Rep. Ogles responds to backlash after saying 'kill them all' to pro-Palestine activists

WASHINGTON D.C. (WZTV) — U.S. Representative Andy Ogles is speaking out about his response to pro-Palestine activists in a video that is circulating online.

In the video, the Tennessee congressman is seen walking down a hallway at the U.S. Capitol when an activist asks "Do you know there's a genocide happening right now in Palestine? Have you called for a cease fire?"

Ogles replied "Let's be clear, Hamas raped and murdered babies," to which the activist responded "They did not. That's fake news."

"There's no evidence of that. I've seen the footage," stated Ogles. The woman responds "I've seen the footage of shredded children's bodies, and that's my taxpayer dollars going to bomb those kids."

"I think we should kill them all, if that makes you feel better. Everybody in Hamas," Ogles replied to the woman.

After the congressman was faced with much backlash, he released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, titled "Death To Hamas" saying his comments were "in reference to the Hamas terrorist group."

You can read Rep. Ogles full statement below.

The American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) released a remark in response to the video of Ogles which read in part:

"The American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) unequivocally denounces Rep. Ogles’ recent statement advocating for the extermination of the Palestinian people. Such rhetoric is not only abhorrent but also antithetical to our values as a state. It is such rhetoric that has continued to foster a political climate where extremist ideologies flourish, empowering neo-Nazis to openly parade through our streets and allowing genocidal sentiments to go unchallenged. This cannot be tolerated any longer. As citizens of Tennessee, we deserve better representation from those elected to office.

Over the past few months, Tennessee has witnessed a surge in anti-Muslim attacks, marked by distressing incidents of harassment, bullying, and hate crimes targeting the Muslim community. This alarming trend threatens the safety and well-being of individuals and challenges the core principles of tolerance and diversity that define our society."

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