Illinois Republicans are trying to quash outrage after a graphic on the Illinois Republican County Chairmen’s Association Facebook page posted Friday depicted four congresswomen of color in an action movie-style poster topped with the title “The Jihad Squad.”
In the picture, Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) are wielding guns, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), seemingly photoshopped onto a red, Bond-girl style dress, smiles in the middle.
The image was caught by a Chicago Tribune reporter before being taken down:
This is on the Illinois Republican County Chairmen’s Association’s Facebook site: pic.twitter.com/0qzKsiRzzq
— Rick Pearson (@rap30) July 21, 2019
The picture is accompanied by the text: “Political jihad is their game. If you don’t agree with their socialist ideology, you’re racist.”
State Republican Chairman Tim Schneider responded to what he called the “bigoted rhetoric” in a statement, according to the Tribune.
“My intense disagreement with the socialist policies and anti-Semitic language of these four congresswoman has absolutely nothing to do with their race or religion,” he said. “I urge everyone who opposes them to keep the rhetoric focused on policy and ideology.”
President Donald Trump has spent time attacking the congresswomen over the past couple weeks, catalyzing his supports to chant “send her back!” about Omar, an American citizen, at a rally.
