always kill all the 'Ogles. This extraordinary piece of feces is a US congressman.'

One other consumer, as Saira Rao, wrote:

“Andrew Ogles, a member of Congress, says the quiet half out loud. “I feel we must always kill everybody.” He says WE [America] they’re answerable for killing all Palestinians [genocide]. Congress + Biden + total Cupboard are ALL WAR CRIMINALS Palestine might be free.”

Noting that Palestinians are additionally Semitic folks, Susan Jones posted in X:

“'I feel we must always kill all of them.' @AndrewOgles #SenatorofTennessee has no disgrace in his admission of #USIsraeliINTENT to commit #USIsraeliGenocide of #IndigenousSEMITICPalestinians and the irony is totally misplaced on the ignorance that #KillingPalestineiansISANTISEMITISM!!!

Ogles' feedback had been in response to a pro-Palestinian activist who peppered him with questions as the 2 walked by way of a hall on the US Capitol.

“I noticed the footage of the our bodies of the kids being chopped up,” the activist advised Ogles. “That's my taxpayer cash that's going to bomb these children.”

Ogles bluntly replied, “You recognize what? So I feel we must always kill all of them if it makes you are feeling higher. Hamas and the Palestinians have been attacking Israel for 20 years. It's time to pay the worth.”

Lastly, Ogles turned to a digicam and uttered one final remark earlier than strolling away: “Dying to Hamas!”

In an electronic mail to the congressman's hometown newspaper, The Tennessean, Ogles spokeswoman Emma Settle wrote: “The Congressman was not referring to the Palestinians, he was clearly referring to the terrorist group Hamas.”

The trade between Ogles and the activist came about on February 15, however video footage of Ogles' remarks was posted on social media hours after President Joe Biden's administration vetoed a decision to cease the hearth within the UN Safety Council on Tuesday, which represents the third time from Israel. the assault started as america voted in opposition to a suspension of hostilities in Gaza.

A primary-term congressman, Ogles represents Tennessee's fifth district, which was created in 2022 to favor Republican candidates and contains a part of the state capital of Nashville. Hours earlier than america exercised its veto, a spokesman for the United Nations Kids's Fund (UNICEF) warned that Gaza is “poised to witness an explosion in preventable baby deaths” as malnutrition and illness unfold quickly within the enclave.

Israeli forces have killed greater than 12,400 kids in Gaza since October 7, based on Palestinian well being authorities. Greater than 600,000 kids are at present trapped within the city of Rafah on the Egyptian border, with Israeli forces making ready to invade. As well as, officers from the charity group Save the Kids say that just about 10 Palestinian kids in Gaza per day have misplaced one or each legs since October.

“After 4 months of relentless violence, we’ve run out of phrases to explain what kids and households in Gaza are going by way of, in addition to the instruments to reply appropriately,” Jason Lee, Save the Kids's nation director for l occupation. Palestinian territories, he mentioned in a press release on Tuesday. “The size of dying and destruction is astronomical.”

“Kids are being failed by adults who’re speculated to be defending them,” Lee added. “It’s previous time for the adults within the room to implement their duties and authorized obligations to the kids caught in a battle wherein they didn’t play, who simply need to have the ability to dwell.”

Nashville Metro Council member Zulfat Suara advised The Tennessean he discovered of Ogles' feedback whereas at a council assembly Tuesday evening. Coincidentally, on the agenda that night was a decision condemning the general public show of Nazi symbols, chants and hate speech in downtown Nashville throughout a rally final weekend.

Born in Nigeria, Suara, a Democrat, is the primary Muslim particular person elected to the metropolitan authorities of Nashville and Davidson County. She mentioned rhetoric like Ogles' is encouraging folks to “stroll round and preach hate.”

She advised The Tennessean: “Within the battle abroad, I’ve been very cautious about what I say and the way I say it as a result of I need to be sure that my Jewish associates are usually not harm by what I say and to be sure that my households Palestinians. are taken care of. However when lawmakers on the federal and state ranges proceed to demonize folks, proceed to look just one means and never the opposite, that is the outcome we see within the streets. And I hope we’ll proceed to do higher.

“This otherization, this demonization, this 'Kill all of them' is completed simply to unfold it.”



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