Florida politician says Muslim congresswoman Rashida Tlaib might ‘blow up Capitol Hill’ in Islamophobic rant

A Republican politician is being criticised after she called Rashida Tlaib, who made history after becoming the first Muslim members of Congress a ‘danger’ who might ‘blow up’ the US Capitol Hill.

Annabelle Lima-Taub, a city commissioner for the Florida city of Hallandale Beach, posted on Facebook about signing a petition to remove one of the two Muslim women ever to serve in Congress.

According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel [via NBC Miami] her post, which appears to have since been removed, said:

Proudly signed.

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.

Her comments come after Tlaib encouraged Democrats to 'impeach the motherf****r' referring to Donald Trump.

Tlaib responded by taking to Twitter and sharing an article about Lima-Taub’s comments. She wrote:

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.

In a statement to the Sun-Sentinel, Commissionner Michele Lazarow said: ‘To say [the Congresswoman] could blow up Capitol Hill is really inappropriate.’

Vice mayor of Hallandale Beach Sabrina Javellana wrote that ‘destructive language in our city has dangerous real life implications.’

The comment made absolutely in no way represents the inclusivity and diverse beautiful city I represent in Hallandale Beach. Divisiveness does not inspire progress.

Enraged Hallandale residents and Twitter users are calling on Lima-Taub to resign.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) director Wilfredo Ruiz, called on Lima-Taub to resign.

Xenophobic stereotypes must not be embraced by any elected official

Her un-American, xenophobic statements establish that she is unfit to hold the Commissioner’s seat. She must apologize immediately and follow up that apology with her resignation.

Lima-Taub, who was born in Israel, was elected to office in November 2016 on a platform of ‘restoring ethics to city hall, promoting public safety and ensuring a considerate government that puts the residents of Hallandale Beach first,' her government website page states.

There’s even a campaign to have her removed from her position, titled #ResignLimaTaub: Racism Must Go! It has collected 138 out of 200 signatures as of the writing of this article.

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