The recent, angry discussion about an Islamic center near Delray Beach has bled into Florida's U.S. Senate race, as a conservative online site has used Democratic candidate Angie Nixon's statement on the issue to call her an "Islamic Lover."
Florida's Voice's post on Facebook said Nixon, who made a campaign swing through Palm Beach County and the Dr. André Fladell Civic Center days before the meeting where the Islamic Center was discussed, "defended a proposed Islamic center and school in Palm Beach County's Agricultural Reserve after a contentious public meeting drew roughly 300 people."
The site, founded by Brendon Leslie, a former television journalist whose Facebook page said he "quit corporate media bias to deliver truth," noted that Nixon
"condemned what she described as Islamophobia" and characterized some opponents as "far-right extremists" and "anti-Muslim protestors."
It added that the Democratic candidate's statement "focused on defending the Muslim community and did not specifically address the procedural or security concerns raised at the meeting."
The post, put up on Oct. 5, had drawn nearly 400 thumbs ups and about 500 comments by the next morning. Many of the comments blasted Nixon, with one saying "birds of a feather flock together" and another asking: "Jewish community, catching on? VOTE RED DOWN THE LINE!"
Southern Palm Beach County, where the Islamic Center of West Delray Beach has gotten approval to build a 7,200-square foot Islamic sanctuary and school, is home to one of the largest populations of Jews in the United States. The area is also home to many Muslims, who worship at one of several mosques there.
Islamophobia and antisemitism have spiked in the aftermath of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel and Israel's response, which has razed much of Gaza and dramatically shifted politics in the region.
The proposed Islamic center has gotten administrative approval from the county staff and a vote of support from the Palm Beach County Commission.
But on Oct. 2, when Commissioner Maria Sachs held the final of five community meetings to discuss the future of the Ag Reserve — a 22,000-acre tract west of Florida's Turnpike in parts of suburban Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton where development is strictly regulated — angry residents showed up to protest the Islamic center.
Sachs, who has called for a moratorium on development in the Ag Reserve and opposed the Islamic center project, said some who attended the meeting did so after seeing what she described as an "unauthorized flyer" that inaccurately described the meeting's purpose and included "fake AI images to mislead the public."
The commissioner struggled to maintain control of the meeting, when angry residents shouted down a woman who described herself as a convert to Islam and attempted to ask if a new synagogue would have drawn similar opposition.
Many of those who voiced opposition to the Islamic center did so in Islamophobic terms, wondering aloud of the project was backed by extremists and expressing concern that Jewish and American hate would be advanced by it.
A day after the meeting, Nixon's campaign issued a statement blasting such comments.
Her statement read in part: "Let me be absolutely clear: there is no place for Islamophobia in this state or country. Yesterday, we saw an extremist agitator travel to Delray Beach just so he could terrorize our Muslim neighbors, disrupt a local community meeting, and spread vile, dangerous hate.
"The Muslim community is part of the very fabric of our state. They are our neighbors. They are our doctors, our teachers, our small business owners, our friends, and so much more. They have the same fundamental right to build a place of worship and practice their faith in peace just like anyone else, and they should never have to face down riot gear and out-of-state bigots just to do it.
"When extremists try to divide us and tell a group of Floridians that they don’t belong here, it threatens all of us. I stand unequivocally with our Muslim community in Delray Beach and across Florida. We will not be intimidated by professional agitators, and we will not let hate win."
Nixon's statement appeared to be referencing Jake Lang, a far-right activist who served four years in prison for storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Lang, sporting his trademark crew cut, flak jacket and wooden crucifix, showed up outside the civic center on Oct. 2, where some got into arguments amid a heavy presence from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
While the post from Florida's Voice sparked anger toward Nixon, it also drew comments from those who back her.
One person commented noted: "She's not wrong. Stop the bigotry. Our constitution allows all of us to practice (or not) any religion freely." Another posted: "Nixon is right!!! Love her."
Nixon has described herself as a democratic socialist, the left-leaning wing of the party more famously occupied more famously by New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
Dr. El-Sayed has faced Islamophobic opposition from some who reference his name and Islamic faith in describing him as an "extremist" or "radical."
Nixon's comments about the Islamic center provide her opponents with an opening to tie her to El-Sayed and amplify their description of her as a radical extremist. Those could prove to be potent weapons in a state with a large Jewish population as well as a large population of religious conservatives who back Israel.
Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education and Riviera Beach development for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Nixon labeled 'Islamic Lover' for comments about Delray Beach meeting
