Republican New York Metropolis Council Member Vickie Paladino, who’s dealing with requires censure over anti-Muslim social media posts.
Picture by Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit
Members of the Metropolis Council’s Progressive Caucus are calling for an ethics investigation and censure of Republican Council Member Vickie Paladino following a “disgusting, Islamophobic rant” on social media during which she referred to as for the expulsion of Muslims from Western nations.
In response to the horrific antisemitic terror assault in Sydney, Australia, Paladino wrote on Sunday that the world is experiencing a “global jihad” and argued that governments ought to start expelling Muslims or imposing “severe sanctions” on them inside Western nations.
She additionally referred to as for the event of a authorized framework for denaturalization, warning of one other Sept. 11-style assault.
Australian authorities have said that the Bondi Seashore assault, which left 15 individuals lifeless, was carried out by a father and son performing alone, with authorities emphasizing that the assault doesn’t seem like linked to any bigger organized community.
Amongst these praised for his or her bravery in the course of the assault was Ahmed Al-Ahmed, a Muslim bystander who helped defend victims by disarming one of many gunmen in a now-viral video.
Paladino’s submit, in addition to her exercise in resharing related posts, drew widespread condemnation from metropolis officers on Monday, together with members of the Metropolis Council Progressive Caucus.
Council Member Paladino didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Screenshot of a now-deleted social media submit by Council Member Vickie Paladino calling for the expulsion of Muslims.Picture courtesy of X
“On Monday, following a disgusting, Islamophobic rant on X from Council Member Vickie Paladino that included her calling for ‘the expulsion of Muslims’ en masse, members of the City Council Progressive Caucus issued a call for the Council’s Committee on Standards & Ethics to investigate and fast-track the process for censure by the full Council,” the members mentioned in a press release.
“For years, Paladino has engaged in a well-documented pattern of racist and inflammatory outbursts that have no place in our city and our politics. To continue to allow her to spew this hatred without consequences is unacceptable. We stand with Muslim New Yorkers and are united in condemning this latest tirade. We hope our colleagues will join us,” they added.
A member of the caucus, Brooklyn Council Member Shahana Hanif, one in every of solely two Muslim members of the 51-seat Metropolis Council, mentioned Paladino’s feedback mirror a troubling sample of selective accountability inside metropolis authorities.
“Council Member Vickie Paladino openly calls for the expulsion of Muslims, without even attempting to mask her Islamophobia,” Hanif mentioned. “As one in every of solely two Muslim elected officers on this physique, I shouldn’t have to elucidate what this sample says about whose security, dignity, and belonging are handled as expendable.
One other Progressive Caucus member, Council Member Sandy Nurse, described the submit as “another racist, deplorable statement” and mentioned New Yorkers deserve leaders who mirror the town’s variety.
Incoming Speaker Julie Menin, who counts Paladino’s help amongst her supermajority to steer the council subsequent 12 months, mentioned she requested the Queens council member to take away the submit, nevertheless it remained dwell for almost two hours after Menin commented.
On the time of publication, the submit had been eliminated, although Paladino’s X account continues to function anti-Muslim content material.
Outgoing Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams referred to as the remarks “hateful anti-Muslim rhetoric that threatens the safety of us all” and urged the Ethics Committee to take disciplinary motion.
Paladino, a Republican representing elements of Queens, first gained consideration in 2017 after a viral video confirmed her confronting then-Mayor Invoice de Blasio. She has since constructed a fame for provocative rhetoric and frequent controversies.
In current months, she has drawn criticism for doubling down on requires the deportation of Zohran Mamdani, who will likely be sworn in as NYC’s first Muslim mayor subsequent month.
Mayor-elect Mamdani referred to as Paladino’s tweet “vile Islamophobia” that “has no place in our city.”
“A million Muslims live in New York City. We belong here, as does every other New Yorker,” Mamdani posted.
One other such case earlier this 12 months was the net harassment of the companion of a Brooklyn activist who was fatally stabbed in 2023. That incident prompted a cease-and-desist letter and requests for an ethics investigation.
Council Member Sandra Ung, who chairs the Ethics Committee, didn’t reply to queries relating to the standing of the investigation.
