Angela “Angie” Nixon (D), the representative for the 14th District in Florida’s House of Representatives, made a tearful speech in support of ceasefire in Israel’s invasion of Gaza, which resulted in 10,000 deaths. Nixon’s ceasefire resolution failed spectacularly in the Florida House of Representatives, by a vote of 104 to 2. But, it was a Florida Republican who received the most attention for making a remark.
“We are at 10,000 dead Palestinians, how many will be enough?” Ms Nixon asked.
“One of my colleagues just said all of them, wow,” she continued, referencing a comment made by Republican representative Michelle Salzman in the chamber.
“That’s what we have become in this state? We don’t care about innocent babies that don’t get the chance to blow out their first birthday candle?”
As floored as she is by Salzman’s response, Angie Nixon is not unfamiliar with the rhetoric made by Republican politicians.
Nixon told The Messenger in an interview that Salzman’s behavior was a “disgusting display of power and contempt and hate” and is “the same type of hateful rhetoric that has been allowed in the Florida legislature under Ron DeSantis and under Republican leadership.”
“Previously it was simply just anti-Black rhetoric, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, anti-women's right to reproductive health. But now it's shifted based on what's happening in the Middle East and now it's become Islamophobia.”
She added it would be “great” if the speaker could “publicly chastise” Salzman for her comments.
Salzman did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Messenger.
Salzman’s remarks were denounced by the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair-Florida), the US’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said in a statement that Salzman’s remarks were a “chilling call for genocide” and a “direct result of decades of dehumanization of the Palestinian people by advocates of Israeli apartheid and their eager enablers in government and the media”.
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“Salzman’s words are incredibly dangerous and dehumanizing to Palestinians here at home and under the Israeli occupation,” the Cair-Florida executive director, Imam Abdullah Jaber, said. “She must face her party’s censure and a public repudiation from all Florida legislators.”
WEAR-TV, the local ABC affiliate, tried to catch up with Michelle Salzman, the representative for the 1st District in the Florida House of Representatives. However, not only did Salzman refuse to talk to reporters, but she claimed that her genocidal comments were “fake”. Nevertheless, she did try to explain herself on X.
On Tuesday, I was proud to stand with my colleagues in absolute solidarity with Israel’s right to defend itself. I also commented that every single terrorist that attacked Israel and triggered this war should be eliminated - ALL OF THEM. Hamas are the ones responsible for all the death on both sides of this conflict. I will continue to call out the brutal attack and continue to fight against the rise in anti-Semitism in our state.
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It’s the most horrific of implications. I am so incredibly sorry for even the slightest of suggestions that I would want an entire community erased. My comments were unapologetically towards the Hamas regime- I NEVER said Palestine. As a wife and mother of a Jew, I stand strong in my support for Israel. But, the heartbreaking loss of Palestinian lives is never a desire of mine.
Multiple people have came to Salzman’s defence, including Alex Andrade (R), who represents the 2nd District in the Florida House of Representatives, and Rebekah Jones, a data scientist who is known to decry Florida’s manipulation of COVID-19 data.
[Alex Andrade:] Representative Nixon filed an anti-Semitic, offensive resolution that vilified Israel and excused the evil and unfathomable depravity of Hamas. It was a slap in the face to every member of the Legislature, especially those who are Jewish, or like Rep. Salzman, have Jewish family members. I do not believe Rep. Salzman meant Palestinian civilians. I believe her anger was focused on Hamas and anyone else who believes in the eradication of Jews and the state of Israel.
I [Rebekah Jones] know Michelle. I consider her a friend. And I spoke to her tonight about this, and I want to share some of that conversion with you all, with her permission:
"It’s the most horrific of implications. I am so incredibly sorry for even the slightest of suggestions that I would want an entire community erased. My comments were unapologetically towards the Hamas regime- I NEVER said Palestine. As a wife and mother of a Jew, I stand strong in my support for Israel. But, the heartbreaking loss of Palestinian lives is never a desire of mine."
We are way too quick to attack on this platform - I've been pointing that out for some time.
Michelle and I have a lot in common - unlikely political allies who shoot from the hip and lead with heart.
She advocated for women, for veterans, for the little guy, because she knows what it's like to have to work for everything you have.
She hates Matt Gaetz, was supportive when I ran for Congress, and had no love for DeSantis. She told me what DeSantis did to my kids was unacceptable and unforgiveable.
She would never support harming children. Never.
I believe her that her comments were about Hamas, and not Palestinians. I believe that she is truly sorry that her comments have caused harm. She and I do not agree on this conflict, but I know that she is a person who would save every child in harm's way over there herself if she could.
I rarely stick my neck out for anyone, especially not Republicans from Florida. Michelle is not like the rest.
Please stop harassing and threatening her and her family.