Photo by Terry Miller
Freelance Reporter Tweeted the Right Wing Supervisor’s Obtuse Comment
By Terry Miller
Some obtuse comments by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich about Wednesday’s mass shooting in San Bernardino have prompted indignation from Muslim community leaders in Southern California.
In a speech to supporters after the shooting last Wednesday, Antonovich apparently said, “The first thing I asked about this incident, was the guy named Mohammad?” The 5th District Supervisor confirmed he made the remark.
A story posted on Los Angeles Times said Antonovich was speaking at the West Ranch Town Council meeting that night and talked about the brutal massacre that killed 14 people in San Bernardino earlier that day. Brandon Lowrey, a reporter who was at the meeting as a freelancer for the local SCV Reader, tweeted the “Mohammad” comment.
According to the Los Angeles Times, [the comment] upset many who said it unfairly singled out Muslims over other perpetrators of mass shootings.
“That is an insensitive statement coming from somebody in power like the supervisor,” said Kamal al-Khatib, president and co-founder of American Islamic Institute of Antelope Valley, in Palmdale.
Al-Khatib said Muslims are fearful of backlash stemming from the attack. “We are a victim too. Every time something happens, we are another victim.”
Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Los Angeles, said his organization has heard of an increase in threats against mosques and Muslim community members since Wednesday’s shooting rampage. He said some Islamic schools closed Thursday and mosques took extra security precautions.
“During these challenging times, our country needs real leaders, not self-serving, immoral politicians who exploit people’s anxiety and fear to fuel the phobia and paranoia,” he said. “I’m sure he didn’t ask on the weekend when there was a shooting in Colorado Springs if the shooter’s name was Michael, because I know I didn’t ask that.”