Muslims, Democrats and social media users tweeted Wednesday that Tennessee Republican Rep. Andy Ogles said, “We should all kill them,” in response to an activist's question about the deaths of Palestinian children in Gaza. He expressed his displeasure at the statement.
In a statement released Wednesday, the American Islamic Advisory Council (AMAC) “unequivocally” condemned Ogles, writing that his comments amounted to advocating “the extermination of the Palestinian people.”
Noting an increase in anti-Muslim attacks across Tennessee since Israel began its indiscriminate bombing and blockade of the Gaza Strip in October, AMAC wrote:
“Rhetoric like this is not only abhorrent, it is also antithetical to our values as a nation. It is precisely this kind of rhetoric that continues to fuel a political climate where extremist ideology thrives and encourages neo-Nazis to openly parade in the streets.” We can't tolerate this anymore. As Tennesseans, we deserve better representation from those elected to office.”
On the social media platform known as X, the accusations against Ogles were even more damning, with one user writing on Wednesday:
“Name and shame them!” Greetings Andrew. “I think we should kill them all.” Ogles. This extraordinary stool is a member of the United States House of Representatives. ”
Another user, posting as Saira Rao, wrote:
“Incumbent Congressman Andrew Ogles says the quiet part out loud. “I think we should kill them all.'' He says “we.'' [America] responsible for killing all Palestinians [genocide]. Congress + Biden + the entire cabinet are all war criminals and Palestine will be free. ”
Noting that Palestinians are also Semitic, Susan Jones posted on X:
“'I think we should kill them all.' @AndrewOgles #TennesseeSenator is not ashamed to admit that #USIsraeli intends to commit genocide of #IndigenousSEMITICPalestinians, and IRONY is Totally lost in ignorance that killing #Palestinians is anti-Semitic!!!”
Ogles' comments were in response to pro-Palestinian activists who bombarded them with questions as they walked through the hallways of the U.S. Capitol.
“I saw footage of children's bodies being shredded,” the activist told Ogles. “That's my tax money going to bomb those kids.”
Ogles answered frankly: So I guess I should kill them all if it makes me feel better. Hamas and the Palestinians have been attacking Israel for 20 years. It's time to pay the piper. ”
Finally, Mr. Ogles made one final comment to the camera and walked away. “Death to Hamas!”
“The congressman is clearly not referring to the Palestinians, but to the terrorist organization Hamas,” Emma Settle, a spokeswoman for Mr. Ogres, said in an email to the congressman's local newspaper, The Tennessean. I wrote.
They can't even fake it anymore. #AndrewOgles you are a war criminal #Save Rafa https://t.co/Q4NW6koKwo
— Lea (@LeaOrtizRivera) February 20, 2024
Ogles' exchange with the activist took place on February 15, but Ogles' remarks on Tuesday came hours after the Joe Biden administration vetoed the cease-fire resolution at the United Nations Security Council. Video footage was posted on social media. The attack began after the US voted against stopping fighting in Gaza.
Ogles, a first-term congressman, represents Tennessee's gerrymandered 5th Congressional District, which was created in 2022 to favor Republican candidates and includes a swath of the state capital, Nashville. Hours before the US veto, a spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Gaza had seen an “explosion of preventable child deaths” as malnutrition and disease spread rapidly across the enclave. I'm prepared to see it happen,” he warned.
Israeli forces have killed more than 12,400 children in the Gaza Strip since October 7, according to the Palestinian Health Authority. More than 600,000 children are currently trapped in the city of Rafah on the Egyptian border, as the Israeli military prepares to invade. Additionally, officials from the charity Save the Children say nearly 10 Palestinian children have lost one or both legs every day in Gaza since October.
“After four months of relentless violence, we are running out of words to explain what children and families in Gaza are going through and the means to respond in an appropriate manner.” says Jason Lee, Save the Children's country director for the region. the Palestinian territories said in a statement on Tuesday. “The scale of death and destruction is astronomical.”
“Children are being betrayed by the adults who are supposed to protect them,” Lee added. “It is past time for the adults in this room to step up their responsibilities and legal obligations to children who are caught up in a conflict they are not involved in and who just want to live.”
Metro Nashville Councilman Zulfat Suara told The Tennessean that he learned of Ogles' comments during Tuesday night's council meeting. Coincidentally, that night's agenda featured a resolution condemning the public display of Nazi symbols, chants and hate speech during last weekend's rally in downtown Nashville.
Suara, a Nigerian-born Democrat, is the first Muslim elected to the Nashville and Davidson County City Council. She said rhetoric like Ogles's encourages people to “march and preach hate.”
She told The Tennessean: “During the conflicts overseas, I have been very careful about what I say and how I say it, because I want to make sure my Jewish friends are not hurt by what I say, and I want to make sure my Palestinian families are safe. Because I want to protect them.'' They are being taken care of. But when legislators at the federal and state levels continue to demonize people and only see one side and ignore the other, that's the result we see on the streets. And I hope we can continue to do better in the future.
“This othering, this demonization, this 'extermination' only tears us apart.”
