Democrats are intensifying their calls for Rep. Randy Fine (R-Florida) to resign or face disciplinary action following an anti-Muslim social media post in which he expressed a preference for dogs over Muslims. Fine’s comments, made in a post on X (formerly Twitter), came in response to remarks by Nerdeen Kiswani, a pro-Palestinian activist, who criticized dog owners in New York City for failing to clean up after their pets. Fine stated, “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one,” igniting backlash from various political figures.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) condemned Fine, labeling him “an Islamophobic, disgusting and unrepentant bigot.” Jeffries expressed disappointment in House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and other House Republicans for not vocally rebuking Fine, who has a history of making Islamophobic remarks. He insisted that Fine must be held accountable and that Democrats would pursue disciplinary measures if they regain control of the House in the upcoming November midterms.
Several Democratic representatives have echoed calls for Fine’s resignation or disciplinary action, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) branding Fine’s statement “one of the most disgusting statements” from an American official. Ocasio-Cortez advocated for Fine to be censured and stripped of committee assignments, asserting that ignoring such comments normalizes bigotry.
The controversy began when Kiswani, on February 12, remarked that New York City was “coming to Islam” due to complaints about dog owners not cleaning up dog waste. Her comment, meant as a joke, has since drawn wide-ranging media attention, highlighting local frustrations regarding pet owners. Kiswani released a statement emphasizing her surprise at the uproar from Fine’s response, underscoring that her comments were part of a broader discourse within the city.
In an interview, Fine defended his initial remarks, claiming they were in response to comments made by a prominent Muslim leader advocating against dogs in urban areas. He reiterated his stance by stating, “Well, if they’re going to make us choose between our dogs and them going home, the choice is easy,” maintaining a hardline position against any perceived insult to pet ownership.
Fine has faced criticism for previous comments, where he called for extreme measures against the Gaza population and made inflammatory suggestions regarding Muslims in the United States. This ongoing narrative surrounding Fine reflects broader tensions related to divisive political rhetoric in recent years.
As the situation unfolds, the Democratic Party remains firm in its pursuit of accountability, pushing for action against Fine’s rhetoric that they perceive as harmful and discriminatory. The response from the Republican leadership remains to be seen, as they navigate the demands for action amidst the pressure of the upcoming elections.