FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ An elected official from Hallandale Beach who accused a newly elected Muslim congresswoman of being an anti-Semite who might "blow up Capitol Hill" could face censure from her commission colleagues.
Commissioner Anabelle Lima-Taub has come under fierce attack in recent days for comments she made on Facebook after Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., was sworn into office.
Muslim advocacy groups have been demanding an apology from Lima-Taub after the South Florida Sun Sentinel broke the story on Monday.
Hallandale Beach Commissioner Michele Lazarow, who like Lima-Taub is Jewish, said Wednesday she plans to seek a public reprimand of her colleague for promoting bigotry, fueling hatred and creating a hostile environment for the city's Muslim community.
Lima-Taub posted remarks on Facebook on Tuesday saying she had no plans to apologize or resign.
She could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday.
"There is no religious litmus test to hold public office in the United States and any politician who would spout this kind of vile anti-Muslim rhetoric is clearly not fit to govern," said Scott Simpson, a spokesman for the civil rights group Muslim Advocates.
Tlaib was sworn in to Congress on Jan. 3, only to hours later vow to help fellow Democrats go after President Donald Trump and "impeach the mother------."
Five days later, Lima-Taub signed an online petition seeking to remove Tlaib from office and posted the petition on her personal Facebook page.
"Proudly signed," Lima-Taub wrote. "A Hamas-loving anti-Semite has NO place in government! She is a danger and (I) would not put it past her to become a martyr and blow up Capitol Hill."
Lazarow's request for a public censure will come before the commission on Jan. 23.
"While individual commissioners have spoken out against Commissioner Lima-Taub's hateful and bigoted remarks, I believe we need to take action as a city," Lazarow said. "We must send a message to our community that this behavior won't be tolerated."
Lazarow is likely to have enough votes on the five-member commission to support a reprimand, which will not require a unanimous vote.
Vice Mayor Sabrina Javellana and Commissioner Michael Butler have joined Lazarow in criticizing Lima-Taub for what some are calling an anti-Muslim rant.
Mayor Joy Adams has so far stayed mum.
Lazarow says she plans to withdraw her request for a reprimand should Lima-Taub "come to her senses" and issue a public apology.
"Instead of apologizing for her remarks, Commissioner Lima-Taub has doubled down, even going as far as demanding an apology from Congresswoman Tlaib," Lazarow said. "I believe we must take action to show all who are watching that Hallandale Beach isn't a place that tolerates hatred and bigotry."
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) accused Lima-Taub of promoting xenophobic stereotypes.
"CAIR-Florida strongly condemns the disgraceful racist and Islamophobic statements published by Commissioner Annabelle Lima-Taub," director Wilfredo Ruiz said. "Her un-American, xenophobic statements establish that she is unfit to hold the commissioner's seat. She must apologize immediately and follow up with her resignation."
