Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado is being called out for being “anti-Muslim” after a video shows her telling a story about Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota in which she seemingly implies that Omar is a terrorist because she’s Muslim.
Racism and discrimination are engraved into the United States’ fabric, and it shows itself every day. On Thursday, PatriotTakes – an organization that tracks and researches “the extremism and radicalization of the far-right” – posted a video of Boebert at a campaign detailing an alleged encounter she had with Omar.
Boebert starts off her alleged fairy tale by saying she ran into Omar at the U.S. Capitol, where they both work. Following a voting session, Boebert says she and Omar just happened to get on the same elevator. The alleged racist Boebert says that’s when a Capitol Police ran toward them with “fret all over his face.” Boebert says his panic threw her off until she realized she was in the elevator with Omar.
“Well, she doesn’t have a backpack. We should be fine,” says she told the officer. She then claims she looked at Omar and said, “Oh look, the Jihad Squad decided to show up for work today.” In response, Omar called Boebert a “buffoon” and said Boebert “looks down when she sees me at the Capitol.”
“This whole story is made up. Sad she thinks bigotry gets her clout,” Omar went on. “Anti-Muslim bigotry isn’t funny & shouldn’t be normalized. Congress can’t be a place where hateful and dangerous Muslims tropes get no condemnation.”
Muslims have long been discriminated against and associated with untrue, hateful stereotypical characterizations, including being terrorists, thieves, and murderers. And people online say Boebert’s words only perpetuate those hurtful and dangerous ideas about Muslims.
“This is pure anti-Muslim bigotry and as such is completely contrary to what the USA is supposed to stand for. That this is tolerated in American politics and the House GOP is an indictment against anyone who is silent about it,” wrote CNN anchor, Jake Tapper. “This is fucking disgusting. Boebert is the lowest form of scum,” said another Twitter user.
Boebert’s office has yet to respond to the backlash.
