Rep. Rashid Condemns Anti-Muslim Hate Speech by Illinois State Senator

State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Bridgeview) issued the following statement in response to State Senator Sara Feigenholtz’s (D-Chicago) social media post embracing anti-Muslim hatred:

“Public officials are held to a higher standard because our words matter. I was glad to hear yesterday that the board chair of CPS resigned after his antisemitic and misogynistic views came to light.

I condemn hate and violence, like the horrific shooting of an Orthodox Jewish man earlier this week. We just marked the one year anniversary of the brutal murder of six-year-old Palestinian child Wadea Al-Fayoumi in Plainfield.

Yet amid all this, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz, who has been in the legislature for nearly 30 years and holds powerful leadership roles, chose to publicly and unabashedly demonize all Muslims. This is the textbook definition of bigotry. In the statement she called ‘truth telling,’ if you replace ‘Islam and Muslims’ with ‘Judaism and Jews’ we would be rightfully calling out such horrific antisemitism and making it clear that a person holding these views is not fit for public office.

Her statements not only undermine the values of inclusivity and respect that Illinois stands for, but they also put Muslims in Illinois in danger, including those within her district.

The gravity of the hatred on display by Sen. Feigenholtz requires swift action and accountability.”