Washington, D.C. | November 1, 2023 — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) unequivocally and strongly condemns the abhorrent and racist statements made by Rep. Brian Mast on the floor of the House. Rep. Mast’s words contribute to the dehumanization of Palestinians and are alarmingly indicative of a mindset that can lead to violence and genocide.
In his statement, Rep. Mast said, “I would encourage the other side to not so lightly throw around the idea of ‘innocent Palestinian civilians’ … I don’t think we would so lightly throw around the term ‘innocent Nazi civilians’ during World War 2.” This reprehensible comparison of innocent Palestinian civilians to Nazis is a shocking and grotesque attempt to strip Palestinians of their humanity.
Palestinians are not synonymous with Hamas. Conflating civilians – men, women, and children – with a political faction or regime is a dangerous misrepresentation and an affront to the principles of human rights and dignity. Rep. Mast’s dismissal of the concept of ‘innocent Palestinian civilians’ imperils Palestinians in Gaza, Palestinian Americans, and the very fabric of our democratic society.
The ADC strongly condemns this cruel and hateful rhetoric. Such dehumanizing statements have historically been precursors to violence and genocide and have no place in civilized discourse. To justify or imply the justification of the murder of innocent people by falsely claiming they are not innocent is a betrayal of our most fundamental values.
We urgently call on the House of Representatives to take immediate and decisive action to reprimand Rep. Mast for his reprehensible comments. The ADC remains steadfast in its commitment to combating hate and bigotry in all its manifestations. We urge lawmakers and individuals alike to stand with us in condemning such dehumanizing rhetoric and to take swift action to safeguard the dignity and safety of all communities.