After Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert's "gross and false" story last week suggesting "jihad squad" Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is a terrorist (see video below), The Denver Post could no longer sit on the sidelines. "Boebert crossed a line and now we must stand up for common decency," they said of the Q peddler in an op-ed published on Sunday.
From The Denver Post:
… Boebert is intentionally using her platform to peddle a gross and false narrative about Muslim Americans. We cannot fathom what evil intent drives this behavior, but after first apologizing, Boebert now has made matters worse.
In a video that was circulated widely last week after being tweeted out by Patriot Takes — a group that describes its mission as "to research, monitor and expose the extremism and radicalization of the far-right across the darkest parts of the Internet" — Boebert told supporters a story about getting on an elevator and seeing a security guard rush toward her as the doors were closing:
"I look to my left and there she is: Ilhan Omar. And I said, 'Well, she doesn't have a backpack. We should be fine,'" Boebert said in the video to cheers from the audience. "I looked over and I said, 'Oh look, the jihad squad decided to show up for work today.'" …
Rep. Ilhan Omar deserved nothing short of a full apology. Instead, Boebert used the phone call as a publicity stunt and further insulted Omar. Boebert is clearly incapable of remorse or reflection, so as her fellow Coloradans — a beautiful place of tolerance and respect, diversity and freedom — we will help her.
We apologize to the Congresswoman and to the Muslim community for Boebert's insensitive remarks. Such remarks, no matter how innocently intended, have no place in American discourse. Boebert should not have fabricated an encounter with the Congresswoman and she most certainly should not have suggested she or any Muslim should be suspected of terrorism based on their religion. It is incumbent on Colorado's representatives to treat all Americans with respect and dignity regardless of differences of opinion. We know we cannot bridge the deep rifts causing Americans to distrust one another through hateful language. We are embarrassed a Colorado representative is engaged in widening this divide, and we are sorry we didn't call her out the first time she used a derogatory reference toward you and other members of Congress who are women and minorities.
May Lauren Boebert never face this kind of anger, discrimination or bigotry. We stood up for her once when others crossed the line and now we stand up to her and ask her to stop spewing her hatred across this great nation.
Read the op-ed in its entirety here.
