Rep. Mo Brooks Rudely Rejects Iftar Invitation #HummusHaters
With all the anti-Arab bashing we see in the news every week, Arab America is determined to expose those who discriminate against our community. We will recognize those who vilify the positive influence and contributions Arabs have made to the fabric of American society. And we will use hummus as our weapon. By naming those who vilify the Arab American community as #HummusHaters, we can express our culture positively while showing intolerance to bigotry.
BY: Nisreen Eadeh/Staff Writer
Last Thursday, Republican Representative Mo Brooks of Alabama said that the American Muslim community would “kill every homosexual in the United States of America” if it had its way. Rep. Brooks said this horrific statement in response to a radio interview question, which asked why the left would not acknowledge that it’s mainstream Muslim believe homosexuals should be killed.
In his full response, Brooks also made it clear that he’s not a fan of either the Muslim or LGBT communities. “Democrats are in a perplexing position,” said the congressman, because “on the one hand, they’re trying to appeal to the gay community, but, on the other hand, they’re trying to also appeal to the Muslim community, which, if it had its way, would kill every homosexual in the United States of America.”
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL)Naturally, Brooks was heavily criticized for this overtly Islamophobic and inaccurate statement. The Alabama chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) countered Brooks’ statement, saying, “Congressman Brooks’ [sic] would seek to create division between the LGBTQIA and Muslim community standing shoulder-to-shoulder as we confront together hate crimes, bigotry, marginalization and discrimination.”
CAIR-Alabama asked for an apology from Brooks and also extended an invitation to the congressman to join them for a Ramadan interfaith Iftar. Brooks gave them a hard pass on the invitation and furthered his stance on Arab Americans and the LGBT community by refusing to apologize.
“There is no way on gods green Earth that I’ll apologize for CAIR or the Council for American Islamic Republic, as it’s commonly known in Washington, for pointing out that Islam inspires people to hate and kill homosexuals, kill people and for that matter, other non-Muslim peoples,” the congressman said.
Brooks has a long history of political gaffes that target minorities, immigrants, liberals, and just about anyone else who does not look or think like him, despite swearing an oath to protect all people he serves, regardless of background. He is famous for saying that Democrats have waged a “war on whites” in immigration reform policies – a stand he took very firmly. This hummus hater is literally being asked to eat hummus to cure his gross misconceptions about American Muslims, but his hate appears to run a little too deep for hummus to help.
What a shame. Brooks would’ve been welcomed with open arms and delicious food. Perhaps after his next bigoted statement he will give hummus a try.