‘blatant Islamophobic Racism’: Democrats Blast Gop Senator Tommy Tuberville Over Post Linking Nyc’s Muslim Mayor To 9/11

Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, was eviscerated connected societal media aft he shared a station linking New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to nan September 11 panic attacks.

Mamdani is simply a Muslim, and was photographed breaking his Ramadan accelerated pinch New Yorkers astatine City Hall. On Thursday, Tuberville shared an image from an utmost right-wing societal media relationship called "End Wokeness" that showed an image of Mamdani breaking his Ramadan fast adjacent to an image of nan 9/11 attacks. The relationship included nan caption "Less than 25 years apart."

Tuberville added his ain commentary to nan image, saying "the force is wrong nan gates."

Democrats defending Mamdani descended connected nan former assemblage shot coach-turned-senator and denounced his racist post.

"Senator Tuberville’s station connected Mayor Mamdani is thing little than blatant Islamophobic racism," Senator Bernie Sanders wrote. "Not only should Tuberville apologize, but nan Republican activity should powerfully condemn this benignant of disfigured behavior. We must conflict racism of each kinds, not condone it."

California Governor Gavin Newsom was a spot little diplomatic.

"Tommy Tuberville proves to nan world that a shot hitting your caput tin move you into a racist portion of s***. Congrats, Tommy," he wrote connected X.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called nan post "disgraceful and unbecoming of a senator" and demanded Tuberville delete it, while Senator Raphael Warnock tried to entreaty to their shared Christian faith.

"No, Senator. Bigotry is nan force inside. It sickens nan psyche that carries it and corrupts nan federation that embraces it," Warnock wrote connected X. "Brother, arsenic my Christian religion and yours teaches, LOVE is nan only way."

Senator Chris Murphy posted a video replying to nan message, calling it "vicious," "racist," and calling Tuberville "broken."

“I conscionable saw this vicious racist station by my workfellow Tommy Tuberville astir Mayor Mamdani. How surgery a quality being do you person to beryllium to station thing for illustration this?” he said. “The truth that nan Republican Party has allowed into its mainstream vicious, overt racists for illustration Senator Tuberville says a batch astir this party. I conscionable want you to cognize that there’s going to beryllium much of this s***.”

The Council connected American-Islamic Relations, nan nation's largest Muslim civilian authorities organization, called Tuberville a "coward" for allegedly refusing to meet pinch Alabama Muslims.

"Reminder: Alabama Muslims person spent complete a twelvemonth offering to privately meet pinch @SenTuberville and reply immoderate reliable questions he wants to ask. He has ne'er done truthful b/c he's not only an un-American bigot hopeless to resurrect nan shade of George Wallace," CAIR wrote connected X. "He's besides a coward."

Mamdani replied to nan station but did not plaything backmost astatine Tuberville.

"Let location beryllium arsenic overmuch outrage from politicians successful Washington erstwhile kids spell quiet arsenic location is erstwhile I break breadstuff pinch New Yorkers," he wrote successful a societal media reply.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, usually speedy to occurrence backmost astatine Republican bigotry, simply shared Mamdani's connection without comment.

Tuberville had his ain chorus of support connected societal media. Republican Congressman Brandon Gill from Texas posted different image of Mamdani eating successful City Hall and commented "stomach churning. Truly repulsive."

Republican Congressman Andy Ogles shared 1 of Tuberville's posts successful which he rails against "Radical Islamists" and said "I'm a Tommy Tuberville Conservative."

Tuberville posted done astir of nan backlash, insisting that "radical" Islam — which his ain station suggests includes simply celebrating Ramadan — is simply a "CULT" and that "Islamists" are "the enemy."

"To beryllium clear, I didn't propose Islamists are nan enemy. I said it plainly," Tuberville wrote successful consequence to a Politico headline.

After Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Tuberville of peddling "mindless hate" and being an Islamophobe, Tuberville began posting astir "sharia law" and insisted he wouldn't beryllium silenced.

"Calling Radical Islam retired for being a CULT doesn’t make you an 'Islamophobe.' Radical Islamists chant ‘death to America’ and would emotion to spot each Christian and Jew murdered. Under Sharia Law, if you are not a Muslim, you are nan ENEMY. Under Sharia Law, minorities are PERSECUTED. Under Sharia Law, women are SOLD, RAPED, and TRAFFICKED," he wrote connected X.

He continued, insisting that "radical Islam is NOT compatible pinch nan Constitution and has NO PLACE IN AMERICA. I won’t beryllium silenced astir this."

Schumer responded successful defense of Mamdani’s Ramadan celebration.

"Our Declaration of Independence says it best: 'ALL men are created adjacent and are endowed by their creator pinch definite inalienable rights. That among these authorities are life, liberty, and nan pursuit of happiness,'" he wrote. "In this lawsuit that intends hosting an Iftar Ramadan repast celebrated pinch nan man who was chosen by a beardown mostly of New York voters, @ZohranKMamdani. That is called AMERICAN democracy. And spot me, cipher is silencing you – you ne'er extremity moving your mouth."

The Independent has requested remark from Senate Republicans and Tuberville’s office.