Boebert’s Anti-Muslim Attacks Invite Further Hate and Violence

Washington, DC — On Tuesday evening, Muslim Advocates and Bend the Arc: Jewish Action sent a letter asking the House Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) because of her repeated, anti-Muslim attacks against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). Muslim Advocates also launched a campaign asking House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to strip Boebert of her committee assignments and publicly condemn both Boebert’s comments and also similar, anti-Muslim comments from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).

• Read the Letter
• See the Campaign

Speaking to constituents over the Thanksgiving holiday, Boebert told a made-up story about being in a Capitol Hill elevator with Omar and telling an approaching Capitol police officer “Well, she [Omar] doesn’t have a backpack, we should be fine.” At another event a few months prior, Boebert told a different version of the story where she called Rep. Omar part of a “Jihad Squad.” She also said that Omar and Tlaib were “black-hearted, evil women.” Boebert subsequently used a phone call with Omar not to apologize publicly but to double down on her hate and call Omar “anti-American” and a “terrorist sympathizer.”

In the letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics, Muslim Advocates and Bend the Arc note that not only do Boebert’s anti-Muslim attacks sully the reputation of the House of Representatives, they also invite additional hate and threats against the Muslim members of Congress, their staff and all religious minorities. 

“Right after we asked for an ethics investigation into Lauren Boebert, Ilhan Omar played a heinous, terrifying death threat she received inspired by Boebert’s anti-Muslim attacks,” said Muslim Advocates Communications Director Eric Naing. “When public officials use their megaphones to broadcast hate against Muslims and other vulnerable communities, threats and violence follow. That’s why it’s so important that Boebert be thoroughly investigated and held accountable for her anti-Muslim hate.”

“We are deeply disturbed by Rep. Boebert’s abhorrent rhetoric. The death threat shared by Rep. Omar illustrates the danger we face when those in positions of power shamelessly spread politically-charged lies and hate-filled messages,” said Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, Washington Director of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action. “We stand in solidarity with our Muslim neighbors, and all targeted communities in denouncing hate speech and calling on our leaders to hold Rep. Boebert accountable.”

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Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination.